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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 358-03
December 15, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS TO THE NEW YORK CITY LATIN MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT COMMISSION

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the appointments to the New York City Latin Media and Entertainment Commission at the kick-off meeting held at Gracie Mansion.  Joining the Commission are: Antonio Banderas, Tony Bechara, Jed Bernstein, Tonio Burgos, Michelle Byrd, Anna Carbonell, Carey Davis, Richard Edelman, Daisy Expósito-Ulla, Randy Falco, Jose W. Fernandez, Anne Sutherland Fuchs, Peter Fuster, Marta Garcia, Adam C. Hochfelder, Pedro Lichtinger, Violy McCausland, Lara Montilla, Emanuel Nuñez, Enrique J. Perez, Peter O. Price, Rossana Rosado, Christina Schwarz, Susan Segal, Jimmy Smits, Antonio Sosa, Jonathan Tisch, Andy Unanue, Amelia Vega, Das Elius Velez, Joseph Wiscovitch and Gilberto Zaldivar.  Last month, the Mayor appointed Jennifer Lopez Honorary Chairwoman, Robert De Niro Honorary Chairman, Willie Colón who is the Mayor’s Advisor and Liaison to the Commission, and Mario Baeza and Lisa Quiroz serve as Co-Chairs to the Commission. 

“The goal of the Commission is to make New York City the Latin Media and Entertainment Capital of the World,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “I am confident the individuals appointed to this Commission, as top executives and leaders in the media, business and community, will do great things for our City that will leave a lasting economic and cultural legacy for generations to come.”

The Latin Media & Entertainment Commission will work with the Mayor’s Office to create and execute a strategy to position New York City as a global capital for the Latin media and entertainment industry.  The goals of the Latin Media & Entertainment Commission include: launching an economic development initiative to recruit and grow Latin media productions and businesses in New York City; creating a network of ambassadors made up of industry leaders and celebrities to promote the City as a capital of Latin media and entertainment; and recruiting major Latin telecast award events to New York City.

Antonio Banderas is one of the leading international actors of his generation.  He has earned critical praise and a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for role in "Evita".  He has also starred in movies such as "The Mambo Kings", "Spy Kids" and "Once Upon a Time in Mexico".  Mr. Banderas most recently earned a Tony nomination for Best Actor in the Broadway musical "NINE".  

Tony Bechara is an artist and is the Chairman of the Board of El Museo del Barrio and a Trustee of BAM and of Studio in a School.

Jed Bernstein is President of the League of American Theatres & Producers, Inc.  Mr. Bernstein has taught at New York University, Yale University School of Management, and Yale School of Drama and holds board appointments with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, The Actor’s Fund, the Ethical Fieldston Fund and The Times Square Business Improvement District.

Tonio Burgos is President of Tonio Burgos and Associates.  Mr. Burgos has been an active participant in the NYC media world.  Mr. Burgos serves as associate member of the NYC Partnership, NYC and Company, ABNY, a Trustee of the South Street Seaport Museum, and a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Multicultural Advisory Committee.

Michelle Byrd is Executive Director of IFP/New York.  The mission of IFP is to build bridges between creative talent and the film industry.  Their programs include the annual IFP Market for narrative and documentary works-in-development, IFP Gotham Awards gala, international programs at the Rotterdam, Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals, public screening series at the Walter Reade Theater and Pioneer Theater, and the annual From Script to Screen Conference. 
 
Anna Carbonell is the Vice President of Stations Relations for WNBC and WNJU and also serves as a member of NBC’s diversity council.  She is a veteran of the New York press and public affairs arena.  Carbonell also served as the long-time host and executive producer for the public affairs programs “TIEMPO” on WABC-TV and “Visiones” on WNBC and was also instrumental in the development of the syndicated program “Hispanics Today” at WNBC.

Carey Davis is VP/General Manager of La Mega WSKQ-FM 97.9 and 93.1FM Amor-WPAT the flagship radio stations of Spanish Broadcasting System.  SBS is the largest Hispanic owned broadcasting company in America.  Davis has been general manager at the station for 7 years.  Prior to working in the Hispanic market Davis was general sales manager of 1010 WINS in New York.

Richard Edelman is President and CEO of Edelman, the world’s largest independent public relations firm.  Mr. Edelman has extensive experience in marketing and reputation management, with current assignments for Schering-Plough, Swiss Re and GAP.  He has particular interest in the technology and media areas, with assignments for Bertelsmann and Viacom.  Mr. Edelman has won the Silver Anvil in 1981 and was named ‘Best Manager of the Year’ by Inside PR magazine in 1995.

Daisy Expósito-Ulla is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Bravo Group, which is recognized as one of the major forces in the growth and evolution of Hispanic communications in America.  At the head of The Bravo Group since 1981, she has been a primordial architect of a true success story leading this Agency to become the #1 Hispanic marketing and communications company in the nation.  A top authority on the Hispanic market, Expósito-Ulla is frequently consulted about ethnic trends and on the multicultural future of marketing and communications in America.

Randy Falco is Group President of the NBC Television Network.  He had served since July 1998 as president, NBC Television Network, with oversight of NBC’s Sales and Marketing, Broadcast Standards, Affiliate Relations, Research, and Network Operations. With his appointment to group president, Falco assumed responsibilities in the additional areas of Corporate Business Development, Cable Distribution & Strategy, Production Operations, Information Technology, and Quality. 

Jose W. Fernandez is a partner at the law firm of O’Melveny & Myers, LLP.  He sits on the firm’s management committee and has been managing partner of its New York office and Chair of its International Practice Group.  Mr. Fernandez headed the American Bar Association’s and the New York City Bar’s Interamerican Law committees.  A committed supporter of education and the arts, he serves on the boards of Dartmouth College, WBGO-FM and Ballet Hispanico of New York.

Anne Sutherland Fuchs is Senior Advisor to Solera Capital and Director, Latina Media Ventures.  As publisher of Woman’s Day, Ms. Fuchs was the first female publisher of a major U.S. magazine.  She was also the first female publisher of Vogue.  She was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg as Chairs of the Commission on Women’s Issues.

Peter Fuster is Assistant Executive Director of the New York Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).  Mr. Fuster negotiates contracts covering the on-air talent at Univision and Telemundo, WXTU-TV and WNJU-TV, as well as Univision Radio affiliate, WADO-AM.  He was former District Counsel for the Communications Workers of America. 

Marta Garcia is the founder and co-chair of the New York Chapter of the National Hispanic Media Coalition where she has led efforts for the inclusion of Latinos in local radio and television stations.  Garcia plays a leadership role with the National Latino Media Council, chaired by former Congressman Esteban Torres.

Adam C. Hochfelder is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Max Capital Management Corp., which he founded in 1995.  Max Capital is one of New York City’s largest privately held commercial landlords.

Pedro Lichtinger is President of the Animal Health Group of Pfizer Inc. and a member of the Pfizer Management Council.  Mr. Lichtinger has over twenty-four years experience in the animal health industry in the United States, Latin America and Europe. In additional to serving on a number of boards related to animal health, he also serves as President of the Resource Foundation. 
 
Violy McCausland is President of Violy & Company.  Violy & Company is a strategic advisory and investment banking firm. With a focus on Latin America, Ms. McCausland has been providing advisory services in Latin America for nearly 20 years.

Lara Montilla serves as Marketing Manager for Latinos USA at Pepsi-Cola.

Emanuel Nuñez is a senior agent at Creative Artist Agency.  Mr. Nunez works in the motion picture division of CAA where he represents many of the entertainment industry’s foremost artists. Since 2001, the CAA Independent Group has been responsible for structuring the financing of 68 films.  He is an attorney and a member of the California Bar.

Enrique J. Perez is Vice President and General Manager of WNJU Ch. 47 Telemundo; the networks owned and operated station in New York.  His vast career includes General Manager positions for MTV Latin America and Univision in addition to Telemundo. 

Peter O. Price is President of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.  He is currently supporting greater recognition of Hispanics in the television industry.  Prior to serving as President of the National Television Academy, Mr. Price was President of Liberty Cable Television and Publisher of the New York Post.  He is currently Chairman of the Avenue Association engaged in historic restoration and preservation projects in New York City.

Rossana Rosado is Publisher & CEO el diario-La Prensa.  Ms. Rosado has spent 20 years in New York media, 13 of them at el diario as a reporter, editor and currently as Publisher and CEO.  She has also served on Mayor Bloomberg’s transition team and is currently a board member of several organizations including the United Way of NYC, Sept. 11th Fund, PENCIL, Pace University Board of Trustees, and Accion NY.

Cristina Schwarz is the President and General Manager of Univision 41 and Telefutura 68, in the New York Metro area.  Nationwide and throughout Latin America, Univision Communications reaches more than 97% of Hispanic households through telenovelas, sports, and other programs in Spanish via 50 television stations owned by the company’s Univision Television Group.

Susan Segal is President and CEO of the Americas Society and Council of the Americas.    Prior to her current position, she was a Partner and Latin American Group Head at JPMorgan Partners/Chase Capital Partners and a Senior Managing Director focused on Emerging Markets Investment Banking and Capital Markets at Chemical/Chase Banks. Susan is also a Director of Tu Casa Entertainment, the Tinker Foundation and Endeavor.

Jimmy Smits is an Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning actor.  Mr. Smits has established himself as one of the most gifted and versatile actors working in film, television and on the stage.  His most notable TV projects include “NYPD Blue” and “L.A. Law”.  He has also starred in numerous films such as “Mi Familia” and currently stars in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play, “Anna In The Tropics.”

Antonio Sosa is the Director of Special Markets for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Mr. Sosa manages brand marketing and specialty film acquisitions for the Fox unit and recently launched Cinema Latino, a collection of award-winning Spanish-language films from around the world. Previously, he served as Managing Director of Internet and New Media Business Operations for Adir International, Inc., operators of La Curacao, the largest retail services company exclusively targeting the U.S. Hispanic market.

Jonathan Tisch is Chairman and CEO of Loews Hotel, and he has been at the helm of the Company since 1989. In additional as part of a management succession plan that was announced in November 1998, Tisch was appointed to the newly created Office of the President for the Hotel’s parent Company, Loews Corporation. Tisch also serves on the Corporation's Board of Directors.

Andy Unanue is the Chief Operating Officer of Goya Foods, Inc., the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States.  Unanue is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Goya’s business in the United States.  Mr. Unanue is closely involved with the company’s strategic planning, advertising, media, new product development, and community relations.

Amelia Vega is Miss Universe 2003.  She is a statuesque 19-year-old native of the Dominican Republic who travels globally to generate a better understanding and acceptance of AIDS and HIV and its prevention, while helping to increase awareness, funding and resources.

Das Elius Velez is a shareholder in the Corporate and Securities Department of Greenberg Traurig’s New York office.  Mayor Bloomberg appointed him to the New York City Economic Development Corporation in 2002.  He is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and a member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association. 

Joseph Wiscovitch is President of Wiscovitch Associates, Ltd., a Hispanic owned marketing, public relations and government relations firm with 15 years of experience in corporate promotions, marketing and political campaigns at the regional and national levels.

Gilberto Zaldívar is co-founder of the Repertorio Español.  The company is the only Spanish language theatre in the United States and the only one working in the format of rotating repertory.  Mr. Zaldivar has served on advisory panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts and as a Board member of the Arts and Business Council, the Association of Hispanic Arts and the Theatre Development Fund.

The Latin Media and Entertainment Commission was created by Executive Order 43.  The Commissioners announced today will work together to stimulate the growth of the Latin media industry in New York.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Edward Skyler / Lark-Marie Antón   (212) 788-2958




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