Univision And BET Presidents To Co-Host Minority Communications Conference

"NAMIC is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and the emergence of the Annual Conference as a leading forum on multi-ethnic inclusion and its bottom-line impact in today's globally diverse marketplace is a major milestone for the association," said Kathy Johnson, president, NAMIC.  "As the conference theme - 3D: Diversity, Digital Demographics, drives a progressive and forward-thinking agenda, we are honored to have Cesar Conde and Scott Mills, two of our industry's most distinguished innovators and champions of diversity on board as honorary co-chairs."  

Conde was named president of Univision Networks in August 2009 after serving as executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Univision Communications, Inc.  Conde oversees Univision Communications' three television networks – Univision Network, TeleFutura and Galavision. Additionally, Conde's purview includes Univision Studios, various corporate functions including government relations, corporate affairs, and corporate marketing and communications.  Conde has received prestigious accolades including Fortune Magazine's "40 under 40," the Harvard Foundation Award, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation Award, the Cuban American National Council Young Leader Award, and was recently honored by the "I Have a Dream" foundation with the Eugene M. Lang Achievement Award.

"I am delighted to co-chair an event for an organization that champions diversity," said Conde. "We live in a multicultural nation, where people and technologies have become more diverse, and NAMIC strives to highlight the importance of empowering the two."

BET Networks, also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, named Mills president and chief operations officer in July 2007after serving as chief financial officer and president of Digital Media. In his current role, Mills leads the company's business functions, including advertising sales; content distribution and marketing; legal and business affairs; finance; digital; research; international and administration operations. Recently, Mills was awarded the Frederick Douglass Medallion Award by the New York Urban League and remains a champion for diversity in the African American community.

"BET Networks has had such a terrific, long-standing partnership with NAMIC in promoting inclusion," said Mills.  "And as one of the most diverse networks in television and entertainment, we look forward to exploring with NAMIC attendees how to improve on diversity and leadership best practices within the industry."

Regarded as the cornerstone of Cable Diversity Week, the Annual NAMIC Conference will feature a diverse line-up of industry leaders sharing their perspectives on timely topics within educational track sessions such as Diversity and Inclusion, Digital Media, Leadership Development and Multi-ethnic Content and Programming.  The two-day agenda will include compelling special events and  "hot topic" discussions; the L. Patrick Mellon Mentorship Program Luncheon in partnership with Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT); presentation of the 2010 Mickey Leland Humanitarian Achievement Award; presentation of the Excellence in Multi-cultural Marketing Awards; the Diversity in Communications Career Expo; and strategic networking opportunities.

In addition to Conde and Mills serving as honorary co-chairs for the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference, this year's planning committee co-chairs include NAMIC Board Directors Michael Armstrong, senior vice president and general manager, BET International, Lisa Choi Owens, senior vice president and general manager, Digital Media, Scripps Networks, Robert Mendez, senior vice president, Diversity, Disney-ABC Television Group, and Belinda Turner Patterson, vice president, People Services, Cox Communications.  Event sponsors confirmed to date include BET Networks, Cox Communications, Scripps Networks, and the Walter Kaitz Foundation.

For more information on the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference contact Sandra Girado, director of Meetings and Events, NAMIC at 212-594-5985, ext. 23. Sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Danny McGlone, vice president of Fund Development, NAMIC, 212-594-5985, ext. 13.  Online registration for the 24th Annual NAMIC Conference can be accessed by visitingwww.namic.com. Group registration is available for companies wishing to send multiple employees.

About NAMIC

NAMIC (National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications) is the premier organization focusing on multi-ethnic diversity in the communications industry. Founded in 1980 as a non-profit trade association, today NAMIC is comprised of 2,000 professionals belonging to a network of 18 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that focus on education, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC champions equity and inclusion in the workforce, with special attention given to ensuring that the leadership cadres of our nation's communications industry giants reflect the multi-ethnic richness of the populations they serve. For more information on NAMIC, visit http://www.namic.com.  

SOURCE NAMIC