Media

Honorary Advisory Board Member: Kay Koplovitz

Kay Koplovitz is a groundbreaking leader in the television and media industry. She is the founder of USA Network and the first woman in history to head a television network. She is also the visionary who created the business model for cable networks by introducing the dual revenue streams of licensing and advertising. She was the Chairperson and CEO of USA Network until the company was sold for $4.5 billion in 1998. In 1992, she launched the Syfy Channel, which became a top ten rated cable network known for innovative drama and mini-series.

Koplovitz during the early years at USA Network

Koplovitz during the early years at USA Network

Koplovitz has also figured as a major pioneer in sports television.  She launched major professional and collegiate sports on cable television by negotiating the first contracts for cable coverage of Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and the US Tennis Open. Under her leadership, the USA Network reached first place in cable prime time ratings, where it remained for 14 years. 

A very significant focus now for Koplovitz is helping advance the companies and careers of women entrepreneurs. She is the Chair of Springboard Enterprises, the premier platform for women entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts dedicated to building scalable, sustainable women-led companies.
In 1998, President Clinton appointed Koplovitz to chair the bipartisan National Women’s Business Council. She used this platform to launch Springboard Enterprises, in a move to get women entrepreneurs to “think big” about their growth companies and to raise venture capital to fund them.

As one of today’s leading women in business, Koplovitz has penned, Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning to Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game, which she wrote to inform and inspire women entrepreneurs to create wealth through equity. In February 2015 she introduced and edited, Been There, Run That, an anthology of best practices from Springboard entrepreneurs who have “been there, run that.” She is a sought after speaker and commentator on subjects ranging from women’s leadership, women’s entrepreneurship, capital formation, creating a human capital ecosystem, to emerging media and management, and corporate board governance.

UBS conference, “Revitalizing America, The Road to Sustainable Growth” (in picture L to R) Jacqueline Novogratz,  President Bill Clinton, Kay Koplovitz, David Gergen, President George W. Bush.

UBS conference, “Revitalizing America, The Road to Sustainable Growth” (in picture L to R) Jacqueline Novogratz,  President Bill Clinton, Kay Koplovitz, David Gergen, President George W. Bush.

Koplovitz currently serves on the Boards of Ion Media Networks and Veniam; she previously chaired Liz Claiborne (later Kate Spade); and served on several major company boards, including the boards of CA Technologies, Time Inc, Oracle, Nabisco, Instinet, and General RE. She also has been a long-term trustee for The International Tennis Hall of Fame and trustee (currently emeritus) of The Paley Center for Media. In 2017, she was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Koplovitz participated in The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards, 2019 on May 10, 2019. She spoke on the “Women & Power” panel alongside former Congresswoman Mia Love, Alessandra Stanley, and Sally Quinn, moderated by Juju Chang. She also serves as a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

Ted Turner

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Ted Turner

Media Mogul and Philanthropist

Robert Edward “Ted” Turner is an American media mogul and philanthropist.  As a businessman, he is known as founder of the cable news network CNN, the first dedicated 24-hour cable news channel.  He attended Brown University and was vice-president of the Brown Debating Union and captain of the sailing team.  After the death of his father at age 24, he took the family’s billboard business. He went on to purchase Atlanta UHF and started assembling his Turner Broadcasting System.

In 1980 he launched CNN, which rose to prominence as it garnered a reputation for having its reporters arrive first on any news scene.  Some of the incidents that marked CNN as a serious network were the covering of the Reagan assassination attempt in 1981, the Challenger disaster in 1986 and the first Persian Gulf War in 1991.

In 1986 Turner purchased Metro-Goldwyn-Myer (MGM) / United artists instead and used their extensive film library to launch TNT in 1988.  In 1996, Turner Broadcasting System merged with Time Warner Inc. and Ted Turner became the Vice Chairman of the company of which he now owned 10% – the largest individual stockholder.

As a philanthropist, he is known for his $1 billion gift to support UN causes, which created the United Nations Foundation, a public charity to broaden support for the UN.  Turner serves as Chairman of the United Nations Foundation board of directors.  His other causes include the Turner Foundation, Inc, Turner Endangered Species Fund and the Nuclear Threat Initiative. He is also the originator of the Goodwill Games that started in 1986.

Turner has also devoted his assets to environmental causes.  As one of the largest private land owners in the US, he uses much of his land for ranches to re-popularize bison meat, amassing the largest herd in the world. He also created the environmental-themed animated series Captain Planet and the Planeteers.

Honorary Advisory Board Member: Susan Del Percio

Susan Del Percio is a nationally recognized crisis communication expert and public affairs strategist. She is a political analyst for MSNBC, columnist for OZY media, and a consultant for the award-winning HBO show, The Newsroom. 

Del Percio has served as a media spokeswoman on many campaigns, both political and corporate. With nearly 30 years of experience in the political, government, nonprofit, and private sectors, she is a trusted advisor who helps leaders develop, execute, and win purposeful campaigns. Her unique insights on government procedure, regulatory environments and public policy are highly sought after, but her passion for problem solving sets her apart.

Appointed as a Special Advisor to Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2014, she initiated and implemented communication strategies, and advised and developed policy initiatives. Susan also served as Deputy Commissioner in the Giuliani Administration prior to founding her firm, Susan Del Percio Strategies, in 2001. Her client list includes private corporations, Fortune 50 executives, leading elected officials, political organizations and candidates, as well as non-profits.

Born and raised in Northeast politics, Del Percio received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Emerson College, where she has served as a distinguished lecturer.

Del Percio attended The Common Good Forum & American Spirit Awards on May 21st, 2018, and spoke on the panel “Political Landscape: Future of Elections, Campaigns, & Parties” alongside John Della Volpe, former Congressman David Jolly, and Bill Schneider, with moderator John Harwood. She returned to participate in the Post Vice Presidential Debate Panel on October 8, 2020 and was joined by nationally known strategists from both sides of the aisle: Tara Setmayer, Hilary Rosen, and Stan Greenberg to have an incredible conversation following the debate.

Del Percio with fellow NBC commentator, Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod

Del Percio with fellow NBC commentator, Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod

Del Percio currently serves as a member of The Common Good Honorary Advisory Board.

Twitter: @DelPercioS

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