  |
 |
|
Management Team Cox Enterprises, Inc.
Cox Communications
Manheim
Cox Media Group
Cox Auto Trader
James C. Kennedy is chairman of privately-held Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. He is the grandson of former Ohio Governor and presidential candidate James M. Cox, who founded the company in 1898. He also serves as chairman of the board for Cox Radio, Inc. Kennedy has been with Cox since 1972, starting as a production assistant with Atlanta newspapers, where he held various positions including reporter, copy editor, advertising salesman, business manager and executive vice president/general manager. In 1979, he was named president of Grand Junction (Colorado) Newspapers, Inc. and, a few months later, publisher of the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. While at the Daily Sentinel, he served as Chairman of the Colorado Division of Wildlife Commission and was awarded Conservationist of the Year. In 1985, Kennedy transferred back to Atlanta as vice president of Cox Newspapers, a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. He was named executive vice president of Cox Enterprises the following year, and in January 1988, Kennedy was named chairman and chief executive officer. During Kennedy’s tenure, Cox Enterprises has increased in annual revenues from $1.8 billion in 1988 to $15 billion at year-end 2007. Today, Cox is a top-10 nationally ranked player, based on revenues, in every major category where it competes. The company has 66,000 employees located throughout the U.S. and abroad, and operates 300 separate businesses. Two subsidiaries – Cox Communications, a leading broadband communications company, and Cox Radio – became publicly traded since Kennedy has been CEO. In December 2004, Cox Enterprises completed the acquisition of the publicly held minority interest of Cox Communications in the single largest cash transaction in the history of American business. Under his leadership, Cox has also expanded its Internet portfolio, which includes an equity stake in AutoTrader.com, the leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information website. Kennedy currently serves on the boards of Ducks Unlimited, Atlanta Committee for Progress, the PATH Foundation and is also a former president of Wetlands America Trust, Inc. He was inducted into Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business Hall of Fame in 2004 and was bestowed an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Kennesaw State University in 2003. Jim and his wife Sarah were recognized as the 2003 Philanthropists of the Year by the Greater Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Fund-raising Professionals in recognition of their many contributions to the community. A former competitive cyclist, Kennedy is a past Masters National, Pan American and World Champion in the 3000 meter pursuit. He served as captain of a four-man team that won the Race Across AMerica (RAAM) in 1992, setting a world’s record. In 1994, the same team finished second, establishing a new American record. Kennedy was also one of five named to the United States Cycling Federation Master’s All-American team and was the honorary chairman of the 1993, 1994 and 1995 Bike Tours of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Georgia Chapter. In 1997, he was named the honorary chairman of the Tour de Cure cycling event benefiting the American Diabetes Association. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kennedy holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Denver.
Jimmy W. Hayes is president and chief executive officer for Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. His responsibilities include oversight of Cox Communications, Cox Media Group, Manheim Auctions, AutoTrader.com and several corporate headquarters groups, including financial operations, human resources and administration, as well as corporate communications. He also serves as a member on the board of directors of Cox Enterprises, Inc. and of Cox Radio, Inc. Hayes previously served as president and chief operating office for Cox Enterprises from 2005 to 2008, as executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Cox Communications from 1999 to 2005, and was senior vice president and chief financial officer from 1995 to 1999. Hayes joined Cox Enterprises in 1980 as an accounting manager. He was promoted in 1981 to assistant controller and in 1982 was named a corporate officer. In 1989, he joined Cox Cable as vice president of finance before being promoted to senior vice president of finance in 1992. When Cox Cable became publicly-traded Cox Communications in 1995, Hayes added the title of chief financial officer to his duties. He serves on the board of directors of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Ga. and is actively involved in Angel Flight of Georgia, an organization of volunteer pilots dedicated to providing air transportation to those with medical needs that can't be filled locally. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Hayes holds bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting. He also completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School in 1989.
John Dyer is executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cox Enterprises, Inc. He is responsible for the company’s treasury, financial reporting and control, as well as tax and audit functions. He also oversees business development, public policy, supply chain services, information technology, risk management, legal and real estate. Dyer began his career at Cox Enterprises in 1977 as internal auditor. In 1980, he joined the company’s broadband communications and entertainment subsidiary - Cox Communications - as a financial analyst. He later served as manager of capital asset planning and director of operations before joining Times Mirror Cable, where he was regional vice president of operations and vice president of operations. Dyer returned to Cox Communications as vice president of financial planning and analysis when Cox acquired Times Mirror in 1995. In 1998, Dyer was named Cox Communications’ senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions, where he helped gain more than two million subscribers. He also served as senior vice president of operations for Cox Communications’ Western Division, which includes operations in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada. Before assuming his current role, Dyer served as Cox Communications’ chief financial officer. He oversaw accounting and financial planning analysis, programming and supply chain, while also managing the company’s commercial services and cable advertising divisions - Cox Business and Cox Media respectively. Dyer holds a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from the State University of West Georgia, as well as a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University. He is a member of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association’s (NCTA) Convention Committee. Previously, he served on the Executive Committee of the New England Cable Television Association and its Board of Directors, as well as on the Board of Directors for Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM).
Marybeth Leamer is senior vice president of human resources for Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. She is responsible for executive compensation, benefits, HRIS systems, executive development and training, diversity and employee relations, corporate communications and public affairs, corporate services, corporate travel and corporate security. Leamer joined Cox in 1982 as a compensation analyst for the cable division. She was promoted to senior compensation analyst in 1984, then manager of compensation and benefits in 1985. In 1986, she transferred to Cox Enterprises, Inc., as compensation administration, becoming corporate benefits administrator in 1987. She was then named manager of employee benefit plans in 1988, assuming additional responsibility for compensation two years later. She became director of employee benefits and compensation in 1990, and in 1995, was promoted to vice president of human resources. Leamer is a member of the Human Resources Planning Society and the Atlanta Human Resources Leadership Forum. She has served on the board and is past president of the Georgia chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and is past president of the board of the Human Resources Leadership Forum. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of this organization. She is a board member of the Metro Atlanta YMCA serving on the Human Resources Committee and chair of the Compensation Committee. In addition, she is a member of the Advisory Board of the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. Leamer is a graduate of Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and journalism.
Dale Hughes is senior vice president of strategic investments and real estate for Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. Hughes is responsible for leading all facets of Cox’s corporate real estate function, including strategic planning, transaction implementation, acquisition and disposition, project design and construction, as well as portfolio management. Hughes also is responsible for foundations. Prior to joining Cox in 2008, Hughes was a managing member of Dow Lohnes’ Atlanta office and was a member of the firm’s Management Committee and Board of Directors. Before joining Dow Lohnes in 1989, Hughes practiced law with Scoggins, Ivy and Goodman in Atlanta. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Emory University and his law degree from The University of Georgia Law School.
Richard Jacobson is senior vice president of finance of Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He also serves as treasurer of publicly-traded Cox Radio, Inc. (CXR) and is responsible for insuring liquidity, managing outside investor relations, investment strategy for defined benefit plans, financial forecasting, long-range planning, operational banking, cash management and managing the treasury department team. The treasury department is the "central" bank for all of Cox business. Jacobson joined Cox in 1982 and served as assistant to the treasurer, manager of treasury operations, assistant treasurer and treasurer respectively. He was promoted to his current position in October 2005 and previously held the position of vice president and treasurer. He has also worked in various finance related positions at Contel and National Data Corporation. Jacobson serves on the advisory board of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and on the boards of the Dunwoody Medical Center and The Chattahoochee Nature Center, where he also serves as treasurer. Additionally, he serves on the audit committee of the Georgia State University Foundation. A cum laude University of Florida graduate, Jacobson holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. He also has a master’s degree with honors in finance from Georgia State University.
Bob Brand is vice president of corporate security for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is the senior-most official responsible for the security and protection of Cox’s employees and assets and oversees the development, implementation and direction of the company’s security programs and processes. Brand joined Cox as the director of corporate security in 1998 and was responsible for the planning and design of the company’s security programs and procedures. He also served as security consultant to all of the company’s subsidiaries. Brand is a 22-year veteran of the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. He retired from the Diplomatic Security Service in May of 1998 as the executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. He had previously served in various positions with the Bureau, including regional security officer in New Delhi, India, division chief of the Protective Intelligence Division, branch chief of the Visa Fraud section and regional security officer in former West Berlin. Brand’s other assignments included tours of duty in Beirut, Lebanon and Guatemala as well as permanent assignment to the protective detail of the Secretary of State. He has also served as a special agent in charge of numerous protective details of foreign government officials and as an investigator in field offices for several years. Previously, he served three years as a police officer in South Burlington, Vermont. Brand is a graduate of the University of Vermont with a bachelor’s degree in resource economics. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in business continuity and emergency management at Boston University. He is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, International Security Management Association, Overseas Security Council, Georgia/Israeli Law Enforcement Exchange and STOP I.T., a Georgia-based private identity theft group.
Susan Coker is vice president and treasurer for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. In this role, she oversees all Cox treasury functions including capital structure, liquidity management, investor relations and financial long-range planning. Coker also serves as vice president and treasurer of Cox Communications, the company’s broadband subsidiary. Coker joined Cox Communications in 1995 as the director of financial planning for broadband services. She was later promoted to director of financial planning and analysis and was appointed to assistant treasurer in 1999. She was named treasurer of Cox Communications in 2002 and vice president in 2004 before being promoted to vice president and treasurer of Cox Enterprises in 2005. Coker is a member of Women in Cable Television and serves on the board of trustees of the Saint Martin’s Episcopal School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vanderbilt University and a master’s of business administration from Duke University.
Maria Friedman is vice president, corporate tax for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. She is responsible for managing the corporate income tax function for Cox Enterprises and all its subsidiaries. Friedman most recently served as assistant vice president, tax. She joined Cox Enterprises in 1991 as a senior tax specialist and was promoted to tax counsel, tax manager and director of tax. Friedman began her career with Ernst & Whinney in 1987 and worked in both the Atlanta and Washington, D.C. offices. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Emory University, a juris doctorate degree from Georgia State University and is a member of the Georgia State Bar.
David Head is vice president and controller for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is responsible for managing all aspects of corporate accounting including policy, internal and external financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, payroll, business valuation and employee benefits pricing and support. Head has served as controller for Cox Enterprises since 2000. Previously he was director of investment planning at Cox Communications, the company’s cable broadband subsidiary, from 1996 to 2000. He began his career at Deloitte and Touche LLP, where he worked from 1986 to 1996. Head holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from North Georgia College and a master’s degree in accounting from Georgia State University.
Roberto I. Jimenez is vice president of corporate communications and public affairs at Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. Jimenez is responsible for leading internal and external communications; public affairs and diversity communications; interactive communications and creative services; as well as corporate social responsibility programming and corporate contributions. He also serves as Cox’s chief spokesperson. Prior to joining Cox in 2003 as director of corporate communications, Jimenez was a director of global communications and international marketing at AFC Enterprises, the franchisor and operator of more than 4,000 restaurants, bakeries and cafes around the world. In 1998, he joined the Walt Disney World Company as manager of public affairs at the Walt Disney World Resort. While at Disney, he served as official spokesperson for the 49-square mile resort and was responsible for public affairs, issues management, crisis communications and diversity public relations. He also managed cast communications for the resort’s 57,000 employees. In 1996, Jimenez launched Jimenez Pinzon International, a multicultural marketing communications consultancy, specializing in Hispanic, market-entry strategies. In 1992, he served as administrative director of marketing and public relations for Florida Hospital, the nation’s largest Medicare provider and leading cardiac center. Jimenez started his communications career as director of public relations at the Orlando Opera Company in 1987. Jimenez serves on the boards of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. He also serves on the board of the National Hispanic Corporate Council and on the American Institute for Managing Diversity’s board of governors. He has served on the advisory board of the Elon University School of Communications and the executive board of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce where he chaired its legislative committee. In 2007, Jimenez was named one of Hispanic Business magazine’s 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America. He is a 2005 IABC/Atlanta Catalyst Award winner and a past co-chair of the Public Relations Society of America – Georgia Chapter Diversity Committee. He is a 2004 graduate of Leadership Atlanta, a 2005 graduate of the Diversity Leadership Academy (founded by the American Institute for Managing Diversity) and a 2008 graduate of Leadership Georgia. Jimenez earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee and a master’s of business administration degree with an emphasis in marketing and international business from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.
Joab (Joey) Lesesne is vice president of government affairs for Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. He is responsible for developing and implementing public policy strategies for Cox businesses and representing the company before Congress and federal government agencies. Lesesne served as chief of staff for Senator Ernest Hollings from 1999 to 2005. In this capacity, he advised the Senator on votes, policy statements, speeches, amendments, legislation and other official business and coordinated all the Senator’s projects and policy initiatives. He joined the Senator’s staff in 1993 as legislative counsel and later was promoted to legislative director. Following law school, he was an attorney at Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough in Columbia, S.C. Prior to joining Cox, Lesesne served as a vice president of Timmons and Company, a Washington-based government relations and consulting firm where he assisted clients in formulating and implementing individualized strategies for working with Capitol Hill and the Administration. Lesesne currently co-chairs the Birmingham-Southern Washington, D.C. Regional Campaign Committee, and he was the 2003 recipient of the Compleat Lawyer Award. Given by the University of South Carolina’s School of Law Alumni Association, the award recognizes alumni for outstanding civic and professional accomplishments. Lesesne graduated Cum Laude with a degree in history from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Ala. He earned his Juris Doctor from The University of South Carolina and is admitted to the Bars of South Carolina and District of Columbia.
Lacey Lewis is vice president of corporate development for Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company. She is responsible for identifying and evaluating new business opportunities, acquisitions and long-term investment strategies for Cox Enterprises and its subsidiaries. Lewis also manages the financial planning and analysis function, which is responsible for the company’s forecasting, budgeting and long range planning. In addition, she has operating responsibility for Cox Search, Cox Enterprises’ local online search business. Prior to her promotion in 2006, Lewis served as vice president of development for Cox Enterprises. From 2002-2005 she was vice president of investor relations for Cox Communications, the company’s formerly publicly-traded broadband subsidiary, where she managed the investor relations program in compliance with corporate policies and securities regulations. Previously, Lewis was the vice president and chief financial officer of Cox Interactive Media, the former internet division of Cox Enterprises from 1998-2002 and served as director of business operations for Cox Communications from 1992 to 1998. Lewis began her career at Cox in 1984 when she joined the Internal Audit department of Cox Enterprises. Prior to joining Cox, Lewis worked in the Atlanta office of Deloitte and Touche from 1981 to 1984. A cum laude graduate of Auburn University, Lewis holds a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting. She is also a graduate of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School executive development program. Lewis serves on the board of the trustees for the Georgia Conservancy where she serves on both the Executive and Finance committees. She is also a member of the Atlanta chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and the National Investor Relations Institute. In 2004, Lewis was named to the Institutional Investor Research Group First Team for IR rankings by the sell side analysts.
Mike Mannheimer is vice president of supply chain services and chief procurement officer for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is responsible for the identification, development and management of supplier relationships across all Cox divisions. He also has responsibility for the Energy Management and Fleet Management departments and leads the “Cox Conserves” project – Cox’s energy conservation and environmental sustainability initiative. Prior to this position, he served as vice president of materials management for Cox Enterprises and as director and vice president of materials management for Cox Communications. Before joining Cox in 1980, Mannheimer was director of engineering & manufacturing for Olympic Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Sara Lee Corporation. Prior to emigrating from South Africa in 1978, he held various procurement, materials management, project management and production management positions in the steel and mining equipment manufacturing industries with The South African Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR) and FMC South Africa Ltd., a subsidiary of Chicago-based FMC Corporation. Mannheimer served as a 1st Lieutenant with the South African Army in 1969. Mannheimer is a member of several industry-related associations: the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), the Conference Board Purchasing & Supply Leadership Council, Institute for Supply Management (ISM), the ISM Senior Executive Forum, Purchasing Management Association of Georgia (PMAG) He also represents Cox as a founding member of the Conference Board’s Center for Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability. He is a past board and executive committee member of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) and served in various positions on programming, finance and certification committees. He also formerly was a member of the SCTE Materials Management Subcommittee on Barcoding. He has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa and holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa. Born in Durban, South Africa, Mannheimer became a U.S. citizen in January 1984.
J.P. Matzigkeit is vice president of compensation, benefits and HRIS at Cox Enterprises, Inc., a leading communications, media and automotive services company with revenues exceeding $15 billion. Matzigkeit assumed this role at the beginning of 2009 and is responsible for Cox’s compensation, benefits and HRIS departments. Matzigkeit has nearly twenty years of experience in compensation. In 1999 he joined Cox as a director of compensation and most recently served as assistant vice president of compensation. He was responsible for the design, implementation and administration of compensation systems and long-term incentive plans for Cox Enterprises’ officers and employees. Prior to joining Cox, he was an executive compensation consultant for Towers Perrin. In this role, he advised clients on executive and employee pay issues; annual and long-term incentive plan design; outside director compensation; compensation filings for public companies; and merger and integration human resources. He is active in the community as president of the Chastain Park Conservancy, a 501 (c) (3) organization he helped found in 2003, and a member of World at Work and the Atlanta Area Compensation Association. Matzigkeit earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from DePauw University and a master’s of business administration degree from the University of North Carolina.
Andy Merdek is vice president of legal affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is responsible for all legal matters, regulatory compliance, litigation management and corporate governance of its roughly 600 subsidiaries and also supervises the CEI Legal Department as well as the work of more than 100 outside law firms. Merdek is a former partner in the law firm of Dow, Lohnes & Albertson of Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, where his counseling and litigation practice included media law, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions. He joined Cox Enterprises in 1987 as vice president and general manager of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and began his newspaper career on the editorial side as a reporter and editor for the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram. Merdek currently serves as chairman of the Newspaper Association of America’s Legal Affairs Committee. A Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude graduate of Middlebury College, Merdek is also an Order of the Coif graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.  GREGORY B. MORRISONVice President and Chief Information Officer Cox Enterprises, Inc. Greg Morrison is vice president and chief information officer for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is responsible for technology planning for all corporate headquarters operations. Morrison was named vice president and chief information officer of Cox Enterprises in February 2002. He previously served as vice president of information systems at Prudential Financial, Inc., where he progressed through the ranks from 1989 to 2000. He briefly left Prudential to become chief operating officer and chief information officer for RealEstate.com in 2000, and then rejoined the company later that year as vice president of information systems. Prior to joining Prudential, Morrison served in the United States Army Signal Corps for seven years. Morrison serves on the board of trustees for Clark Atlanta University and on the board of directors for the Georgia CIO Leadership Association. He was named to US Black Engineer Magazine’s Most Important Blacks in Technology for three consecutive years (2005-2007) and to Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders in 2007. Morrison earned a bachelor's degree in science from South Carolina State University and a master’s degree in science from Northwestern University.  ROBERT N. REDELLAVice President, Development Cox Enterprises, Inc. Bob Redella is vice president of development for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is responsible for identifying and evaluating new business opportunities with all Cox divisions on growth ventures. Redella worked with Cox Communications starting in 1982, serving in a number of positions including vice president of programming and investments. He was responsible for negotiating major cable programming carriage agreements and executing investments in various cable networks, including E! Entertainment Television, Discovery Networks and UK Gold/UK Living. Redella left Cox briefly in 1996 and held senior positions at American Sky Broadcasting and Media One, Inc. In 1998, Redella joined Cox Enterprises as senior development officer, responsible for the development of acquisition strategies and lead negotiator on a number of investment acquisitions and divestitures. He returned to Cox Communications in 2002. At Cox Communications, Redella served as vice president of mergers and acquisitions, where he was responsible for the company’s acquisition and divestiture strategy and was directly involved in Cox Communications’ privatization and the recent process to sell operations serving approximately one million cable customers. In early 2007, Redella developed and executed the strategy that exchanged our 25% stake in Discovery Communications for a company that owns Travel Channel and TravelChannel.com and approximately $1.3b. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Redella holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Cincinnati and earned a master’s in business administration from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.
Alex Stickney is vice president, internal audit for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. He is responsible for providing financial, operational and information technology audits across all Cox businesses. Stickney previously served as director of audit services for Cox Enterprises. He joined Cox in 1984 in the audit department and left in 1987 as audit senior to join the Austin American-Statesman as the assistant controller. In 1993, he moved to Cox Newspapers as manager of financial planning and rejoined Cox Enterprises in 1995. Stickney began his career with the Atlanta office of the CPA firm Grant Thornton in 1980. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Morehouse College.
Alexandra Wilson is vice president of public policy and regulatory affairs for Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. She joined the company in 1994 and is responsible for developing and implementing public policy strategies for Cox businesses and representing the company before Congress and federal government agencies. Previously, Wilson served as chief of the Cable Services Bureau for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 1993-1994, where she oversaw the FCC’s implementation of the 1992 Cable Act and coordinated cable regulation rulemakings with FCC commissioners and staff, Congress, local government officials, and industry and consumer groups. Prior, Wilson served as legal advisor to FCC Chairman Al Sikes from 1991-1992 and as special advisor to the FCC General Counsel from 1990 - 1991. Wilson was an associate attorney specializing in communications and litigation with Wiley, Rein & Fielding from 1987-1990 and Crowell & Moring from 1984-1987. An active member of the Federal Communications Bar Association since 1984, Wilson has served in a number of leadership roles, including president (2003-04). She also has served as a faculty member at the Practicing Law Institute’s cable television law conference since 1995. Locally, Wilson has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association since 1984. She served on the board of directors for the Washington Chamber Symphony from 2000-2002. Currently, Wilson serves on the board of directors for Friends of the National Arboretum, a non-profit organization that supports the programs of the United States National Arboretum in Washington, DC. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia with a bachelor's degree in communications, Wilson also holds a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. Cox Communications
Patrick Esser is President of Cox Communications, Inc., a multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company with more than 6 million residential and commercial customers. Esser brings 30 years of experience in cable and telecommunications to bear on his role as Cox’s top executive, a position he’s held since 2006. He joined Cox in 1979 as Director of Programming in Hampton Roads, Va., and was part of the original management team that pioneered Cox's advertising sales division now known as Cox Media. Named corporate Vice President of Advertising Sales in 1991, Esser was presented with the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau President’s Award just three years later. Esser became Vice President of Operations for Cox’s Western Division in 1999, and a year later was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations. In 2004, Esser was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Cox has earned numerous accolades during Esser’s tenure as President. In 2006, Cox debuted in DiversityInc’s listing of the Top 50 Companies for Diversity, and in three years, the company scaled the list from its initial ranking at number 32 to its’ ranking at number 6 in 2008. In 2008, DiversityInc also ranked Cox within the Top 10 Workplaces for African Americans and the Women in Cable Television (WICT) Foundation named Cox the Best Operator for Women in Cable for the sixth straight year. In 2006, Cox was named the top employer in cable by CableWorld, and in 2007 Esser was personally distinguished with recognition as Multichannel News’ first “Executive of the Year.” Customer service excellence remains a Cox hallmark under Esser’s leadership. Cox ranks highly in annual J.D. Power and Associates studies of consumer satisfaction. In 2008, for the sixth consecutive year, Cox received highest honors for Residential Telephone Customer Satisfaction StudySM in the West and ranked highest among small/midsize business data providers in their Major Provider Business Telecommunications StudySM. To-date, Cox is the only telecommunications and entertainment company to receive top honors recognition from J.D. Power in studies of video, telephone and high-speed Internet satisfaction. In 2007, Cox also received PC Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Award for Cox High Speed Internet Service. Esser currently serves as Vice Chair of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, following successful tenure as treasurer and co-chair of The Cable Show, the industry’s premier annual event in 2007. He also serves on the board of directors of C-SPAN, the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing Educational Foundation, CableLabs, and Cable in the Classroom. Additionally, he serves as an adviser to the Association of Cable Communicators and the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications. Esser also serves as a Southeastern Trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Esser holds a B.A. and M.A. in communications media, and in 2003 was presented the university’s Heritage Honors Alumni Achievement Award. Manheim
Dean Eisner is President of Manheim a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., one of the nation’s leading media companies and providers of automotive services. Prior to his role at Manheim, he served as vice president of business development for Cox Enterprises, Inc. for five years, responsible for strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, new media and corporate marketing. Eisner joined Cox Enterprises in February 1992 as managing director of Cox International, where he was responsible for evaluating, developing, and directing Cox investments in foreign markets for the company's cable, broadcasting, newspaper, and auto auction businesses. In 1993, Eisner was named treasurer of Cox Enterprises, where he was responsible for management of the company's investment assets, pension funds, debt, cash management, foreign exchange, and banking relationships, as well as the travel and fleet departments. Prior to Cox, Eisner served in various executive management positions at AGB Market Information in London; Sony; CBS; and General Electric in New York. Eisner is a former chairman of EXODUS/Atlanta Cities in Schools and has served on a variety of community boards including the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance Theatre Company, United Way and Atlanta College of Art. He currently serves on the boards of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Woodruff Arts Center, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and the Paideia School Endowment Board. Eisner holds a bachelor's degree in accounting and computer science from Purdue University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan. Cox Media Group
Sanford (Sandy) Schwartz concurrently serves as president of two Cox Enterprises subsidiaries: Cox Media Group and Cox Auto Trader. Schwartz serves as president of Cox Media Group, an integrated broadcasting, publishing and digital media company that includes the national advertising rep firms of Cox Reps. With revenues exceeding $1.5 billion, the company operations include 15 broadcast television stations and 1 local cable channel, 86 radio stations, four metro newspapers and more than a dozen non-daily publications, and more than 100 digital services. Schwartz also is responsible for overseeing AutoTrader.com, the Internet’s leading auto classifieds marketplace and consumer information website, and its related automotive classifieds publications. Prior to his current positions, Schwartz served as vice president of business development for Cox Enterprises. He joined Cox in 1985 as features editor of the Tribune Newspapers in Mesa, Arizona and became the president and publisher in 1995. From 1996 to 2001, he served as executive vice president of the Austin-American Statesman. Schwartz also was vice president and general manager of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and in 2003 was executive vice president of Cox Newspapers. Schwartz is past chairman of the board for the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross. He also serves on the Supervisory Board of the Polish media company Agora.
Chip Perry is President and CEO of AutoTrader.com. He was the company’s first employee in 1997 when he was asked by Manheim Auctions, a unit of Cox Enterprises, to launch the company. Since then, AutoTrader.com has grown to become the world’s largest automotive marketplace and Perry has become widely recognized as a pioneer of the online automotive industry. With over $500 million in revenue and more than 2,000 employees, AutoTrader.com is now the largest online automotive advertising company in America. With over 3.5 million new and used vehicle listings from over 40,000 dealers, AutoTrader.com aggregates by far the largest number of vehicles in any medium. And with over 14 million unique monthly visitors, AutoTrader.com attracts the largest audience of car buyers on the Internet. During his ten years with AutoTrader.com, Perry has been the primary strategic architect of the company’s growth and organizational development. He has overseen the evolution of the sales, marketing, product development, information technology and customer service efforts of the company. Perry is a frequent speaker at industry events, had been featured in numerous national media interviews and has had the privilege of visiting over 500 auto dealerships and nearly all the auto manufacturers to help them capitalize on the Internet as a highly-targeted, measurable and cost-effective marketing medium. Before joining AutoTrader.com, Perry worked at the Los Angeles Times and McKinsey & Company. While at The LA Times, he launched one of the first major newspaper online services; the experience provided Perry with the foresight online auto classifieds would soon become a major growth industry. |
|
|
|
