Cablefax The Magazine - November 2011 - 35

and Style Network, she helped drive recordbreaking
growth for the past six years. In addition,
Kolb acted as chief marketing officer for E!/
Style, innovating marketing strategies behind the
networks' most successful franchises, including
the Kardashians (et al), " Chelsea Lately, " " The
Soup " and " Fashion Police, " as well as Style
series " Ruby, " " Giuliana & Bill, " " Jerseylicious "
and " Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. "
Sara Kozak
SVP, Production, Investigation
Discovery & Military Channel
Kozak's creative acumen
is integral to the continued
growth of ID and Military
Channel. She's also a member
of Discovery Communications' Creative
Council, where her concept for Shark Week's
" Chief Shark Officer " first took root. Does
dealing in the world of crime get her down?
Heck no. " Despite the fact we spend our days
immersed in true crime, there's more humor
and laughter at Investigation Discovery than any
other network in all cable, " she says.
Susan Krakower
SVP, Strategic Programming and
Development, CNBC
Krakower has created some
of CNBC's signature shows,
including " Mad Money w/
Jim Cramer " and " Fast
Money, " in addition to newer adds like " The
Strategy Session. " She also brought us " Investing
in America: A CNBC Town Hall Event with
President Obama, " nominated for an Emmy
this year. The intellectual rigor required to launch
such shows is both " thrilling " and " exhausting, "
she says. So how does she let loose? " For me,
cooking offers all the joys of program development
and none of the problems. I control the
resources from creation to execution; I greenlight
all the dishes; and best of all, I'm the only talent
involved-no one is allowed to come into my
kitchen and make unreasonable demands! "
Ellen Kroner
EVP, Communications,
AMC Networks
Kroner oversees all external
communications for AMC
Networks. She was integral
to the launch of business
ventures like Sundance Selects and programming
including AMC's " Mad Men " and WE tv's
" Bridezillas. " Though it's never easy, Kroner
strives to create a team " that functions and
excels as a single unified organization while
giving each unique team member the opportunity
to shine individually. "
CableFAX: The Magazine
Julie Laulis
SVP/COO, Cable One
Laulis leads Cable One's
three company operating
divisions and two call
centers. In the past year,
she's smoothly navigated
the MSO through a shift toward segmenting
customer service and sales, and the numbers
are trending upward, with revenue up 3%.
Leadership is a tough calling, she admits,
and requires constant vigilance. Beyond the
presentations and meetings, it's the " silent
cues " that contribute to a company's identity.
" A look, a reaction, even the way I dress, all
go into making a perception that must be
'managed' daily. It's hard to always be 'on.' It
is a daily balancing act for me. "
Beth Lawrence
EVP, Ad Sales and Media
Solutions, The Weather Channel
Companies
Since arriving at TWCC
in January 2010, Lawrence
has integrated the
company's separate cable and digital ad sales
divisions into a cross-platform sales organization
selling across TV, online, mobile and tablets.
During the past year, her team introduced
multi-screen integration to clients including
AT&T, Toyota and Microsoft. Above all, the
busy Lawrence stays balanced. Her proudest
accomplishment? " Having an important
role at work while juggling my most important
job-my family, " she says.
Lori LeBas
SVP, Strategy & Business
Operations, ESPN
LeBas recently headed up
a team of more than 100,
spanning every ESPN department,
to launch the network's
WatchESPN initiative. The experience
was " exhilarating and amazing, " she says,
adding that " prioritizing the myriad great ideas
and projects " involved isn't easy. " Every day
there is a new way for fans to access content
and new ideas for advertisers to reach those
fans-all requiring operational support. "
Nina Lederman
SVP, Scripted Series
Programming and Development,
Lifetime Networks
Under Lederman, Lifetime's
scripted programming
portfolio is doubling in 2011.
As " Army Wives, " the most-watched show
in network history, returns with the popular
November 2011
" Drop Dead Diva, " new shows are barreling in
alongside them. Partnerships with studios and
producers are in the works, making Lederman's
role even more influential. Miraculously,
she still finds time for family. She's proud of her
three children, " all very different in wonderful
ways, " and loves " date night " at the movies.
Sharon Levy
EVP, Original Series and
Animation, Spike TV
If you're into Spike's weekend
auto-related programming
block, " 1000 Ways
to Die, " " Auction Hunters "
or " Deadliest Warrior " -the network's first
original franchise hit complete with a spinoff,
movie deal and console games-you have
Levy to thank. She is currently developing the
network's most extensive slate of new series,
with a track record of four of Spike's top five
non-scripted series under her belt. Oh yeah,
and to be a woman at the helm of development
for a network for men speaks volumes
for the state of women in cable.
Charisse Lillie
VP, Community Investment,
Comcast Corp; President, Comcast
Foundation, Comcast Corp.
The tireless Lillie heads
up Comcast's Community
Investment program and is
president of the Comcast Foundation. Most
recently, she expanded the Comcast Digital
Connectors program, which expands digital
literacy across the company's footprint. When
it comes to honors such as this, Lillie defers to
her team. " Awards like this do not happen in
a vacuum, " she says. Her people " pursue the
Comcast community investment agenda with
tenacity, dignity and integrity. "
Vicki Lins
Chief Marketing Officer,
Canoe Ventures
Lins leads brand strategy,
marketing and communications
for Canoe Ventures,
cable's iTV platform. She
develops market strategies for ITV, ExpandTV,
DAI for VOD and more. For her marketing
acumen, she has received Telly Awards, CAB
advertising awards and CTAM Mark Awards.
Not to mention, she's no stranger to our top
lists. " The recent launch of ExpandTV, the
industry's consumer brand for iTV, is a true
accomplishment for everyone involved; I take
great pride in my contributions to it, " she
says. " It was a daunting challenge that was
well worth the perseverance. "
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