We've been introducing significant people in the last few months on the podcast. Now it's time to introduce ourselves as the co-hosts of the Emboldened podcast, and talk about just how much the foundation has not only shaped us, but this industry.

Our guest today is Rodney Hawkins, CBS News Producer, and one of Emma Bowen's newest board members. Since 2011, Rodney has risen up the ranks at CBS from a broadcast associate to a 2012 Joe Biden off-air reporter to an associate producer at CBS this morning to a full blown national producer. EXPERIENCE CBS News 2016 - Present, Producer 2014 - 2016, Associate Producer 2013 - Digital Journalist 2012 - Presidential Election Off-Air Reporter 2011 - Broadcast Associate Emma Bowen Foundation Fellow 2007 -  2010, Fox Television Stations New York Times 2010 - Video Journalist

We are so lucky to have Michael Powell today. CEO of  the Internet and Television Association, formally the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.  "Michael K. Powell is the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), nominated by President Bill Clinton and sworn in on November 3, 1997. He served as a member of the FCC for eight years during which time he was designated its chair by President George W. Bush in January 2001 and continued in that capacity until April 2005. During his time as FCC chair, Chairman Powell oversaw the rapid transformation of communications markets into the Digital Age. During his tenure, the Internet came into widespread commercial use, as did smart phones, Wi-Fi networks and satellite radio. In his current role as President & CEO of NCTA - The Internet & Television Association, Mr. Powell leads one of the largest trade associations in Washington, D.C., representing the communications and content industries. Prior public service includes Chief of Staff of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Defense and service as an armored cavalry officer in U.S. Army. In the private sector he practiced law and was a senior advisor in a private equity firm. Chairman Powell also served on the boards of Cisco and AOL. Chairman Powell serves on several nonprofit boards, including the Mayo Clinic, The William and Mary Foundation and America’s Promise Alliance. At America’s Promise, he co-chairs the Grad Nation project, an effort to address the high school dropout crisis. Powell received his bachelor’s degree in government from the College of William and Mary and also holds an honorary doctorate from the College. He also served as Rector of the school’s Board of Visitors. He received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center." - NCTA EXPERIENCE President and CEO, NCTA April 2011 - present Chairman, FCC 1997-2001

Our guest today is one of the founding board members of the Emma Bowen foundation, Ms. Patricia Jordan. Patricia Jordan is also the board chairperson of the Emma Bowen community service center, which is committed to fulfilling Emma Bowman's lifelong mission to creating an environment where people feel welcomed. The Harlem based center is a nonprofit that has empowered thousands of individuals over the years, and families to effectively cope with mental health.

Henry is an internationally recognized communications expert, author, speaker, and conference leader. A former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner, this highly experienced practitioner has been named one of the District of Columbia’s “Super Lawyers,” among The Best Lawyers in America in Communications Law and named by Lawdragon as one of “500 Leading Lawyers in America.” He has also been singled out as a “Leading Lawyer” by Chambers USA and named among the top 12 Telecom experts in the U.S. by Legal Media Group’s Best of the Best. EXPERIENCE Partner, Wiley Rein LLP Member, Federal Advisory Committee on International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State Chairman and Member, Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity in the Digital Age, Federal Communications Commission Co-Head, Agency Review Team, Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team Member, Advanced Television Field Test Technical Oversight Committee, Federal Communications Commission Member, Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service, Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission -> Member, Federal-State Joint Board on Separations -> Commissioner -> Chairman, Advisory Committee on Alternative Financing for Minority Opportunities in Telecommunication -> Supervisory Commissioner, Telecommunications Industry Advisory Group to Revise Uniform System of Acc

We welcome our guest Nikki Bethel. Ms. Bethel is the current interim CEO of the Emma Bowen Foundation. Prior to joining the foundation she was the Senior Vice President of talent management for HBO and responsible for overseeing the areas of talent, acquisition, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness. Nikki helped with recruitment and engagement, executive leadership, coaching management, training, and professional development. She also oversaw culture and talent assessments, succession planning, and organizational strategy and team development. EXPERIENCE HBO, SVP Talent Management 2003- Present A-List Inc., Consultant 2001-2003 Morgan Stanley, Associate, Global Diversity 2000-2001 Merril Lynch, Human Resources Associate 1998-2000

Our guest today is media executive, Patrick Younge. He launched his own consultancy and content production company, Cardiff Productions, after running BBC productions, the world's largest TV content creation business. Prior to BBC, he led a successful joint venture transaction of the Travel Channel Media valuing business at 1 billion in 2009. And while at BBC, he was the most senior black executive for the company, and has always believed there's more that can be done to increase diversity at all levels. Mr. Younge is an executive with international experience at senior levels in journalism,  production, public service, television, digital media, and more EXPERIENCE Travel Channel Media, President/General Manager Discovery, President/General Manager BBC, Producer

ABC News Correspondent, Gio Benitez, is our esteemed guest today. He is currently the transportation correspondent for ABC News based in both New York and Washington, D C., and he may be one of the first reporters to shoot a story on an iPhone?  Gio is the epitome of what makes the Emma Bowen foundation. Great. He works hard. He started working at a local station in Florida working his way up to NYC. And now the sky is the limit. EXPERIENCE ABC News Transportation Correspondent Mar 2020 – Present Correspondent 2013 – Present WFOR Reporter 2009 – 2013

FOX Television Stations is a founding partner of the Emma Bowen Foundation's program and have been integral to the success of the program.  FTS has consistently taken on the largest number of fellows each summer, and they have given over 65 alumni their start in the industry as interns. Over thirty-five alumni have continued their careers at FTS. The company has the highest number of Student of the Year winners, 34%, since the award has been given out in 2001. Our guest today is Jack Abernathy, CEO of Fox Television Stations since 2004. In this role, he oversees 29 owned and operated FOX Television Stations in the nation's largest television markets. The FOX Television Stations are industry leaders based on the growth and success of locally produced programming, which have more than doubled under Abernathy's leadership with over 1000 hours of locally produced news each week, and more than any other owned and operated broadcast group. We would like recognize and thank FTS for sponsoring the EBF virtual summer conference and this podcast!

Our special guest this week is one of the founding members of the foundation. Robert Apter is the former senior vice president for finance and administration at ABC Sports.  Mr. Apter ensured the foundation was off to a good start and on solid ground for thirty years. As the treasurer and finance committee chair he is responsible for making sure the funding is coming in, accounted for, and spent in a responsible way to ensure the longevity of the foundation.  He has also mentored many students in the program and still keeps touch with them to this day. The foundation means a lot to Mr. Apter and it is his hope that "people who listen to this podcast can get a sense of how devoted we all are to it."