WASHINGTON, DC - The NAB Education Foundation launched its "Connections Mentoring Initiative" at NAB headquarters in Washington, DC last week. The yearlong leadership development and mentoring program will prepare top performing mid-level broadcast managers, who are women or people of color, for the executive ranks of the broadcast industry.
Critical to the success of the initiative is the commitment demonstrated by 10 senior-level broadcast executives who are actively serving as mentors. The inaugural class includes the following mentors and fellows:
| FELLOWS | MENTORS |
| Allison Barnes Business Manager KCYE (Beasley Broadcasting Group) |
Susan Patrick Executive Vice President/Co-Owner Legend Communications |
| V. Alex Clarke Assistant Operations Manager NY Times Broadcast Media Group |
Jim Keelor Former President and COO Liberty Corporation |
| Allyson DiPalma General Sales Manager WBZL |
Jim Conschafter Sr. Vice President, Broadcast Stations Media General Broadcast Group |
| Michael Isip Exec. Director, TV Production and Programming KQED Public Broadcasting |
William B. Peterson Sr. Vice President, Television Station Group The E. W. Scripps Co. |
| Paul Levingtson, III Strategic Marketing Manager WISH/WIIH/WNDY (LIN Television) |
Lyle Banks President and CEO Banks Broadcasting, Inc. |
| Michele Morin Senior Executive Producer KIRO Television (Cox Enterprises) |
Marci Burdick Senior VP-Broadcast Schurz Communications, Inc. |
| Joy E. Patten Station Manager/Sales Manager Lincoln Radio KFOR (Three Eagles) |
Susan Davenport-Austin President Sheridan Gospel Network |
| Katherine Ramirez National Sales Manager WBUW/ACME Communications |
Gary Chapman Chairman, President and CEO Emeritus LIN Television |
| Rosetta Rolan Community Affairs Director WAVY-TV/WBTV-TV |
Ginny Morris President Hubbard Radio |
| Donovan Welsh General Sales Manager WBAB-FM (Cox Radio) |
Charles Warfield President and COO ICBC Broadcast Holdings, Inc. |
After an extensive review of applications received from broadcast professionals across the country, NABEF selected 10 fellows identified as top leaders by their supervisors. The fellows each are paired in a mentoring partnership with a senior-level broadcasting executive. In addition to the mentoring sessions, prior to completing the program each fellow will complete a strategic project to be implemented for the benefit of his or her station, known as a "Connections Action Plan." The mentoring sessions were facilitated by Wrise D. Booker, president of Reid Dugger Consulting Group.
About NABEF
The NAB Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the public interest in supporting and advocating: education and training programs, strategies to increase diversity, initiatives stressing
the importance of the First Amendment, community service, philanthropy, and other timely broadcasting issues.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association that advocates on behalf of more than 8,300 free, local radio and television stations and also broadcast networks before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the Courts. Information about NAB can be found at www.nab.org.
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