Second Thrive Class to Launch at The Conference 2015

05.28.2015

PromaxBDA is proud to announce the 2015 class for its leadership development program, Thrive. The class represents top entertainment partners from across the industry, including the broadcast networks, established cable channels, and up-and-coming channel brands.

Now entering its second year, PromaxBDA's Thrive program was created 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 2015 class of leaders are:

Keith Grant- Creative Director, ABC

Keith was born and raised in Boston and always had a passion for marketing. After graduating from Ithaca College, he started his career in Boston, then moved to LA to pursue his love for entertainment marketing. He has been with ABC since 2003 and was promoted to Creative Director in 2009.

Eric Zlotorynski- Creative Director, NBC Entertainment Marketing

Eric joined NBC Universal over a decade ago and his career has spanned a variety of the companies television properties from Bravo, Chiller, Sleuth and Universal HD to NBC. He is a multiple Promax BDA and Cine award winner.

Brandon Stern - Creative Director, truTV

Stern is the creative director of integrated promotions for truTV. He first joined the network in 2005, when it was known as Court TV. He began his career at the World Wrestling Federation and has freelanced for a number of other networks.

Amanda Wong - Director of Integrated Partnerships, truTV

Prior to joining truTV in 2011, Wong led Integrated Marketing for the Johnson & Johnson business at Universal McCann, managed the Geico and UPS accounts at The Martin Agency, and developed ad campaigns at Calvin Klein and Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). She's an avid marathoner and ironman triathlete.

Cristine Shropshire - Creative Director, Brand Image and Editorial, Food Network and Cooking Channel

She has been at Food Network on and off since 2000 having taken a hiatus to raise her 2 children. She began her career at CBS in the page program.

Kati Weller, Director, The Sponsor Shop - TBS & TNT Creative

Kati has been at Turner for ten years, starting as an intern at regional cable network Turner South. She then moved into On-Air Promotions at TBS and am currently a part of The Sponsor Shop who exclusively develops and produces all of the co-branded integrated marketing for TBS and TNT.

Tim Reilly - Sr. Director, On-Air Promotions,

Tim got his start at HBO as a freelance PA. After getting hired, he worked my way up the ranks working in several departments. In 2004, he moved south to Atlanta and landed a gig at TCM where he has been ever since.

Karen Griffenhagen - Creative Director, A+E/Lifetime

Griffenhagen began her career as part of the Turner Trainee Team. After working her way up the ranks at TBS she joined Lifetime in 2009. Josh Pelzek- Design Director, BET Networks

Josh has been with BET Networks since 2011. Prior to that, he ran his own design and production studio, working with such clients as Showtime, HBO, and VH1.

Jennifer Drury - VP, Creative Strategy, Nickelodeon

Drury has spent most of her career creating content experiences for kids and teens. Until her most recent role change within Nickelodeon, Drury developed and led digital content, production, and programming teams.

Jodi Lennon- Sr. Writer/Producer, MTV Networks

Jodi Lennon lives in New York City and has a background is comedy writing and directing for television and theater. Jodi loves coffee and making stuff.

Zareh Mirbegian - Executive Director, Creative Services, Warner Bros.

Zareh has been with Warner Bros. most of his professional career, working with the Studio as a freelance artist in 2000, and then joining the group full-time in 2004. He was promoted to his current post last year. Mirbegian and the creative services team have been honored by several awards throughout the years including several PromaxBDA Gold awards.

Josh Borock - Creative Director, Comedy Central

Candice House - Senior Designer,

Brian Hoffman - VP, On-Air Strategy, Nickelodeon