See below for Thursday’s
agenda and speaker lineup.
8:30am: registration & breakfast
8:45am: welcome from irts foundation’s
lauren kruk-winokur, svp, academic programs & communications
joyce tudryn, president & CEO
Karna Crawford has over 25 years of data-driven brand
marketing experience, with the past 10 years focused on
delivering digital transformation and growth for Fortune 50
companies, including Ford, Verizon and JP Morgan Chase.
During her career, Karna has been recognized as an
inspirational executive leader, known for innovative
strategic thinking, cultural transformation, and operational
excellence.
Josh Ott is a mentor, media disruptor, and entrepreneur who is known for his creative edge and unique methodology. With over 20 years of experience at a wide range of companies such as ABC, BET, Scripps, MTV, Pivot, Urban One, The Shade Room, and more, Josh has seen the Media industry from all angles. At The ShadeRoom, Josh heads up a cross-platform sales team, e-commerce, and marketing for the World's #1 Social Brand.
Sean Robertson oversees Direct Response Sales for NBCU’s Small to Medium Business Growth division. His role focuses on connecting advertisers and agencies to the full suite of cross-platform solutions available at NBCU Ad Sales. He has held numerous sales and leadership roles at organizations including DISH Network, SiriusXM, and Paramount.
Michael Roca is the Executive Director of ELEVATE at Omnicom Media Group. He advocates for a more equitable media and marketing ecosystem by highlighting the business imperative of engaging diverse segments. He has also helped marketers such as Diageo, Google, and P&G diversify the mix of their media partnerships by shining a light on the capabilities of diverse owned, operated, and targeted media. He has a proven track record of success in building culturally relevant and effective media strategies that drive brand growth and loyalty among diverse segments.
Radha Subramanyam serves as Chief Research and Analytics Officer at CBS and President, CBS
Vision. She oversees all research and analytics operations for CBS, including audience measurement, analytics, market research, content testing and advertising research. She has extensive strategic and
operational experience in all areas of the industry, including broadcast, cable, digital and streaming, as well as radio, music and social media.
Danielle Brooks is a Senior Manager of Digital Content. Danielle spearheads B2B marketing strategies for the Fox Portfolio brands, encompassing news, sports, entertainment, and Tubi. With her sharp insights and creative thinking, she plays a pivotal role in elevating these brands above their competitors. At Fox, she actively contributes as a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Council, striving to create an equitable and empowering environment for everyone.
Ashley Contreras graduated from San Diego State University in 2021, and began her career at Paramount as a Digital Sales Associate through their Sales Associate Cohort Program. Today, she works in the Digital Advertising division as an Account Manager. Ashley works with client-facing teams to manage accounts and campaigns that run across the entire streaming portfolio. Her favorite shows on Paramount+ are Survivor, The Challenge, and The Amazing Race!
Nadya Mason is a West Philly native and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. In her role at Google, she supports Mid Market clients by deepening their Search Excellence while also diversifying their investments across all of the full funnel advertising products. Prior to Google, she spent 7 years at Paramount gaining experience across Sales, Planning, Social, Branded Content Distribution and Advanced Advertising.
Nia Testamark is an architect in all things content creation, storytelling, and brand marketing, serving as
the Senior Account Manager at We Thrive Media. Her professional journey includes roles at SoundCloud, JetBlue Airways, and NYLON Magazine. Throughout her career, Nia has managed partnerships with prominent brands such as Amazon, Disney, Toyota, Old Spice, Under Armour, Hyundai, NBA 2K, Etsy, and more. Nia holds a B.A. in Journalism from Clark Atlanta University and an M.A. in Communications from American University.
Shukmei Wong, SVP, Omni-Channel Media at Broadbeam Media, oversees media investment, negotiation, and execution across all media channels, including digital and linear video, audio, OOH and gaming. Shukmei is at the forefront of marketplace trends, providing forward-thinking, integrated strategies and data analytics to maximize spend and deliver measurable results for clients. With over 15 years of performance marketing experience, her strong relationship with media vendors offers unique opportunities and innovative partnership solutions.
Yohance Barton is a Brooklyn-based creative. Driven by a commitment to innovation, Yohance joined Universal Music Group's in-house marketing team, °1824, dedicated to authentic artist-fan connections through compelling content. Yohance's ascent continued in social media marketing and content creation, culminating in his role at Day One Agency. Thriving as a creative force, he seamlessly blends strategy, ideation, and hands-on execution, impacting clients like Nike, Jordan, Converse, and American Express with his creative prowess in marketing and brand storytelling.
Chuck Johnson serves as a Senior Social Media Manager on the MTV Entertainment Group’s franchise social team. He oversees all social media strategy for Love & Hip Hop, Ink Master, Ridiculousness and other series. He’s previously worked on Basketball Wives, Black Ink Crew, Wild ’N Out and Hip Hop Honors. Chuck’s professional career started at Paramount (then Viacom) where he interned as both a consumer marketing and press intern at VH1. Chuck is an alumnus of the IRTS Fellowship Program.
Gentrix Shanga is a 2015 IRTS Fellow working as a Field Producer for the Northeast Bureau of NBC News based in Philadelphia. She covers breaking and day-to-day news from the recent Lewiston, ME mass shooting to the manhunt for the escaped PA prisoner. Before this role, Gentrix was a Producer for the 3rd Hour of the Today Show. This role allowed her to flex her human interest / enterprise reporting muscle to tell heartfelt stories, while working with high-level talent.
Rachel Wang is a video producer and photographer based in NYC and a proud 2019 IRTS Fellow. She is deeply passionate about using visual storytelling to spark empathy and change. She is currently an Associate Producer at LinkedIn News, where she produces both video and podcast episodes for "The Path", hosted by LinkedIn's CEO. Previously, she was an Associate Field Producer for The Drew Barrymore Show on CBS. She has also worked at Fortune, TED, Alkemy X, and Jax Media. She is a proud alum of the University of Florida.
Lauren Williams is a seasoned professional in media and advertising with four years of experience as an Interactive Producer at Droga5 and a degree from the University of Missouri. Her expertise in crafting innovative digital campaigns and her commitment to captivating storytelling make her a standout in the industry.
12:30pm: Lunch Break
Darren Martin Jr. is a writer, international speaker, strategist, entrepreneur and founder of the Global Integrated Marketing firm Streamlined Media & Communications (SMC) for which Bold Culture is an independent subsidiary. Bold Culture is a global inclusive marketing and workplace development consultancy founded in 2016 with a focus on research, auditing, consulting, and connections, working with agencies and brands of various sizes, industries, and regions. Outside of his work with Bold Culture, Darren serves as a Board Director of the MediaVillage Education Foundation, is a part of the Ad Council's Diverse Leaders Council, is on the Advisory Board of Dandi, a DEI-analytics platform, and a member of the NMSDC NY/NJ MBE Input Committee. He also serves as a member of NAIMIC and NABJ. Martin personally studies and writes about race, communication, media, culture, and equity, and he consults companies and nonprofits across industries on inclusive marketing and management practices. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, he is keen on continuous learning and is currently a graduate student at NYU in Steinhardt's Media, Culture and Communication program. An avid storyteller with an eye for data and inclusion, Martin injects all of those interests into the work he does personally and professionally.
Jennifer O’Neill is a Recruiter on the Emerging Talent team at Paramount. She recruits for internships, entry level positions, and post graduate programs across various areas of the company. Jennifer graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Management and minor in Labor Relations. While in college, she interned with Paramount in the Talent Acquisition and L&D teams. Outside of work, she loves to watch reality TV and spend time with her nieces and nephews.
Kaity Ambrose has been part of the creative industry for over 15 years and has been fortunate enough to have spent time at companies including Meta, Publicis, FleishmanHillard, and currently, Day One Agency. Throughout her career in Talent Acquisition & Development, Kaity has created equitable hiring processes, implemented bias-mitigating interview best practices, and led DEI programs, partnerships, & events within the creative space.
Katie Curcio is a Senior Manager in Talent Acquisition at Fox Corporation. In this role, she recruits for a variety of experienced and entry level positions including Producers, Editors, Technicians, Engineers, and more. A proud graduate of New York University (undergrad) and The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (grad), she was inspired to pursue a career in Media after completing a summer internship at CBS News. Prior to working at Fox, she held numerous roles at CBS News for twenty-one years including Director of Professional Development, Manager of Staff Development and Diversity Initiatives, and Director of News Associates and Internship Programs.
Chris Gooding supports The Trade Desk as a University Recruiter within their NYC office. Chris leveraged his business acumen garnered from his time in finance and his passion for service and people-centric work to drive his career as a recruiter - having now supported recruitment strategy across K-12 education, higher education, retail, media and entertainment, and adtech industries. As a 1st generation student, Chris leaned on the example of his immigrant parents and the hustle of city living to seek mentorship, exposure, and support for his career aspirations.
Oscar Sanchez, Jr., PHR has been an Early Career Recruiter at NBCUniversal since August 2021. In his role, Oscar manages the internship hiring for the Ad Sales, Content Distribution, Corporate Functions (HR, Finance, DE&I, Legal, etc.) and TV & Streaming businesses, as well as an Ad Sales post-graduate rotational program. Prior to his role at NBCUniversal, Oscar worked as an HR and DE&I manager at South Florida’s largest advertising agency, Zimmerman Advertising, where his focus was on employee engagement and development.
Paris Andrews works at REVOLT Media & TV as an Ad Sales Coordinator on the linear and addressable sides of the Ad Sales business. In her role, she assists Account Executives, Sales Planners, and Ad Ops to ensure clients needs and expectations are met on a day-to-day basis. Prior to her time at REVOLT, Paris has interned in the Ad Sales department at The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal. She has also gained experience on the agency side at MP&F Strategic Communications.
Jordan Bonaparte currently serves as an Account Services Representative at NBCUniversal. He is a recent graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications where he received his Masters of Arts in Advertising. Jordan was an IRTS 2022 Fellow and interned at Hearts & Science.
Kayla Dixon is a Production Coordinator at VaynerMedia. She works on an array of projects under the production umbrella. From TVC, still shoots, design builds, radio, and social media content. Her skills and interests consist of research, event planning, and storytelling. Dixon is a Marist College Graduate and IRTS Fellow class of 2022.
Darlesa Richardson is a Tampa native from the University of Florida. She is an IRTS 2022 Fellow who works at Omnicom Media Group. Currently, her role as an Assistant Analyst, Digital Activation for the Takeda Pharmaceuticals account allows her to work cross-functionally with Digital Direct IO, Paid Search, and Social teams in media planning and buying. She previously interned twice for the company as a Digital Activation - Search Intern on the Mercedes Benz account and a Marketing Intern on the Sovos Brands account.
Anjali Shah is a Senior Coordinator on the CNN Program and Content Strategy team, where she specializes in talent scheduling across the linear and streaming platforms. An alumna of the 2020 IRTS FMLAS class, Anjali graduated from Rutgers Business School in May 2021. Ever since, her professional journey has been marked by a deep commitment to advocate for diverse perspectives and content.
Thank you for attending the 2023 irts Multicultural career workshop!
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