PromaxBDA is proud to announce the first cohort of its new leadership development program, Thrive. The class represents a wide array of top entertainment partners, including broadcast and cable networks, Spanish-language networks, Hispanic programmers and branded entertainment agencies.

PromaxBDA — along with an advisory committee of creative and marketing executives, as well as leadership development experts — developed Thrive to give high-potential directors and vice presidents the skills and training they need to grow into company and industry leaders. PromaxBDA designed Thrive as an immersive learning experience that combines executive mentorship, leadership coaching, training and industry exposure.

Each Thrive leader was selected through a rigorous application and selection process that required a top corporate executive to sponsor the candidate.

Thrive’s first class of leaders are:

— Briana Mahoney, creative director, B2+

Prior to joining creative branding agency B2+, Mahoney worked for ABC Entertainment and Harpo. She’s a native of Syracuse, NY.

— Craig Gordon, creative director, Cartoon Network

Gordon, a multiple PromaxBDA award winner, has been a part of the Turner family of networks since 1996.

— Holly Gabrielson, director of unscripted programming, TBS

Gabrielson has been with Turner since 2002. Prior to that, she did a stint with Lionsgate.

— Jerome Ford, senior writer producer, BET Networks

Military veteran Ford has been with BET since 2009. Before that, he spent a decade honing his skills at Comedy Central.

— Angel Domenench, senior creative director, Telemundo Media, a division of NBCUniversal

Domenench has been with Telemundo since 2006, and moved from Puerto Rico in 2007 to join the company in Miami.

— Kathleen Ilch, vice president of media planning and strategy, Food Network and Cooking Channel

Ilch, one of “Multichannel News’” 40 under 40 in 2013, has worked with the Scripps cable networks since 2000.

— Kathryn Allen, senior director, broadcast design, TBS/TNT/TCM

Allen has worked for Turner Broadcasting since 1999, starting her career at the company’s Atlanta headquarters as a production assistant.

— Kathy Fusco, creative director, Comedy Central

New Yorker Fusco has been with Comedy Central since 2004. Prior to that, she worked for Court TV and also was a talent intern at “Saturday Night Live.”

— Laura Lundgren, vice president, creative strategy and editorial, Nickelodeon

Lundgren’s run at kids’ network Nickelodeon dates back to 1998.

— Leah L’Esperance, art director, truTV

L’Esperance has been with truTV since 2011 after spending much of her career working with multiple TV networks and design companies in a freelance capacity.

— Melissa King, creative director, ABC

King has worked for ABC since 2007. Prior to that, she was with USA, Oxygen and Food Network.

— Michael Pecoriello, vice president, brand editorial, Nickelodeon

Pecoriello has spent most of his career focusing on kids, and has been in his current position since 2007. He’s also worked for 4KidsEntertainment, Scholastic and The Walt Disney Co.

— Rubén Jácome Madariaga, director attached to general direction of corporate image and promotion, Televisa S.A. de CV Eve

Madariaga is Thrive’s first Spanish-language participant, representing Spanish-language networks that serve Latin America, Spain and other Spanish-speaking territories.

— Krista Liney, vice president, brand creative, History

Liney has spent 18 years honing her television production skills and has been with the A&E networks since 2004. Most recently, she oversaw promotional campaigns for History’s hit mini-series, “Hatfield & McCoys” and “The Bible.”

The new program officially kicks off at PromaxBDA: The Conference, which will be held in New York from June 10-12.

There, the class will be paired with their executive mentors at PromaxBDA’s formal mentorship program and training. During their stay in New York, the candidates also will attend PromaxBDA’s Leadership Institute, which convenes program participants, executive mentors, coaches, senior executives, elite members and ambassadors.

In October 2014, Thrive Leaders will attend a four-day intensive training seminar in Ojai, Calif., taught by industry leaders, leadership coaches, and business experts. PromaxBDA designed the training as a hands-on project-based learning environment that allows candidates to learn in a collaborative environment.

This training will be instrumental in preparing these participants to lead creative marketing teams, while gaining an underlying understanding of their company’s business priorities. Each leader will leave the training with a personal development plan, and a coach to support them while they build out their own leadership style and business acumen.

The Thrive cohort also will form peer advisory groups of four who will then work together over the next six months to support each other’s development. During the year, they will present guest lectures at participating universities, and they also will work alongside a PromaxBDA board member to produce an original session at PromaxBDA: The Conference 2015. There, the year-long program will conclude.

For more information, contact Katerina Zacharia at katerina@promaxbda.org, or go here.


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