events / past

Paige Albiniak

Contributing Editor, “Broadcasting & Cable”

Paige Albiniak is a Denver-based freelancer covering the business of television. She is a contributing editor for TV trade “Broadcasting & Cable,” primarily covering syndication, distribution and new media. Albiniak was the magazine’s Los Angeles bureau chief from Sept. 2002-04, and an associate editor in Washington, D.C., from June 1997-Sept. 2002. She also writes TV-related features for the “New York Post,” and writes about the broader business of television – including international, syndication and awards – for “Variety.” 

Nick Belperio

SVP, Marketing, Fox Broadcasting Company

Nick Belperio was named SVP of marketing in November 2007. Belperio is responsible for supervision of the network’s affiliate marketing team, as well as the “Fox All-Access Radio” programming staff and the National Radio Promotion team. Belperio helps guide the general objectives of the network’s marketing team, and works closely with the on-air promotion group in effectively utilizing affiliate stations across all dayparts. 

Belperio has been at Fox for nearly 15 years, having joined the networks in 1997 as VP of affiliate marketing. While at Fox, his department has redefined network/affiliate relations by hiring staff from local stations and providing more personalized service, while creating unique local marketing campaigns for various Fox series.

Prior to joining Fox, Belperio was creative services director at WXIX-TV, the Fox affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he launched the station’s morning chat show, “19 in the Morning.” He also previously worked at Cincinnati’s ABC and CBS affiliates as a writer/producer, director and editor. 

Cory Bergman

GM, Breaking News & Founder, Lost Remote

Cory Bergman is the GM of Breaking News, a mobile news startup owned by NBC News, that curates breaking news around the clock. Bergman is also the founder of Lost Remote, an industry news site that covers social TV, or the intersection of social media and television. Prior to Breaking News, Bergman was director of new product development at msnbc.com after working 15 years in local TV. 

Rebecca Bley

Consultant, Crimson Hexagon

Rebecca Bley is a consultant with Crimson Hexagon, an industry leader providing cutting-edge social media monitoring and analysis software to global brands, agencies and media firms. Bley plays a key role in the design and production of platform-based products aimed at the entertainment industry. Before joining Crimson Hexagon, Bley was a member of a specially recruited insights and innovation team at NM Incite, a joint venture between Nielsen Online and McKinsey & Company. She earned a Platinum Award for designing and delivering an internal tool that was estimated to save $2.3 million in 2011. She also assisted in the development of NMI's flagship social media analysis tool and executed research on the correlation between online buzz and television ratings.

Scott Blumenthal

EVP, Television, LIN Media

Scott Blumenthal began his broadcast career in 1970 at WTWO in Terre Haute, Ind. He joined WRTV in 1975 and in 1983 joined WISH-TV as the local sales manager, where he was promoted to general sales manager in 1988. In 1994, he was named president and general manager of WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Mich.

In 1999, he returned to WISH-TV as president and general manager. Blumenthal was named regional VP of LIN Television Corporation in 2002; and in 2006, was named EVP, Television.

Blumenthal has served on advisory boards for the television company BIAS and Marshall Marketing, a consumer research company. He is a past president of the Central Indiana Muscular Dystrophy Association and has also served on the board of the Indianapolis Community Relations Council and the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee. In 2005, he was the chairman of the Indianapolis 500 Festival Board. He is a past chair of both the Michigan and Indiana Broadcast Associations. Blumenthal is currently member of the TVB and NAB Boards and is a member of the executive committee of the CBS Board of Affiliates.

Linda Button

Brand Personality Expert, Tooth+Nail

Linda Button is co-founder of Tooth+Nail, a boutique agency known for its unique approach to brand personality, inspiration and creativity. 

Button creates positions, taglines and campaigns for the biggest brands in entertainment. Her goal: to help clients, viewers and creative departments see themselves in a new light. 

A writer, speaker, and martial artist, Button says she always strives to kick butt.

Sean Compton

President, Programming and Entertainment, Tribune Broadcasting

Sean Compton is president of programming and entertainment for Tribune Broadcasting where he oversees programming for 40 Tribune and local TV television stations, and for WGN America, Tribune Broadcasting’s nationally distributed cable, satellite and telco network.

While at the helm of Tribune Broadcasting’s programming department, Compton has been responsible for all of its high-profile acquisitions including “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Entourage,” “30 Rock,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” “Monk” and “The Unit,” as well as an extensive movie library.

Compton, who spent 19 years in radio before joining Tribune, was formerly the head of programming for Premiere Radio Networks, owned by Clear Channel Communications, where he created and developed radio programs and features built around such high-profile celebrities and entertainers as Ryan Seacrest, Whoopi Goldberg, Ty Pennington, sportscaster Bob Costas, CNBC’s financial expert Maria Bartiromo and business mogul Donald Trump.

Compton began his media career at the age of 11 when he started a radio station in his parent’s basement in Indiana. By age 14, Compton had a small business filming weddings and local events. In 1989, while still in high school, he began working at WCNB (Connersville, IN) and WQLK (Richmond, IN). Bypassing college, at age 18 Compton went to work at WOWO Radio (Fort Wayne, IN) as a DJ. By 1992, he was a producer and on-air personality at WLW radio in Cincinnati, OH (owned by Jacor). The next year, he became program director of WSAI radio in Cincinnati, OH.

In 1995, Compton moved to Jacor’s corporate office as a programming assistant and four years later, at the age of 25, became VP of programming for Jacor and later Clear Channel Radio after the two companies merged. In 2001, as part of his VP of programming responsibilities, Compton began overseeing programming for Premiere Radio Networks, a division of Clear Channel.

In April 2008 at age 34, Compton was named SVP of programming and entertainment for Tribune and in 2010, at the age of 36, he was elevated to president.

Mick Ebeling

Founder & CEO, The Ebeling Group

Mick Ebeling is the founder and CEO of The Ebeling Group (TEG), an International production company and creative think tank representing some of the world's leading design/directing collectives. TEG’s most well-known projects include the coveted main titles for the James Bond 007 film “Quantum of Solace” and the ever-referenced Will Ferrell film “Stranger than Fiction” graphics.

Ebeling’s reputation for consistently producing groundbreaking work stems from his unwavering ability to identify and nurture innovators in production and design. The collectives under the TEG banner hail from almost every continent, a testament to Ebeling’s commitment to cultivate the best talent from every corner of the globe. The company works with clients and venues including Coca-Cola, Delta, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, HBO, the Sundance Film Festival, Macy’s, Marvel, Mercedes, MOMA, Nike, Sony Pictures, Target, TBS and Volkswagen.

Four years ago Ebeling was inspired by his friend, ALS patient and famous street artist Tempt, to create something that would allow Tempt to draw again. After a year of planning and scheming, Ebeling flew a group of programmers and hackers from around the world to Los Angeles and in the living room of his home the EyeWriter was born.

Raised in a family of entrepreneurs and philanthropists, it came as second nature for Ebeling to found The Not Impossible Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission to take ideas that once seemed impossible to possible, when the right people are connected and empowered. The Eyewriter (the first project of The Not Impossible Foundation) is an open source, low-cost, DIY device that enables individuals with paralysis to communicate and create art using only the movement of their eyes. “Time” Magazine named The EyeWriter one of the “Top 50 Inventions of 2010." With no technical background in ocular recognition technology, Ebeling asked himself the question: “If not now, then when? If not me, then who?” in his 2011 TED talk.

Ebeling's aim to raise public awareness and inspire change through global collaboration lead him to produce the feature film "Getting Up: The Tempt One Story" that documents the creation of The EyeWriter and Tempt's journey to draw again for the first time in eight years. "Getting Up" won the 2012 Audience Award at The Slamdance Film Festival earlier this year. Currently, Ebeling is working on a global pediatric cancer initiative in partnership with Lance Armstrong's Livestrong Foundation.

Peter Goldstein

VP, Sales & Business Development, Agencies, Mixpo

Peter Goldstein's focus is building new relationships with future Mixpo buy-side partners and clients. To him, sales is not about transactions, it's all about relationships. Before joining Mixpo, Goldstein built customer relationships for Entercom's digital platform, and served in executive sales and strategy roles at Clear Channel Interactive and Real Networks. 

Heather Gray

Director of Programming and Marketing, 12 News/KPNX

Heather Gray leads the programming, marketing, promotion, community and commercial production teams for 12 News/KPNX (NBC) in Phoenix, Arizona. Gray sits on the operating committee for 12 News and Republic Media. She has more than 15 years of broadcast experience, having worked for First Coast News in Jacksonville, FL (NBC/ABC duopoly-Gannett), KCRA-TV (NBC-Hearst), Good Day Sacramento (then WB/Paramount) both in Sacramento, CA and KHSL-TV (CBS) in Chico, CA. Her years of television work have covered every department in broadcast television from News to Studio Operations.

Republic Media, which includes “The Arizona Republic,” 12 News (KPNX-TV), azcentral.com and “LaVoz” is owned by Gannett Co., Inc., an international news and information company operating on multiple platforms including digital, tablet, mobile, newspapers, magazines and TV stations.

The digital products of azcentral.com reach more than 32% of Arizona online adults every month, averaging more than 83 million page views each month (2011.) 12 News is the number one rated late local news program in the 13th largest US television DMA-Phoenix, AZ. Combined, the properties of Republic Media reach 82% of the consumer market in any given week. Gannett Co., Inc. publishes 83 daily US newspapers, including “USA TODAY,” the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper, and more than 650 magazines and other non-dailies including “USA WEEKEND.” Gannett also operates 23 television stations in 19 US markets. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom's second largest regional newspaper company with 17 daily paid-for titles, more than 200 weekly newspapers, magazines and trade publications, and a network of websites.

Suzanne Grethen

VP, Promotions & Marketing, Hearst

Suzanne Grethen was named Hearst’s VP of promotions and marketing in June 2011. In that role Grethen oversees the marketing efforts of the company’s 29 television stations and digital platforms in cities across the country. She has a near 20-year history with Hearst, working at both Orlando and Milwaukee properties as creative services director prior to joining the corporate team.

Mike Hais

Partner, Mike & Morley, LLC

With his partner Morley Winograd, Mike Hais, Ph.D., is a consultant, author, speaker and on-air pundit delivering candid, informed insights on engaging Millennials.

Co-author of two highly acclaimed books, “Millennial Momentum” (2011) and “Millennial Makeover” (2008), Hais spent much of his career with Frank N. Magid Associates. As VP of entertainment research, he conducted audience research for hundreds of television stations, cable channels, and program producers in the US and abroad.

Based in Los Angeles, Hais is a regular contributor to publications as varied as “The Christian Science Monitor,” Huffington Post and “Politico.”

Mark Itkin

Board Member, William Morris Endeavor Agency

Mark Itkin is currently co-head of television and a member of the Board of Directors of the William Morris Endeavor Agency.

Itkin was an associate in the music department of the law firm of Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, and joined the William Morris Agency in 1982 to become a television packaging agent specializing in first-run syndication, pay and basic cable television. Itkin has packaged such varied television series as: “Real World,” “Project Runway,” “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Kitchen Nightmares,” “Deal or No Deal,” “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne,” “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns,” “Merv Griffin’s Crosswords,” “Million Dollar Password,” “Big Brother,” “Fear Factor,” “People’s Court,” “The Ricki Lake Show,” “American Gladiators,” “Biggest Loser” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” 

Itkin has been a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for 18 years, a two-term governor, and spent six years on the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Executive Committee. In addition, Itkin chaired the Blue Ribbon Panel Committee, which successfully instituted “at-home” viewing of the Primetime Emmy Awards and currently is chairman of the ATAS Hall of Fame Committee. Itkin was also the first agent appointed to NATPE’s (National Association of Television Programming Executives) Executive Board. Itkin is currently on the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Hospital, on the Board of Directors of Aids Research Alliance, on the Board of Directors of the Zimmer Children’s Museum and on the Board of Directors of The Paley Center for Media.

Stacy Jolna

CMO & Co-Founder, ConnecTV

Stacy Jolna, an innovative executive at the crossroads of media, marketing and technology, is CMO and co-founder of ConnecTV, the biggest social TV network for all television fans. ConnecTV lets you instantly sync your iPad or laptop to what you’re watching on television, then seamlessly chat with friends in real time and get more news and info about your favorite stars, playing along with all the action on TV. The Silicon Valley-based company is backed by 10 of the biggest local broadcasting companies including Hearst, Gannett, Scripps, Cox, Belo and the Washington Post- Newsweek Company, representing a reach of 76 million households nationwide. 

Jolna began his career as a national journalist for the “Washington Post,” “TIME” and CBS Radio before being recruited to Atlanta to produce and report for CNN. Jolna launched the CNN Special Reports division responsible for producing Emmy and Peabody Award-winning global documentaries, investigations, multi-part series and specials. Promoted to SVP, he created “CNN Presents,” a weekly single-issue magazine program on Sunday nights that commanded high ratings and revenues for the network. 

As the Internet was heating up, Jolna was recruited to Microsoft to run the content business for a new venture, WebTV, which launched his digital media career. He later joined the founding executive team of another Silicon Valley startup and helped run point on creating its national brand: TiVo. As TiVo’s chief programming officer, Jolna forged media and entertainment business alliances and brought in investments from nearly every major media company to help propel TiVo to a successful IPO. “Ad Age” named him to its “Marketing 100” and “i20” leading new media executives. 

Newscorp’s Gemstar-TV Guide recruited Jolna to launch a new short-form video business across all digital platforms. He branded it TV Guide SPOT. The new ad-supported network was distributed into 50 million cable and satellite households as well as on the web and mobile. In 2008, Jolna re-joined his colleagues Ian Aaron, the president of TV Guide Television, and TiVo co-inventor Alan Moskowitz to create a compelling new global social experience to light up your favorite shows and sporting events: ConnecTV. 

Marilyn Kass

Brand Personality Expert, Tooth+Nail

Marilyn Kass is a brand personality expert at Tooth+Nail, a creative agency known for award-winning campaigns, branding and kick-ass workshops. If it involves marketing or entertainment, Kass has been there and done it well. Her clients? Take a look at a channel lineup. That’s pretty much it. Writer, speaker and former performance artist, Kass produces campaigns, workshops and happiness. 

Lisa Kridos

Executive Producer, “The Ricki Lake Show”

Lisa Kridos currently serves as executive producer of “The Ricki Lake Show,” premiering September 2012.

Kridos has been in daytime television as a creator, consultant, writer and executive producer for more than 30 years. For the past 15 years, she has been the executive producer of “Good Day LA,” the No. 1 morning show in Los Angeles. She is the recipient of eight Emmys and two Golden Mikes, and produces 15 hours of live TV every week. When Kridos was hired, “Good Day LA” was in fourth place. Within months, and for the first time in its history, “Good Day LA” beat the local competition. Within 18 months, “Good Day LA” beat “Good Morning America” and the “Today” show and remains the No. 1 show in all key demos. It was so popular it was renamed “Good Day Live” and nationally syndicated.

Kridos has worked in every facet of daytime television and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for Best Talk Show for “The Home Show.” During her tenure at “The Home Show,” she also produced a one-hour special, “Christmas At The White House,” which was shot on location at the White House with President and Mrs. Bush.

While at ABC, Kridos produced a variety of specials. During the Gulf War, she negotiated a deal with the USO to produce and write “A Tribute to Our Troops” a musical/variety special with some of the biggest names in Hollywood to be shown to the men and women serving overseas.

Kridos was also the executive producer of “AM Los Angeles” with Steve Edwards and Cristina Ferrare, a live one-hour show featuring celebrities, fashions, lifestyle, field pieces and newsmakers. While there, Kridos took the show on location to Hawaii, Australia and Japan.

Kridos was the supervising producer on “The George and Alana Show” (syndicated), “Caryl and Marilyn: The Mommies” (ABC Network), “The Big Date” (USA Network) and “America, America” (Disney Channel).

Leslie Lyndon

VP, Advertising & Promotion, Fox Television Stations

Leslie Lyndon has served as VP of advertising and promotion for Fox Television Stations for the past 15 years. Lyndon joined FTS in 1995 as VP creative director for the group's Los Angeles station

Prior to joining FTS, Lyndon spent nine years at WBBM (CBS) Chicago, working her way up from promotion producer to creative services director. Lyndon began her career in television as a promotions producer for WBBM Dallas and got her start in broadcasting as a teenager announcing news headlines and commercials for radio station KPLT-AM in Paris, Texas. 

Hilary Estey McLoughlin

President, Telepictures Productions

Hilary Estey McLoughlin is the president of Telepictures Productions, a position she has held since August 2006. In this role, she oversees development, production, programming, promotion and marketing for the company that she has helped build and maintain as one of the industry’s top producers of first-run syndicated programming.

Telepictures is an Emmy Award-winning producer having garnered 69 Emmys in 15 years, including Outstanding Talk Show or Outstanding Talk Show Host for 13 of the last 15 years. “Ellen” won the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment in 2010 and 2011.

In fall 2011, Telepictures added two more series to its roster and launched “Anderson” and “Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers.” Anderson Cooper brings his experience as an award-winning journalist and storyteller, passionate voice and personal perspective to “Anderson,” the nationally syndicated daily, one-hour daytime talk show that premiered September 12, 2011. Cooper addresses water cooler topics and interviews the real people, populist newsmakers and celebrities behind these stories. From undercover investigations to hidden camera experiments, the show gives the audience new perspective in an effort to gain insight into relevant issues and social trends affecting women's lives.

“Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers” is a daily, half-hour, studio-based show hosted by one of America’s foremost experts on addiction, relationships and medicine, Dr. Drew Pinsky and airs on The CW Network from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Each episode includes a compelling personal story about someone in need of help, from love and relationships to a wide range of addictions to health. Dr. Drew calls upon his rolodex of top-notch experts to help solve the problem and put the person on the path to a “life change.” Telepictures has continued to grow and to serve its audience, expanding its business into new platforms with authentic brand extensions and revenue generating initiatives. Estey McLoughlin’s Telepictures and Ellen DeGeneres are partners in a new venture, elevenelevenrecords, which discovers new acts and platforms them on the talk show. The record label’s first release was with 12-year-old Internet singing sensation, Greyson Chance, whom DeGeneres discovered on YouTube singing Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” In addition, Telepictures has demonstrated social media innovation across its programming. Also encompassing a three-screen platform, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show" has garnered more than 5 million Facebook fans, more than 6.5 million Twitter followers, and has become one of the most viewed channels on YouTube.

Following the success of The Ellen App, which features in-show material and exclusive iPhone – shot video by DeGeneres, “Ellen” became the first leader in daytime talk to launch an official game app, Ellen’s Know or Go, for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch this past April. In May 2011, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" announced that it would be expanding its existing partnership with AOL by launching a version of the AOL.com homepage targeted to fans of the show. This expansion involves “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on AOL's customized home page, where AOL users can enjoy exclusive ”Ellen” features and videos as well as video and behind-the-scenes content to the "Daily Buzz" column. Telepictures also produced four primetime variety specials with Ellen DeGeneres for TBS; the fourth special, “Ellen’s Somewhat Special Special,” taped at the Chicago Theatre in June 2010.

Telepictures is the first media company to have a cross media success with TMZ, which has been the first to establish itself as a phenomenally successful three-screen brand. TMZ is the most cited entertainment news sources in the world and is utilized by thousands of global newsgathering organizations with its 24/7 coverage. Further growing its brand, TMZ has extended the brand to a fourth platform to allow audiences an additional way to interact with the franchise with “The TMZ Hollywood Tour – Secrets and Celebrity Hot Spots,” a tour of celebrity hot spots in and around Hollywood, on a special custom-designed bus in partnership with Starline Tours. TMZ has also expanded its range in the world of radio this spring, launching "TMZ Live," TMZ.com's daily one-hour entertainment news program on SiriusXM, and debuting “TMZ Radio,” a new national weekday vignette for entertainment radio stations, in partnership with Premiere Networks.

Telepictures Productions also synergistically teamed up with Time Inc.'s Essence Communications and launched Essence.com as the ultimate online destination for African-American women and an incubator for potential television series and original digital programming.

A Warner Bros. veteran of 25 years, Estey McLoughlin was instrumental in developing and launching such series as “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Queen Latifah,” “Jenny Jones,” “Street Smarts,” “Change of Heart,” HBO’s “Taxicab Confessions” and “The Tyra Show.”

Before being named to her current position, Estey McLoughlin had most recently served as EVP and GM of Telepictures Productions, since July 2002, and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the division. Before that, she served three years as SVP of programming and development, where she was responsible for expanding the company’s development and production activities in New York, Estey McLoughlin also served as VP of programming, Telepictures Productions, following 18 months as an Executive Producer of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” where she worked alongside Rosie O’Donnell, winning the 1998 and 1999 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Talk Show.

Preceding her move to executive producer, Estey McLoughlin was VP of development for Telepictures Productions, where she was integral in the development, launch and day-to-day production of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show" while supervising the company’s other on-air series and program development for first-run syndication, cable and network daytime programming.

In 1984, Estey McLoughlin began her career as a research analyst for Seltel, Inc. She joined the Lorimar-Telepictures research department in 1986, holding various titles including senior research analyst, manager and director of research. She was named director of development at Telepictures Productions in 1989 and was promoted to VP of development in 1992.

Estey McLoughlin’s Telepictures began a partnership with William McKinley Elementary School in Burbank in September 2010, working closely with the school on a number of projects, including fulfilling teachers’ wish lists for classroom supplies and mentoring students in an ongoing reading program. The mentorship program that Telepictures has established with McKinley Elementary has provided a remarkable opportunity for Telepictures, as a company, to make an impact on students’ education and lives.

Paul McTear

President & CEO, Raycom Media, Inc.

Paul McTear joined Raycom Media in February 1997 as CFO with responsibilities including traditional financial oversight plus operating responsibilities for Raycom Sports. In July of 2001, McTear was promoted to the position of president and CEO following the retirement of CEO, John Hayes. The company has grown to the largest privately owned TV broadcast company in the US, now owning and/or operating 42 television stations in 18 states and covering more than 10.6% of U.S. television households. Raycom stations are the news leaders in the majority of their markets.

McTear was previously at the Providence Journal Company for 20 years where he was VP of finance and corporate development. There, McTear was involved with acquisitions, strategic and financial planning, and corporate development. He was also instrumental in the launch of two cable programming networks, Television Food Network and America’s Health Network. In addition, McTear had financial overview of The Providence Journal’s cable, paging and cellular telephone companies.

McTear serves on the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Board of Directors, NBC’s Affiliate Board, and heads a Small Market Coalition formed to keep small market broadcast issues in the forefront. Additionally, he serves on the board of directors of WideOrbit, WorldNow, MSTV and MyWeather.

Michael Mischler

EVP, Marketing, CBS Television Distribution

Michael Mischler is EVP of marketing for CBS Television Distribution.

In December 2006, Mischler was selected to lead all marketing activities in the newly formed division of CBS, CBS Television Distribution, that resulted from the merger of King World and CBS Paramount Domestic Television. CBS Television Distribution produces or distributes seven of the top 10 shows in first-run syndication, including “Wheel of Fortune,” “Judge Judy,” “Jeopardy!,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Dr. Phil,” “Inside Edition” and “Judge Joe Brown.” Mischler oversees consumer, business-to-business and Internet marketing for the division’s first run, off-net and extensive library of programming.

Before the merger, Mischler served as EVP of marketing, Paramount Pictures Television from 1999 to 2006. In his position, Mischler supervised all aspects of Paramount Domestic Television’s marketing and brand activities, including on-air, print, radio, promotion, advertising and sales materials for the division’s first-run and off-network product, cable programming and theatrical film packages.

In 1997 and 1998, Mischler served as SVP of marketing with Ticketmaster in Los Angeles. His responsibilities included the launch of the company’s co-branded credit card, as well as marketing Ticketmaster’s media assets and building strategic marketing alliances.

From 1988 through 1997, Mischler was SVP of advertising and promotion at the CBS Television Network. During his original tenure with CBS, Mischler was responsible for all television, radio, print and outdoor advertising and promotion for the network’s primetime programming, as well as advertising/promotions for other divisions, including news, sports, daytime and children’s. Mischler also oversaw the network campaigns for the ’92 and ‘94 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France and Lillehammer, Norway and the launch of “The Late Show With David Letterman” on CBS.

Previously, Mischler was VP of advertising and promotion with King World Productions; director of advertising for the Los Angeles CBS O&O, KCBS-TV; and director of advertising and promotion at KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Mischler and his teams have won of many industry awards, including two regional Emmys, numerous PromaxBDA Gold Awards and several Clio Awards. He was named the PromaxBDA Marketer of the Year in 1994 and received the PromaxBDA Brand Builder Award in 2003.

Alex Nagler

Business Development and Account Services Director, Trendrr.tv 

Alex Nagler leads account services and business development for Trendrr.tv where he oversees new business acquisition and client relations. Prior to Trendrr, Nagler did research in the social field with the SUNY Research Foundation, where he studied the use of Twitter in international diplomacy.

Graeme Newell

President, 602 Communications

Graeme Newell is a customer loyalty researcher who shows TV companies how to get viewers watching longer and more often. He turns casual viewers into passionate groupies who watch lots of TV. Newell is a world-renowned speaker, consultant and thought leader on emotional marketing. Newell’s company, 602 Communications, has consulted all the major broadcast groups, and global media companies such CNN, Sony, Time-Warner, News Corp, and Disney.

Drawing from a library of 50,000 of the world’s most powerful TV promos and commercials, Newell’s presentations are packed full of the very best advertising in the world. He reveals the hidden strategies that build strong customer loyalty and increase repeat viewing.

Newell spent most of his career as a manager in LA, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Columbus, OH. After years as a both a frontline producer and manager, he started 602 Communications in 1997. 

Marla D. Provencio

EVP and CMO, ABC Entertainment Group

Marla Provencio is CMO of ABC Entertainment Group. Previously, she was EVP of marketing at ABC Entertainment Group since June 2009. In this position she oversees all marketing activities for ABC’s primetime and late-night lineup, while establishing the tone and brand for the network. Her duties include oversight and strategic planning, creative development and implementation of all on-air and off-air marketing, advertising and promotional campaigns for all ABC Entertainment programming, including scripted and reality series, alternative, movies and specials. Prior to her Group title, Provencio had been EVP of marketing for ABC Entertainment since February 2007. 

In addition to being responsible for the successful launches of ABC’s "Modern Family," "Desperate Housewives," "Lost," "Grey’s Anatomy," "Dancing with the Stars" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," among other ABC primetime and late-night programming, Provencio created a variety of award-winning and innovative marketing campaigns. She launched the television industry’s first multi-platform brand identity and viewer-navigation system through the "ABC Start Here" initiative, developed multi-platform marketing strategies, alternative reality games and multi-level engagement activities for the hit series "Lost" as well as other programming, and was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 2008-2009 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media (fiction) for "The Dharma Initiative" ("Lost"). Provencio created Hispanic-targeted campaigns for "Desperate Housewives" and "Ugly Betty." Both series’ premieres ranked as the No. 1 show of the evening and time period among all Hispanic viewers watching English language television, and Provencio was named one of the top Hispanic marketers of the year by AdWeek’s "Marketing y Medios Magazine." 

For her creative endeavors on behalf of ABC, Provencio was named "Entertainment Marketer of the Year" in 2005 and 2007 by Ad Age. She has also been nominated for numerous PromaxBDA Awards, winning several for on-air promotion campaigns that she developed. These include the "ABC House" branding campaign as well as campaigns for such series as "Modern Family," "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," "Grey’s Anatomy," "NYPD Blue" and "Alias," as well as the movie and miniseries "Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesday’s with Morrie" and "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows." 

Provencio started her career in on-air promotion at ABC in 1979 as production coordinator. Over the years she has held various positions, including producer, senior producer and executive director of daytime and children’s promotion; VP, overseeing all on-air creative for drama and long-form programming; and VP, marketing, ABC Entertainment.

In addition, Provencio was selected by a panel of executives to participate in ABC’s mentoring program. She was also voted one of the 50 Elite Hispanic Women two years in a row by "Hispanic Business Magazine." She currently serves on the PromaxBDA Board of Directors.

Gini Resnick

Research Director and Digital Sales Manager, Sinclair Broadcast Group - Nashville

Gini Resnick is currently the research director and digital sales manager for three local broadcast television stations in Nashville, Tennessee. Resnick’s role is to analyze the stations' audience metrics to help the sales department with the development of local television advertising campaigns.

In addition to researching, designing and developing a majority of the department's sales materials, for the past four years, Resnick has supervised the development of local digital interactive marketing campaigns for local businesses including social media, online display and interactive advertising, text to win contesting, text loyalty clubs and other uniquely layered campaigns.

In her research director capacity, Resnick is responsible for the design and development of sales materials, marketing tools and media kits used in the sales and promotions departments for the creation of powerful marketing campaigns for both the station and local businesses.

Working directly with Nielsen Media Research local market representatives, she monitors the installed Nielsen meter sample in the market, working to maintain an accurate measurement sample in order to ensure accurate ratings for our station. The quantitative data of Nielsen Resnick combines with the qualitative profiles from local research companies, census data and other online research sources to develop in-depth audience and consumer profiles used to develop marketing campaigns for local businesses. Resnick is an expert in Nielsen television ratings, qualitative analysis and local three-tier marketing.

Jonathan Sinclair

EVP & Executive Producer, Development, Harpo Studios

As an EVP and executive producer of Harpo Studios, Jonathan Sinclair develops and delivers new programming that will carry on Oprah Winfrey’s legacy and expand Harpo and OWN’s (Oprah Winfrey Network) first-rate content on multiple media outlets.

Based at Harpo Studios headquarters in Chicago, Sinclair’s most recent productions include “Oprah’s Lifeclass” and “Master Class.” He also served as part of the team that developed “The Dr. Oz Show,” as well as “Nate Berkus Show.” Sinclair helped develop and produce the primetime series “Oprah’s Big Give” (ABC, 2007) and primetime specials including “Oprah’s Oscar Special,” (ABC, 2007, 2010) and “Christmas at the White House” (ABC, 2009).

Sinclair first joined Harpo Studios in 1996 as a promotion producer. During his tenure, he has held positions with increasing levels of responsibility, including senior supervising producer of creative services. He also served as supervising producer for the “Oprah Show” 20th Anniversary DVD box set, which featured highlights from 20 years of the No. 1 daytime talk show on television.

Prior to joining Harpo, Sinclair was a writer and producer of special projects at WDTN-TV in Dayton, OH where he was awarded a National Iris Award and a Regional Emmy Award. He is also the recipient of multiple NAACP Image Awards and Telly Awards. He began his career as the creative services producer and news cameraman at WMGM-TV in Atlantic City, NJ.

Jan Craige Singer

VP, Media, Crimson Hexagon

Jan Craige Singer is an award-winning media executive with experience in distinguished content brands within the television industry. At Crimson Hexagon, Singer is responsible for spearheading the creation of platform based media products in private and social data analysis correlated with traditional measures, for the film, television and digital entertainment industries.

Prior to joining Crimson Hexagon, Singer headed her own company, Big Blue Dot LLC, specializing in brand strategy, design and trend research for the top entertainment companies for children and young adults including Disney, Nickelodeon, National Geographic and PBS KIDS as well as major consumer brands including Procter & Gamble, Hilton, Unilever and USAA.

Singer has won many awards, including the Gold Quill, AEP, BDA, PromaxBDA, Emmys, International Monitor, New York Film and Television Awards, Golden Ace nomination, and more.

Before joining Big Blue Dot, Singer held executive positions with Hearst Broadcasting and was a VP with Discovery and TLC. She started her career in network affiliate television working for station groups including Times Mirror, Gannett, Gillet Broadcasting, Hobby and Group W.

Tom Somers

VP, Strategic Initiatives, Gannett Broadcasting

Tom Somers joined Gannett Television in December 1998 as director of research. Somers leads the market research, audience measurement and innovation efforts for Gannett Broadcasting and has responsibilities for social media, marketing and communications. In 2004 he was part of the Gannett Broadcast Management Program (GBMP), a program he later administered, in 2005 was named VP of strategic initiatives, and in 2006 was named to the design, innovation at Gannett (DIG) Five-O team. In 2010 he led the broadcast division team on a digital re-design. Recently he has been working on cross-divisional teams to manage products and strategy.

Externally, he is involved in a number of industry organizations, including being on the boards of the MRC (Media Ratings Council), and CIMM (Coalition for Innovative Media Measurement), to membership in the PGC (Nielsen’s Policy Guidelines Committee) and the NAB/TvB communication task force.

Somers came to Gannett from Media Advisors International, a large media research firm, where he was senior research project director. He spent 12 years conducting research and consulting for primarily North American media companies. Somers has worked with local television stations in all market sizes, broadcast and cable networks, and has spent time pilot-testing both entertainment and news programs.

Somers has taught media research at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, authored articles and has completed management training at The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL).

Anthony Spirito

Media Research and Marketing Consultant, Franco Research Group

Anthony Spirito is a media research professional with 22 years of experience, with a particular emphasis on local TV research, local sample methodology and syndicated TV programming. Spirito is currently a media research and marketing consultant with the Franco Research Group in New York. At Franco, he's been providing wide-ranging and custom research solutions to broadcasting clients like Sinclair Broadcast Group, Raycom and Entravision, among others, for the last two and a half years.

Prior to Franco Research Group, Spirito was a director of programming for national station rep firm Katz Television Group for 10 years where he provided programming, scheduling and research consultation to dozens of local TV stations and several large station groups.

Additionally, Spirito held managerial level positions at national program distributors Tribune Entertainment Company and King World Productions.

Valari Staab

President, NBC Owned Television Stations

Valari Staab is president of NBC Owned Television Stations. In this role, Staab oversees the company’s 10 owned television stations, its associated online properties and digital out-of-home division, its local lifestyle programming production company and its in-house marketing and promotion company.

Staab has worked in local television for 30 years, primarily at the ABC Owned Television Stations, serving in a variety of roles in general management, research and creative services. Before assuming her current role, she was president and GM of KGO-TV, the market leading station in San Francisco, for eight years. Under Staab’s leadership, KGO-TV increased the amount of locally produced programming by more than 50% and expanded its digital efforts to reach new viewers, including streaming newscasts, launching an iPad app and increasing its social media outreach. During her tenure, KGO-TV received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Northern California Emmy for Station Excellence and The Radio and Television News Directors Association’s Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.

Before leading KGO-TV, Staab served as president and GM of WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham for a year and at KFSN-TV in Fresno for nearly four years. She worked at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia for a decade, where she held the roles of director of creative services and director of marketing and research. Previously, she worked in marketing and research for KPRC-TV in Houston and KLTV-TV in Tyler, Texas, where she started her broadcast career as a college student.

Throughout her professional life, Staab has been active in her community. She currently serves on the Board of the NBCUniversal Foundation and has been a longtime supporter of the United Way.

Peter Szabo

West Coast Regional Director, Advertising Sales, Shazam Entertainment

Peter Szabo joined Shazam in December, 2010 bringing more than 12 years experience in digital, radio and mobile media. At Shazam, Szabo is responsible for advertising sales in the western region and for building customized marketing solutions for brands, agencies and broadcasters who recognize the growing power of amplifying their TV commercials with an immediate second screen experience using Shazam. He has spearheaded their innovative ad partnerships with clients like Old Navy, Fox, eBay, Paramount Pictures and Honda.

Prior to joining Shazam, Szabo spent nearly a decade in radio in his native Boston, starting as internet content manager as the web exploded in the early 2000s. He became marketing director before transitioning to sales where he ultimately led Clear Channel Boston's digital sales efforts as on-line director of sales and integrated marketing manager. After radio, he was director of business development at Captivate's Digital Out-Of-Home network and prior to Shazam, got back to his musical roots as sales manager at Pandora.

Steven Walsh

SVP, Local Market Sales, Rentrak

Steven Walsh brings more than 20 years of proven strategic sales and sales management experience to his role as SVP of local market sales for Rentrak’s fast-growing local market television division. A recognized client management leader in the multi-screen audience research industry, Walsh held key sales leadership positions at research industry startups and current standard-bearers before joining Rentrak in 2009. Most notably, he played a critical role in significantly shaping and expanding revenue, client base and strategic positioning for companies such as Integrated Media Measurement, Inc. (IMMI), Experian Research Services, IAG Research, TNS Media Intelligence and Nielsen Media Research, and was instrumental in growing IAG from an eight-employee startup in 2001 into a 250-employee syndicated advertising effectiveness measurement company by 2006, eventually leading to the acquisition of IAG by Nielsen Media Research in 2008 for $225 million.

Walsh has led Rentrak’s local market sales team and strategy since he joined the company in January 2010. During that time, Walsh’s leadership has resulted in Rentrak’s rapid client expansion from zero to more than 165 television stations in over 80 DMAs ranging in size from Dallas to Twin Falls, and including notable ownership groups such as Post-Newsweek, Raycom, Sinclair, Belo, Cox, Tribune, Nexstar, Media General, Scripps and many others.

Walsh is a member of the Radio & Television Research Council and Advertising Research Foundation (ARF), has been a guest lecturer at New York University, Syracuse University, the University of Florida and the University of Connecticut.

Morley Winograd

Partner, Mike & Morley, LLC

With his partner Mike Hais, Morley Winograd is a consultant, author, speaker and on-air pundit delivering candid, informed insights on engaging Millennials.

Co-author of two highly acclaimed books, “Millennial Momentum” and “Millennial Makeover”, Morley is a senior fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School’s Center on Communication Leadership and Policy. He served as senior policy adviser to Vice President Al Gore and was a regional VP of Ssales for AT&T. In his early career, he was the Michigan State Democratic Party Chairman.

Based in Los Angeles, Morley is a regular contributor to publications as varied as “The Christian Science Monitor,” Huffington Post and “Politico.”