Twelve Women in Sports Were Honored at AWM Event Monday in New York City

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Oct 20, 2015, 03:06 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) honored 12 Women in Sports at a breakfast event Monday at 10 on the Park in New York City. Following the breakfast, AWM held two panel sessions; one featuring members of the CBS all-female sports talk show "We Need to Talk" and one highlighting females in the C-suite, titled "Ceiling Breakers."

"Our purpose at AWM is to bring smart, accomplished and up-and-coming, dedicated women together to share ideas, experiences and 'atta-girls' through recognition and professional development," said Kristen Welch, AWM Chair and SVP, Global Content Operations at Discovery Communications. "This event is just one example of how women in media can celebrate each other and connect across all industries."

AWM honored the following Women in Sports (in alphabetical order):

Katrina Adams, Chairman of the Board, CEO and President of the United States Tennis Association
Karen Brodkin, President, Business Affairs, WME|IMG Worldwide
Marie Donoghue, Executive Vice President, Global Strategy and Original Content, ESPN
Libby Geist, Vice President & Executive Vice President, ESPN Films and Original Content
Andrea Kremer, NFL Network, HBO, CBS Sports
Anita Marks, ESPN Radio Host & NY Giants Broadcast Team Fantasy Football Analyst
Lauren McHale, Vice President, Director of Sales, Katz Sports Marketing
Katie Nolan, host of Garbage Time with Katie Nolan on Fox Sports 1
Laurel Richie, President, Women's National Basketball Association
Suzanne Smith, Producer/Director at CBS
Hannah Storm, Anchor, SportsCenter, ESPN
Suzyn Waldman, Sportscaster, New York Yankees Color Commentator

Panelists on the "We Need to Talk" panel were WNBA player and host Swin Cash, Olympic swimmer and host Dara Torres, VP of Original Programming at CBS Sports and coordinating producer Emilie Deutsch and honoree, coordinating producer and director Suzanne Smith. Moderator was CBS Sports Radio's Amy Lawrence.

Panelists on the Ceiling Breakers panel were honorees Katrina Adams, Karen Brodkin, Marie Donoghue and Laurel Richie. Moderator was Kathy DeBoer, American Volleyball Coaches Association Executive Director and nationally-known public speaker on the impact of gender on competitive behavior in business and sports.

Highlights from the event include:

"My role at the USTA allows me to fulfill my ambition to open up opportunities for people to play tennis that may not otherwise have a chance or an outlet to play. At the same time I'm excited to coincide my leadership role in this capacity and as a representative of the sports media to open doors for others behind me," said Katrina Adams when reflecting on her work with USTA.
Libby Geist shared how her family played a big part in setting her up for success, stating, "I am so lucky to never have been told I am a girl and that there was something I couldn't do."
"It was such an honor to receive the award from an organization that is so affirming to women in our business. I challenge all of you in your respective fields – on air, in production, in management – to embrace the voices of women in sports in new ways and promote the brand of women as it pertains to their intellect in the sports field. I urge young women to not be afraid of criticism and to take risks, because that is the only way to grow and succeed," said Hannah Storm.
Suzyn Waldman advised that women should never let anyone pit you against other women. "Don't say 'I want to BE Hannah Storm'…there already is a Hannah Storm and she's not going anywhere. You be you, Hannah can be Hannah and then there are TWO of you, and not just one!"

About the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM): The Alliance for Women in Media advances the influence and impact of women in all forms of media. AWM is a diverse community – whether type of media, job or global location – that facilitates industry-wide collaboration, education and innovation. Established in 1961 as the American Women in Radio & Television (AWRT), AWM is the longest-established professional association dedicated to advancing women in media and entertainment. AWM harnesses the promise, passion and power of women in all forms of media to empower career development, engage in thought leadership and drive positive change for our industry and societal progress.

SOURCE Alliance for Women in Media