Genii awards program 2016

Proud Sponsor of the 57th Annual Genii Awards and Congratulations to all Honorees

The Real

64 Years Later‌

Genii's "namesake" and inspiration, Jeanne Gray McDonald was a leading advocate for women in the broadcast industry in the late 1940's and 1950's. She wrote, produced, directed and hosted the first women's radio program dedicated to women audiences and their interests, combining news, interviews and applied psychology. "An unheard of idea at the time, since women didn't have a voice to say anything, much less broadcast content." Jeanne later said. She obtained a sponsor and financing and sold "The Women's Voice" format to KMPC (formerly known as, "Station of the Stars"). Due to Jeanne's popularity and success on the radio with " The Women's Voice", she was asked to develop and host a Television program in 1949. The new show was entitled "The Jeanne Gray Show".

In 1952, Jeanne organized and founded Radio and TV Women of Southern California, which later became known as American Women in Radio and Television. Jeanne's original inspiration and prophetic vision for the organization has continued for over sixty years and expanded across all areas of entertainment. Today, we are now known as the Alliance for Women in Media, Southern California Affiliate.

The "Genii Award" was named in Jeanne's honor (a play on her first name) as the first recipient. The spelling was changed to "Genii"- the plural version of Genius, based on the mythological superior or divine nature of the guardian spirits that are innately present in every individual person, place or thing.

Today, through the Genii Awards, we continue to celebrate trailblazing leaders like Jeanne who further the efforts that Jeanne began in 1952 in advancing the impact of women in our industry.

W E L C OM E On behalf of the 2016 Officers and Board of Directors for the Southern California Affiliate of Alliance for Women in Media (AWM SoCal), I would like to welcome you to the 57th Annual Genii Awards.

Tonight we celebrate the remarkable and noteworthy achievements of individuals within our community who have taken up the baton as advocates for our industry, who challenge the status-quo, open doors for others and serve as role models to the future of our industry.

Through their success, we continue to grow in strength, influence and support.

We have also for the first time created a Film Awards classification for the Geniis which spotlights amazing independent female film writers, directors and producers.

And most importantly, through your support this evening, the AWM SoCal Foundation tonight will present scholarships to deserving new entrants to our industry. Through these scholarships and a gifted AWM SoCal membership we look to develop our future.

AWM SoCal has also been developing and expanding its depth and reach across the entertainment industry supporting the ever-growing needs of our membership. Our programming this year has had a strong focus on the digital as its evolution touches every vertical of our industry.

Thanks to Digital Hollywood this year we have even brought our organization and the Genii Awards directly to the digital community. We have produced speaker panels educating our members on digital and on June 4th at CBS-Radford we will be hosting our first-ever speed-mentoring event focused on digital.

It is a great time for AWM SoCal and we are so pleased to have you here tonight at the Geniis as we celebrate both our present and our future.

Samantha Brown President AWM Southern California, Affiliate

Rising Star

Nicole Boxer

Excellence in Documentary

Pat Prescott

Excellence in Radio

Xanthe Wells

Excellence in Advertising

Tracey Edmonds and Charissa Thompson Excellence in Entertainment

Christine Devine

Excellence in Journalism

Lisa Meier

Excellence in New Media

Sherry Brennan

Excellence in Management

Maggie Bellville Inspiration Award

TONIGHT’S HONOREES

Annette Covarrubias

CONGRATULATIONS! IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR DEDICATION

The teams at

GENII AWARDS SHOW HOST Emmy-nominated On-air Host, CBS2/KCAL9

Erica Olsen is an Emmy-nominated On-air Host for CBS Local and has been the Station Host for CBS2/KCAL9 since 2009. Her credits include hosting Music Minute - a weekday series featuring emerging bands, and Inside SoCal - a guide to what’s new and notable in LA. She’s hosted various music specials including Night at the Sayers Club, Lexus Night Out, and Level 8 at The Grove. Additionally, she’s served as a reporter for the CBS2/KCAL9 Doctors On Call Phone Bank series.

Erica is the Past President of Alliance for Women in Media SoCal Affiliate, and is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in Business Administration and emphasis in Information Systems. She is an active member of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) and alumni of the Delta Gamma Sorority. In her spare time, she can be found scoping out new restaurants, hiking with her dog Caesar, and listening to live music.

Matt Iseman

GENII AWARDS SHOW HOST Although he always loved being the center of attention, Matt started down a very different road. He graduated with honors from Princeton University, an MD from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and attended University of Colorado for a residency in Internal Medicine.

Then, in a shocking move, he quit his job as a doctor and moved to Hollywood to pursue stand-up comedy and never looked back.

Matt began headlining clubs across the U.S. and was selected to perform at the 2002 Winter Olympics. He made several overseas trips to entertain the troops in countries including South Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Additionally, Matt hosted several shows, including Casino Night for GSN, Clean House on the Style Network, and 5 Messiest Homes in the Country, which earned him a Daytime Emmy. Matt has also appeared in various movies and shows, such as Transformers 2, NCIS and Premium Blend on Comedy Central. Matt will be starring on Celebrity Apprentice this fall and currently hosts American Ninja Warrior for NBC. Yes, he’s tried the course.

Nope, he’s not a ninja.

G E N I I AWA R D S S H OW H O S T

ERICA OLSEN

Congratulations to the winners!

PAIGE PARKER Born and raised in Los Angeles, Paige Parker has always been a storyteller at heart. She graduates this spring with her Master of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from USC’s Marshall School of Business. At USC, Paige hosted her own radio show, sideline reported for USC football and basketball home games and was a host and producer for USC’s TV network. Her love for travel has taken her to more than 35 countries, most recently a trip to Havana where she reported on Cuban baseball. Paige aspires towards a career in broadcast TV where she can combine her passions for adventure and creating impactful content.

FAITH STRONGHEART Faith Strongheart is an emerging female director with a unique visionary style. She is in her third year of graduate school at UCLA, studying directing and finishing her latest short film, Je Suis Une Mère (I Am a Mother), about a woman struggling to balance work and family. She completed two short films during her first year of school, both with powerful and mature themes.

She has written two feature-length screenplays, including her thesis film based on her childhood growing up in a hippie family in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. Prior to entering graduate school, Faith wrote, produced and directed several short films, most notably Lines Converging, Searching for Jonas, and Linda, As in Beautiful, all of which screened at various festivals.

AMIA YOKOYAMA Amia Yokoyama is a graduate student at California Institute of the Arts, pursuing an MFA, and a multi-media artist who works with experimental animation, video, 2D mixed media, sculpture, and installation. Amia's work uses organic and synthetic materials to create hybrid figures and otherworldly environments. She says of her work, "I explore the notion of the body within virtual space and the erasure of static form and identity. Thereby a new concept of body emerges... through rearrangements and reconfigurations.” In 2010, Amia graduated with dual degrees from Gallatin NYU in Contemporary Art Theory and New Digital Media and Steinhardt NYU in Fine Art.

SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

This year, AWM SoCal had a record number of scholarship applications from students with diverse backgrounds, interests and majors. While it was a tough decision to make, there is a generation of women and men who are dedicated to issues at the core of AWM SoCal. After careful consideration, the judges selected the three following students to be recipients of this year’s Alliance for Women in Media, Southern California Affiliate Scholarship.

I N AU G U R A L G E N I I F I L M AWA R D S

INAUGURAL GENII FILM AWARDS Presenter: Josh Welsh, President, Film Independent

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT DRAMA: Debris - Escombros Synopsis: Caught in the gears of the 2014 US immigration crisis, when over 52,000 unaccompanied minors crossed the border, twelve-year old Ana arrives at an immigration detention center with nothing but the clothes on her back, her mute, younger brother, and a treasured music box. She soon finds that seeking safety will cost more than she bargained for.

Director Bio: Mary-Lyn Chambers; Born in Fiji and raised in the Pacific Islands, Mary-Lyn Chambers is an award-winning New Zealand-American filmmaker.

As a writer/producer/director, Chambers has made four short films, The Twenty Seventh Hour, The Rain Has Forgotten US, In Confidence, and most recently, Debris (Escombros). She is currently developing her first feature film as writer/director, entitled Something Pretty Between Us, set in modern-day Qatar and developing Debris (Escombros) into an episodic. In 2015, Chambers was named a Film Independent Project Involve Fellow in directing and short listed for the AFI Directing Workshop for Women.

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - COMEDY: Three Strikes Synopsis: An ex-con with two strikes on his record, get’s out of jail and is trying to go legit but unfortunately for him, everyone around him seems to have other plans for him.

Director Bio: Susan Davis is an award winning filmmaker of short films. She has written, produced and directed several films that have made it into festivals, and also won awards. Her latest film “Three Strikes” has been an official selection in several film festivals, and has won awards such as “Audience Choice”, “Best Writing”, “Best Special Effects”, “Best Graphics”, “Best Blocking”, “Best Editing” and “Best Comedy Short”. Susan just wrapped a short called “The Run Down” which is now in consideration for The Bentonville Film Festival. Susan’s future goal is to write and direct feature films.

Synopsis: "Who killed Eloá?" brings a critical analysis of the spectacularization of violence and television’s approach in cases of violence against women, revealing one of the reasons why Brazil has the fifth highest rate of murders of women in the world.

Director Bio: Lívia Perez is researcher of media, a director, and a producer of documentaries. Her directorial debut "Lampião da Esquina: Lighting up Brazilian Press” premiered in It’s All True – International Documentary Film Festival, and her short documentary “Who killed Eloa?” was awarded the Best Short Award at ATLANTIDOC, and at Sao Paulo Short Film Week. It was also officially selected at HOT DOCS 2016, and Cinélatino 28º Rencontres de Toulouse.

BEST SHORT SCRIPT - DRAMA: Before The Bomb Synopsis: 10 year old Elsa takes matters into her own hands when Child Services plans a visit that could separate her from her brother.

Writer Bios: Tannaz Hazemi & James Grimaldi.

Tannaz Hazemi was born in Teheran during the Iranian Revolution and via Sweden, Chicago, Milan and Paris, she made it to Brooklyn in one piece, where she now lives writing screenplays and directing shorts. Her most recent short BEFORE THE BOMB took her to the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes Film Festival and has won 18 awards, including ‘Best Director’ ‘Best Screenplay’ ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Short Film’. For the movie she produced an original cover song with singer SoKo. Her scripts have won various screenplay contests, including “The World Series of Screenwriting” and “The American Film Award” in 2016. She is currently developing a short film series with VICE. James Grimaldi has worked as a screenwriter for Disney, and in feature film development at Twentieth Century Fox. He teaches film & TV screenwriting at School of Visual Arts and Fordham University P.C.S.. His upcoming projects include: a fantasy children's novel, an animated TV show for Netflix, and a feature film championing the heroism of African American mothers in 1870.

BEST SHORT SCRIPT - COMEDY: If I Don't Lose, I'll Lose Synopsis: Mabel Morgan is an award-winning Deaf actress whose agent demands she loses weight or face losing her next acting role to her rival Bella Lazari who uses only basic sign language.

Temptations threaten to throw her off course. Will she succeed?

Writer Bio: Jean St Clair is currently an actress of theatre and film. She has featured in Julian Peedle-Calloo’s Five Needles for 2011 ZOOM short film scheme. She has also appeared in several performances for BBC TV. ‘If I Don’t Lose, I Lose’ is the first dramatic short film she has written and directed.

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BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Who Killed Eloa?

ANNETTE FROM THE AWM SOCAL BOARD!

RISING STAR AWARD HONOREE Digital Sales Planner, CBS Radio

Annette Covarrubias graduated with honors from the University of La Verne in 2013. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing. As an undergraduate, Annette was part of the first-ever Integrated Business Practicum where she along with four classmates started a company, during a semester, and donated all proceeds to children’s charities. Annette was also a member of the group that represented the University’s 2012 SIFE/Enactus team at the National Exhibition in Kansas City, MO, where she shared the community projects organized and implemented throughout the year with organizations such as Sowing Seeds for Life and LeRoy Haynes Center. In addition, she served as a mentor for the College of Business and Public Management’s Connect for Success Peer Mentoring Program during her junior and senior year.

Upon graduation, Annette worked for Epstein Custom Media – a company that owns L.A. Parent Magazine and the National Parenting Product Awards (NAPPA). She was with the company for almost four years - started as Intern, moved on to become Marketing and Sales Assistant and was then promoted to Community Manager. During her time there, she helped with producing staple events including NAPPA’s Annual Celebrity Stuff-a-thon, a charity event that benefits children in need, and L.A. Parent’s 35th Anniversary Event.

Currently, Annette is a Digital Sales Planner at CBS Radio. She has proudly served on the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Women in Media Southern California for two terms and was first involved with the organization as a student member and volunteer.

R I S I N G S TA R AWA R D H O N O R E E

ANNETTE COVARRUBIAS

congratulations

Nicole Boxer for your

EXCELLENCE IN DOCUMENTARY AWARD

HAROLD MATZNER

EXCELLENCE IN DOCUMENTARY AWARD HONOREE

Producer/ Director, Fuchsia Film

A native of Marin County, California, Nicole Boxer is an award-winning documentary Producer/Director. Boxer’s work in the entertainment industry includes narrative, feature films, documentary films, documentary series television, and reality.

Boxer won two Emmys, and a Peabody for the 2013 Academy Award nominated documentary film, The Invisible War, which investigates the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the military. In 2015, Boxer reteamed with the filmmakers to investigate college campus sexual assault in The Hunting Ground. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, and premiered on CNN. The Hunting Ground was shortlisted for an Oscar, in 2016. Both films have been hailed as powerful and effective “Social Impact” cinema, leading to vast cultural and legislative change.

Boxer has seen the power film asserts as an advocacy tool to create change. That belief is the central focus of her of her directorial debut, HOW I GOT OVER, which explores the transformative, healing power of the arts. Boxer was nominated for the International Documentary Association’s HUMANITUS Award for the film in 2014.

Boxer’s first film was an insider portrait of the women of the U.S. Senate, 14 WOMEN. The film debuted at AFI Docs in 2007, and broadcast on The Sundance Channel. Her other film credits include; THE PARTY’S NOT OVER, MOJADOS, PLAYGROUND and CLIMATE REFUGEES addressing key social and cultural issues; participatory democracy, immigration, sex trafficking, and climate change. Boxer advocated for those films with Congressional Lawmakers leading to public hearings, and policy change.

Ms. Boxer navigates Washington’s politically charged waters as a Consulting Producer for Emmy Award winning shows: JAMIE OLIVER’S FOOD REVOLUTION and TOP CHEF. Boxer’s newest TV show features embedded millennial journalists on the Presidential campaign trail, and will debut summer ’16.

Boxer is the daughter of U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and the former sister-in-law of U.S. President Bill Clinton. She sits on the Board of Directors for HEADCOUNT.ORG, and A.S.P.I.R.E., at UCLA. She lives with her husband and two sons; one a kindergartener, the other a college student, in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.

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NICOLE BOXER

EXCELLENCE IN RADIO AWARD HONOREE

On Air Personality, 94.7 The Wave

Pat Prescott is a native of Hampton, Va. and a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. After teaching junior high school for five years, she started her radio career at WYLD-FM in New Orleans.

Pat is a veteran broadcaster who spent most of her career in New York, beginning with a stint as music director and midday announcer at legendary jazz station WRVR. She held a number of positions at WBLS and WLIB, including morning show host, news announcer, talk show host and public affairs director. For thirteen years Pat was the morning show host at New York’s smooth jazz station CD 101.9.

Along with her on-air work, Pat appeared for 8 years in the New York company of the hit Off Broadway play “Mama I Want to Sing”. She is also a popular voiceover artist who for 10 years was the voice of the USA Network’s award winning late night program “Night Flight”. In addition, she is the voice of Time Warner Cable New York.

For six years Pat co-hosted the morning show on 94.7 The Wave with popular jazz artist and radio host Dave Koz and then for three years with Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Brian McKnight. Currently, Pat can be heard every weekday morning as solo host of the Wave’s morning show.

Pat is very active in the community and has received numerous awards and citations for her contributions. She is also the recipient of Radio and Records’ Smooth Jazz Personality of the Year Award for six consecutive years.

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PAT PRESCOTT

Your inspirational leadership has empowered and impacted many lives.

Congratulations Maggie!

Skip & Victoria Harris, California Wildlife Center

EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM AWARD HONOREE Anchor, Reporter, Producer, Author, Emcee, Mentor, Music Producer, Youth Advocate

Christine Devine is a veteran television news anchor at KTTV in Los Angeles with a passion for empowering young people. In 2015, she marked her 25th anniversary at Fox 11 News. On the job, Christine anchors the weeknight newscast on Fox 11 News (KTTV). She also celebrates over 20 years of Wednesday’s Child. Her weekly TV adoption segment has helped more than 500 children from foster care find forever families. She has 16 Emmys, including the prestigious Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Christine was honored by the Child Welfare League of America, and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute- “Angel in Adoption.” She also received the Anna Quindlen Award for Philanthropy Journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists.

Off the job, Christine calls herself a “cheerleader for children". She mentors kids and young adults under her unofficial concept “TEAM WC – #WeCan #WestCoast". The team has spoken at Central Juvenile Hall, painted a mural at a domestic violence shelter, sung the theme song for a foster care non-profit and performed at charity benefits. With her team, they create music and music videos with a message. One song is titled “Faith in Truth” and is a tribute to children in foster care. Their music videos address various other topics, including alcoholism, anti-domestic violence and saluting the Tuskegee Airmen.

Christine won a Gracie Allen Award from AWRT-American Women in Radio and Television for a special on breast cancer and the Avon Walk. Active in the community, she has been honored by the LA City Council, LA County Board of Supervisors, LA Police Department and LA County Sheriff’s Department. Among her other honors: Best Anchor Team from the Associated Press, Media Volunteer of the Year Award from the Volunteers of America and Lifetime Achievement from the Century City Chamber of Commerce.

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CHRISTINE DEVINE

EXCELLENCE IN ADVERTISING AWARD HONOREE Former Chief Creative Officer, Pitch Agency

Recognized in 2015 by Ad Age as one of the industry's "40 Under 40" and by Business Insider as one of "30 Most Creative Women in Advertising," Xanthe was most recently Chief Creative Officer of Los Angeles-based boutique agency Pitch. After joining the agency in 2013, she helped boost Pitch into the national spotlight, earning the agency a spot on Ad Age's "Agency to Watch" A-List and a Silver in the Small Agency Awards.

During the three years of her creative leadership at Pitch, Xanthe helped the agency realize 30%+ YOY growth in both revenue and talent and was been instrumental in landing multiple accounts including Netflix, Pepsi, Waldorf Astoria, SunPower, Arrowhead, Bonefish Grill, Konami, San Manuel Casino, Citrix, Weingart Center for the Homeless, Meineke, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Maaco, Closet Factory, Pinkberry and Living Spaces.

Prior to joining Pitch, she worked at TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles where she led efforts on Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Kraft, Pinkberry, Bare Escentuals and Stacy's Chips. She's most well-known for her work concepting and creative directing the Cannes, Clio, Effie and Andy award-winning Pepsi Refresh Project, which AdAge called a "case for marketing textbooks," for the first of its kind purpose-driven marketing strategy back in 2010.

After leaving Pitch earlier this year, Xanthe has broken out on her own to pursue several brand creation projects, one of which is becoming partner in OH YES!TM, a natural foods pizza company sold in Whole Foods, Mother’s Markets and Ralph's. She’s also working with an advertising colleague to develop a line of children’s products called A-CHORE-ABLESTM which should launch later this year.

Xanthe's work has been cited by numerous press outlets, including AdAge, Fast Company, Adweek, Creativity and the New York Times for her work in addition to all the major industry award shows including Cannes Lions, The One Show, Andys, Communication Arts and Clios.

Insta: xanthewells Twitter: @Xamperella

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XANTHE WELLS

P ro g r a m S c h e d u l e

2016 Genii Awards

Saluting the Notable Achievements of Excellence

by Individuals in Media and Entertainment Thursday, May 5, 2016 Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles The Evening 5pm Cocktail Reception 6:30pm Awards Ceremony President’s Welcome Samantha Brown Vice President, Strategic Sales, Vubiquity Evening Hosts: Erica Olsen On-air, CBS2/KCAL9 Matt Iseman Host, American Ninja Warrior Scholarship Presentations AWM SoCal Genii Scholarship Awards Awards Presentation by: Fran Zone Faith Strongheart (UCLA) Paige Parker (USC) Amia Yokoyama (Cal Arts) Fran Zone Scholarship Awards Announcement Film Competition Award Award Presentation by: Josh Welsh President, Film Independent Honorees:

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - DRAMA: Debris - Escombros: director, Mary-Lyn Chambers BEST NARRATIVE SHORT - COMEDY: Three Strikes: director, Susan Davis BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - Who Killed Eloa?: director, Livia Perez BEST NARRATIVE SHORT SCRIPT - DRAMA: Before The Bomb: writers, Tannaz Hazemi & James Grimaldi BEST NARRATIVE SHORT SCRIPT - COMEDY: If I Don't Lose I'll Lose: writer, Jean St. Clair

Rising Star Award Award Presentation by: Julie Kertes General manager, National Parenting Product Awards Honoree: Annette Covarrubias Digital sales planner, CBS Radio Excellence in Documentary Award Award Presentation by: U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer Honoree: Nicole Boxer Documentary filmmaker (The Invisible War, The Hunting Ground)

Excellence in Advertising Award Award Presentation: Video Honoree: Xanthe Wells Former chief creative officer, Pitch Agency Excellence in Entertainment Award Award Presentation by: Shaun Robinson Former Host, Access Hollywood Honoree: Tracey Edmonds and Charissa Thompson Co-hosts, Extra TV Excellence in Journalism Award Award Presentation by: Darnell J. Cates Youth ambassador, the Freddie Mac Foundation Wednesday's Child program Honoree: Christine Devine News anchor, Fox KTTV Excellence in New Media Award Presentation by: Fran Drescher Actor, Founder of Cancer Schmancer Movement Honoree: Lisa Meier Group Vice President, Time Warner Cable Media Sales, West Region Excellence in Management Award Award Presentation by: Donna Thomas Senior Vice President of Sales, Vubiquity Honoree: Sherry Brennan Senior Vice President, Distribution Strategy & Development, Fox Networks The Inspiration Award Award Presentation by: Anne Sweeney Netflix Board Member and former President, Disney ABC Television Networks Honoree: Maggie Bellville Vice President, Hitachi Consulting and member of the U.S. Communications, Media & Entertainment Industry executive team

...Closing Remarks...

P ro g r a m S c h e d u l e

Excellence in Radio Award Award Presentation by: Talaya Trigueros On-air personality, 94.7 The Wave Honoree: Pat Prescott On-air personality, 94.7 The Wave

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CHARISSA THOMPSON

EXCELLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT AWARD HONOREE Co-Host, Extra TV

Charissa Thompson joined Mario Lopez and Tracey Edmonds as co-host of "Extra" in 2014 for its 21st season.

Thompson also serves as co-host of "Fox Sports Live" on Fox Sports 1.

Previously, Thompson co-hosted ABC’s reality TV series "Splash," where star contestants dive from Olympic-style platforms and are scored on their performance by Olympic divers. Prior to joining Fox, she co-hosted ESPN2’s "SportsNation," along with Marcellus Wiley. Thompson joined ESPN in September 2011 as the co-host of ESPN2’s "Numbers Never Lie" and after frequent guest appearances on "SportsNation," she moved into the permanent co-host role in June 2012.

Prior to joining ESPN, Thompson covered the NHL for Versus from 2010–11, including the 2010 All-Star Game and Stanley Cup Finals. In 2010, Thompson reported on the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games, FIFA World Cup, BCS National Championship Game, Super Bowl and NBA All-Star Game for Yahoo! Sports. She has also appeared on NFL Network and co-hosted programming on the Speed Network.

Follow Charissa Thompson on Twitter.

EXCELLENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT AWARD HONOREE President and CEO, Edmonds Entertainment Group Inc. President and CEO, ALRIGHT TV Co-Host, EXTRA

Tracey Edmonds, a dynamic, multi-dimensional entertainment industry veteran, with a proven track record of success across multiple platforms, has established herself as an award-winning producer, savvy business mogul, and TV personality. She has created and produced groundbreaking projects for television, film, and music both independently and with major studios. Edmonds currently serves as CEO and President of Edmonds Entertainment; CEO and President of Alright TV; and Co-Host of Extra (NBC Studios/Warner Bros.), alongside Mario Lopez and Charissa Thompson.

As a producer, Edmonds’ most recent projects included the hit series Deion’s Family Playbook OWN TV (Oprah Winfrey Network) – for which she served as show creator, executive producer and talent; and the three time NAACP Image Award nominated With This Ring (Lifetime) starring Regina Hall, Jill Scott, and Eve, for which Edmonds fulfilled the role of executive producer. With Our Stories Films, created by BET Founder Robert L. Johnson, Edmonds released, the NAACP Image Award winner Jumping the Broom.

Through Our Stories Films, Edmonds also launched Alright TV, an inspirational, faith-friendly YouTube Partner channel in March 2013. The channel features hit series and collaborations with such talent as Michael K. Williams, Issa Rae, Deion Sanders, AJ Johnson, Chef Brian Hill, and comedy sketch groups Dormtainment and The Playmakers (www.youtube.com/alrighttv).

Edmonds’ earlier television successes included the serialized version of her hit movie Soul Food, an hour-long dramedy for Showtime Networks, Inc., which ran for five seasons and won multiple NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series three years in a row. She also executive produced several groundbreaking reality shows including College Hill (BET’s first reality show), which ran for six seasons, and its spinoff College Hill Interns; Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown; and DMX: Soul of a Man. Edmonds has won numerous awards for her achievements in the industry, including Ebony Magazine’s Outstanding Women In Marketing & Communications Entrepreneur Award (2002); an award from Girls, Inc. (2004) in recognition of her efforts to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold; an honorary doctorate in Business from Southern University (2004); the Volunteers of America Legacy of Leadership Award (2004); the National Organization for Women’s Excellence in Media Award (2005); the Caucus for Television Producers, Writers and Directors Diversity Award (2006); Indiana Black Expo’s Women of Vision Award for Outstanding Work in Film, Television & Business (2014); and Alliance for Women in Media’s Gracies Award for Best Host in Entertainment & Information (2015). Always looking to give back to the industry, Edmonds serves on the Board of Governors for the Producers Guild of America (PGA), where she chaired the Guild’s annual Celebration of Diversity gala for 3 consecutive years, and has most recently co-chaired the PGA-hosted Produced

By Conference for the past 3 years. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Film Institute (AFI); she is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; and she serves as a Global Ambassador for CARE, a leading humanitarian organization that works to fight global poverty. In her role as Ambassador, she is focused on improving global maternal health, with a specific focus on Sierra Leone.

Tracey Edmonds resides in Beverly Hills, California with her two sons, Brandon and Dylan.

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TRACEY EDMONDS

Lisa Meier Excellence in New Media

Maggie Bellville Inspiration Award

Time Warner Cable congratulates Lisa, Maggie and all the 2016 Genii Award winners.

Senior Vice President, Time Warner Cable Media Sales West Region

Ms. Meier currently oversees cable advertising sales for TWC Media Enterprise and National Sales including Political advertising and TV Ads Everywhere and just launched HH Addressability. She joined Time Warner Cable in August 2007 stewarding the advertising sales consolidation of Los Angeles, managing national, regional and local sales teams in southern California and Hawaii. In 2011developed and launched media sales teams for TWC two Los Angeles based RSNs, TWC Sportsnet and TWC Deportes.

TWC Media portfolio now includes Time Warner Cable Media, Charter, Cox, Adlink, Direct TV, DISH, ATT and Verizon households across the enterprise. Product portfolio now includes, 32 Local News & Sports networks, 5 Regional Sports Networks, TWC TV Ads Everywhere, HD, on air, on line, on demand and digital products.

Ms. Meier has 30-plus years working in television ad sales, starting in Madison, WI at WISC-TV, a CBS affiliate. Her local ad sales experience included selling such dynamic programming as M*A*S*H* and Dallas, when they were first-run programs. She also honed her skills of reaching into a local marketplace with relevant products and solutions for advertisers of the Green Bay Packers and the hockey, football and basketball programs at the University of Wisconsin.

She moved from Madison to Minneapolis, MN in 1984 to work for KSTP-TV, building sales platforms for local and national clients. After a brief stint in radio, Ms. Meier was lured back into television by Gannett station, KARE-TV and then in 1998 moved to Chicago to work for CBS O&O, WBBM-TV rising from Sales Marketing Manager to Local Sales Manager.

Ms. Meier transitioned into cable sales in 2002, working at National Cable Communication’s Chicago office as Team Manager with the Midwest Comcast Spotlight team. She then moved to Comcast Spotlight Chicago in 2003 as National Sales Manager and promoted to DOS in 2007.

Ms. Meier’s first mentor taught her, “The only constant is change.“ Her second mentor, “Where there is chaos lies opportunity”. And her third mentor added, “There are only two ways to do things…one way or the other.”

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Lisa Meier

B oa r d o f D i r e c t o r s

President Samantha Brown Vubiquity

Immediate Past President Desiree Duffy R6S

VP, Membership Cheryl Dorsey 2G Digital

VP, Programming Bonnie Gallanter Muse Artist Management

Corresponding Secretary Annette Covarrubias CBS Radio

Treasurer Anthony Allen j2 Global

Marketing Director Jeanette Oliver Paramount Home Entertainment

Events Director Minoti Vaishnav Prophecy Girl Films

Scholarship Director Leslie Simmons Maynard Consulting Services

Social Media Director Veronica Avila R6S Marketing and Advertising

PR & Community Outreach Director

Director at Large K.C. Tuckness The Walt Disney Company

Director at Large Britney Gordon Time Warner Cable Media

Kim Spence StoryBookProducer.com

B oa r d o f D i r e c t o r s

Technology Director Tina Rubin Universal Music Group

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Bob Gold Principal Bob Gold & Associates

LaFern Cusack Senior Producer and Host ESPN LA and PROMAX BDA

Corinne Baldassano SVP Programming and Marketing Take on the Day LLC./ Dr. Laura Program

Lauren DeVillier Vice President, Digital Media Disney/ABC Cable Networks

Debra Balamos Senior Entertainment Marketing Executive Balamos Entertainment Marketing Desiree Duffy Vice President R6S Ellen Schned President EJS Media Erica Farber Founder, President and CEO RAB Erica Olsen Station Host and Client Services Manager CBS 2/KCAL9 Television Julie Kertes General Manager National Parenting Product Awards

Mary Beth Garber EVP, Radio Analysis and Insights Katz Radio Group Nicolla Ross Senior Director, Community Health American Heart Association Norma Provencio Pichardo Executive Director Television Academy Foundation Rose Perez SVP, Business and Legal Affairs Vubiquity Samantha Brown Vice President Sales and Administration Vubiquity Skip Harris President/ Executive Consultant Harris Communications and Consulting

A d v i s o ry B o a r d

AWM SoCal Advisory Board

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EXCELLENCE IN MANAGEMENT AWARD HONOREE

Senior Vice President, Distribution Fox Networks

As Senior Vice President, Distribution, Fox Networks (FN) Sherry Brennan is responsible for developing multi-platform growth strategies for FN’s video products, exploring potential new business models with alternative platform distributors, and contributing to FN’s long range digital strategy.

She also oversees analysis of video consumption trends and the changing value equation in the new multi-platform landscape, works closely with FN’s business development team on new channel ideas and acquisitions, and helps manage the strategy behind Fox’s investment in Hulu.

Ms. Brennan joined FN in 2005 as Vice President, Sales Strategy and Development. In that role, Ms. Brennan created strategic sales initiatives with the division’s top video distributors. She also worked closely with FN’s business development team on new channel ideas and served as the affiliate sales liaison for CCTV International—the most prominent English-language network from China.

Before joining FN, Ms. Brennan spent seven years with Cablevision in New York, serving as Vice President, PPV & Enhanced Video Products, and nearly two years as Programming Consultant for the cable provider’s high-definition satellite service, VOOM. Prior to Cablevision, she served as Director of Operations for Los Angeles’ Falcon Cable TV where she developed and implemented strategic cross-functional projects across Falcon’s footprint.

Ms. Brennan holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from Iowa State University. She is a member of WICT, and previously served as Chapter president in both NYC and SoCal. She is a member of class IV of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute. For the last several years Ms. Brennan has been honored as one of Cablefax’s “100 Most Powerful Women in Cable.”

Multichannel News also honored Ms. Brennan as a member of its “Wonder Women” class in 2012, and Broadcasting & Cable selected her as a “Digital All-Star” in 2014. Most recently, Sherry received a LEA Award from Southern California WICT, for her work in Leadership, Education and Advocacy within the pay TV industry.

E XC E L L E N C E I N M A N AG E M E N T AWA R D H O N O R E E

SHERRY BRENNAN

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Congratulations to Maggie Bellville and all the honorees

You are the leaders the rest of us aspire to be!

INSPIRATION AWARD HONOREE Vice President, Hitachi Consulting

Margaret A. (Maggie) Bellville has joined Hitachi Consulting as its newest vice president and member of the U.S. Communications, Media & Entertainment Industry executive team. She has enjoyed a highly honored cable and telecommunications career, where as a former Fortune 500 COO she was recognized for her hiring and nurturing of some of the industry’s top executives, among other achievements.

Prior to joining one of the great technology and consulting brands in the world – Hitachi -- Ms. Bellville served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Charter Communications, one of the nation’s top cable systems, where she was responsible for all company field operations, as well as marketing, programming, customer care and advertising sales.

Ms. Bellville was previously President and CEO of Incanta, Inc., a start-up technology-based streaming content company based in Atlanta. She was recruited in 1995 by Cox Communications, Inc., as Vice President of Operations, and advanced over six years to Executive Vice President of Operations with responsibility for that company's three operating divisions--marketing, advertising sales, customer care, research and analysis, business services, and business operations.

Ms. Bellville began her career in cable television in 1993 with the former Century Communications as Senior Vice President of that company's largest operating division in Los Angeles. From 1986 to 1993, she served in a variety of management positions with the former GTE Wireless/Contel Cellular, Inc. A graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton with a B.A. in Social Science, Ms. Bellville also is a graduate of the Harvard Business School, Advanced Management Program. Ms. Bellville has received numerous professional honors and distinctions, including being named one of the Top 10 Women in Business in Atlanta; "Woman of the Year" by the California Chapter of Women In Cable; "Woman to Watch" by the Atlanta Chapter of Women in Cable; and "Woman of the Year," a national award by Women in Cable.

She has served on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the California Cable Television Association, the Board of Directors of Cable Positive, and the Board of Directors of the Women In Cable and Telecommunications Foundation. Ms. Bellville also served as an advisor to the National Cable and Telecommunications Association Task Force on Diversity.

I N S P I R AT I O N AWA R D H O N O R E E

MAGGIE BELLVILLE

Congratulations Sherry!

It was great to be a part of your journey from your time as an analyst at the Federal Reserve to this well-deserved and long overdue recognition of Excellence in Management.

All the best, Frank Intiso and all of your Falcon associates

2016

November 3-13 • A week-and-a-half-long celebration of film in the beautiful Ojai Valley, only 75 miles from Hollywood yet worlds away

• Workshops, Hollywood filmmaker panels, environmental films and speakers, youth programs, parties and special events

• First-ever Screenplay Competition • See website for more information

805.640.1947

www.ojaifilmfestival.com

ENRICHING THE HUMAN SPIRIT THROUGH FILM

Dream Believe Create Inspire Thank you for inspiring,Nicole.

Congratulations!

Elaine and Sheila

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The internationally-acclaimed film, couture, and global lifestyle channel

Congratulates the Alliance for Women in Media 2016 Genii Award Winners

Lisa Meier B Nicole Boxer Maggie Bellville Tracey Edmonds & Charissa Thompson

. .Kudos to my dear friend Senator Boxer for Nicole's success and your support of AWM..

Love Always, Daphna Edwards Ziman

Congratulations to all of the Honorees!

Bonnie Gallanter

Muse Artist Management, President Alliance for Women in Media SoCal, V.P. of Programming, Genii Awards Chair and Producer

• Talent Management • Event Production • Content Production • Brand Development bonnie@museartistmgmt.com

daisyrock.com valkyrproductions.com lauranickerson.com nickfranchik.com anahitaskye.com

I N G R AT I T U D E

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS, CONTRIBUTORS, AND IN-KIND DONORS

Gold Sponsors:

Corporate Star Sponsor:

Media Sponsors:

Adorkable Apparel Arbonne Athleta Benoit Entertainment Black Chateau Publishing Bob Gold & Associates Bodyline LA Candles by Dave Catalina Film Festival Cinedigm CorePower Yoga Daisy Rock Girl Guitars DC Entertainment Dee Bartolo Skin Studio Dr. Kourosh Maddahi DDS & Oral Essentials Inc. Evian Natural Spring Water Evolue Beauty Film Independent Gusdorf Marketing Group KIND Snacks KLARETY Long Beach Bayou Festival Marine Discovery Tours Markwins Beauty- Wet n Wild Maui Jim Sunglasses

Nakeah Cosmetics of Hollywood Naven Nodpod Ojai Film Festival Pacific Palisades Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club Personal Training by Denise PizzaRev R6S Rick Steves Europe Inc. Six Flags Magic Mountain Skeyeland Enterprises Sprinkles Cupcakes Steve Jordan Tannenbaum Chiropractic The Coffee Bean The Grove The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens Utah Office of Tourism & Utah Film Commission Utah Shakespeare Festival Vicki Abelson - Women Who Write Wingspan Cyclery Yoga Blend Young Americans 240sweet

Event Producer: Bonnie Gallanter Marketing Director: Jeanette Oliver AWM SoCal Board plusâ&#x20AC;Ś

Amy Lieu Autumn Winter Elizabeth Mariscal Autumn Collins Laura Nickerson Lauren Bond Linda Salvin Marisa Dodge Michael Barnard Nicole Smith Nicki Katz Shari Walker Skip Harris Stacey Mooradian Tess Nielsen Vicki Liao

Scholarship Committee Chair: Leslie Simmons

Erica Olsen Jane Austin Kelley Salvi Mary Schaffer

Press and Community Outreach Director Kim Spence

...and Special Thanks Bria Gutierrez Bryan Gusdorf Christina Doan Desiree Duffy Donna Thomas Fran Zone Gabriel Berger Lafern Cusack Linda Haugsted Victor Harwood

G R AT I T U D E C O M M I T T E E

Genii and Marketing Committee