Cablefax The Magazine - September 2015 - 30

THE INFLUENTIALS
David Arroyo
SVP, Legal Affairs and
Internal Audit, Scripps
Networks Interactive
Arroyo implements
operational and
fi nancial compliance
audits. He also directs
the company's adherence to policies,
procedures and regulations to increase
the effi ciency and effectiveness of
Scripps Networks' assurance systems.
Arroyo says cable can better support
diversity by creating " an environment
that rewards contrarian thought, which
starts with hiring people of varying
backgrounds, life experiences and
modes of thinking. "
Tara August
VP, Talent Relations,
Turner Sports
August, an all-star
when it comes to
dealing with players
in the sports world,
oversees all aspect of
the talent department across the division's
television and digital platforms.
She has a special emphasis on serving
as the primary liaison to all sports
teams, leagues, agents and celebrities
to facilitate contract negotiations
and special guest bookings. During
the 2015 NCAA Tournament, August
scored by securing Georgia State
Head Coach Ron Hunter to serve as
a studio analyst for CBS and Turner's
coverage of the Sweet 16. " Diversity
is a patchwork of varying qualities, "
she says.
Alix Baudin
SVP/GM, Digital
Operations, Scripps
Networks Interactive
Responsible for
delivering a next generation
multi-platform
lifestyle media experience
for fans of Scripps Networks'
lifestyle media brands, Baudin has
tirelessly built out the company's digital
strategy and remains a guiding force
in its progression. He has expanded
30
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content on to new platforms, including
Android TV and Chromecast. Scripps has
held a #1 comScore slot for 15 months
with Food Network sites while Food.com
has seen more than 100 percent growth
year over year.
Makesha Benson
VP, Retention
Marketing,
Comcast Corporation
Benson identifi es and
executes strategic
market opportunities
to drive improvement
in loyalty with multicultural subscribers.
She also supports mentoring and is a
passionate advocate for diversity and
inclusion. Benson has served on the
board of WICT's Chicago-area chapter
and is an active member of NAMIC. She
says she defi nes success the same way
her 5-year-old daughter does: by asking
" Am I doing what makes me happy? "
Paul Biava
VP, Technical
Operations,
Comcast Florida
In one of the most
competitive marketplaces
in the country,
employees under
Biava's leadership have developed a
heightened sense of urgency when it
comes to serving customers. Fluent in
Spanish, he brings years of executivelevel
business experience-both
domestic and international-to his
role. " Staying focused on the customers
and delivering excellent service to
them, and the business will take care of
itself, " Biava advises.
Charlie Jordan Brookins
SVP of Original
Programming,
BET Networks
Jordan Brookins
oversees BET programming
including
" Being Mary Jane, "
and " Nellyville. " Next up is " According
to Alex, " which follows the daily life
of Alex Martin Dean, the daughter of
September 2015
Whoopi Goldberg. To foster promotions
from within BET, Jordan Brookins has
developed BRIDGE (Building Resources
Internally to Develop GameChanging
Executives), which allows
assistants to step up and shine. The
exec crossed her own " bridge " when
she completed WICT's Betsy Magness
Leadership Institute. " The program
built my leadership toolkit tremendously, "
she says.
Cindy Brown
VP, Program Planning
and Strategy, Scripps
Networks Interactive
With Brown's smart
scheduling strategies,
she's been able
to impact the ratings
records and growth at HGTV, DIY Network
and Great American Country. HGTV
recently celebrated its 14th consecutive
month of year-on-year ratings growth,
and fi nished the fi rst three months of
2015 with the highest quarterly adults
25-54 rating in history. Meanwhile, DIY
Network is breaking records as well,
and ratings at Great American Country
are at a six-year high.
Brie Bryant
VP, Development and
Production, Original
Programming
Oxygen Media
In her role, Bryant is
always looking for
diverse and extraordinary
stories. Enter Oxygen's " The
Prancing Elites, " which follows an
all-male competitive dance team in
Mobile, Ala. " There is something to be
celebrated about an authentic group
of folks who never stop celebrating
who they are despite the rejection
and the hurdles that they have faced, "
Bryant tells us. Her gut was right, with
it marking the network's highest-rated
series premiere among all key demos
since its rebrand. Bryant shared Oxygen's
development meeting mantra,
which sounds like it could also be The
Prancing Elites' theme song: " Feel the
fear and do it anyway. "
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Cablefax The Magazine - September 2015

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