More coverage of Cable Show 2010 from MCN and B&C here.
Los Angeles--The ongoing argument for diversity as good business practice was echoed Thursday morning by Disney Media Networks co-chairman George Bodenheimer, who said a diverse workforce is imperative for media companies to remain competitive in a growing multi-ethic America.
Bodenheimer, who spoke here during the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity In Communication's annual Awards Breakfast, said diversity within an organization "makes businesses more competitive, more viable and more successful and, perhaps more importantly, most reflective of the audiences we collectively serve. Simply put, achieving diversity makes all of our companies better."
Bodenheimer, who served as honorary chairman of the awards breakfast, said that the case for diversity revolves around the people that both the cable industry employs and serves in an increasingly multicultural country and that its tenets must be embraced by executives on every level.
"When we are open to new and more voices, we are better able to fulfill our mission ... to serve our fans better tomorrow than we do today," he said.
NAMIC's Next Generation Awards breakfast, presented in partnership with Multichannel News and hosted by Los Angeles-based SportsCenter anchors Neil Everett and Stan Verrett, highlight executives of color age 45 and under that are demonstrating exceptional managerial practices to foster diversity the categories of cable MSO, cable programmer and technology company or discipline. The winners: Imani Breaker, vice president of customer care for Time Warner's New York City Region (MSO); David Hudson, vice president of alternative programming for TNT and TBS (programmer) and Matthew Hong, senior vice president and general manager for Turner Sports (technology).
NAMIC Luminary honorees include: David Arroyo, vice president, legal affairs, Scripps Networks; Mari Ghuneim, vice president, online media, Bravo, NBC Universal; Eric Hawkins, senior vice president, human resources, Discovery Communications; Linette S. Hwu, vice president, legal/commercial affairs and operations, Travel Channel Media; Toni Judkins, senior vice president, original programming, TV One; Maelia Macin, vice president & general manager, KMEX Univision 34; Kimberly Mathews, vice president, human resources, Comcast; Catherine Mitchell, vice president, field service, Cox Communications; Twuanna Munroe, vice president, affiliate accounting, Scripps Networks, Paul Richardson, senior vice president, human resources, ESPN; Sumeet Seam, vice president, legal, Discovery Communications; and Michelle LeCorn Strong, vice president, national accounts, A&E Television Networks.
