Dear CTAM Friends:  We lost a cable giant with Bill Bresnan's passing.  I had the honor of representing CTAM, along with Chair Sean Bratches and a number of board members, at Bill’s funeral. Industry pioneers, plus today's leaders, joined Bill's huge family and many friends in celebrating his life.  Everyone buzzed about Bill’s honesty, integrity, generosity, dedication to his family and his love of life.

Bill celebrated 50 years in the cable business in 2008.  He was instrumental in the formation of CTAM and an active supporter over the past 33 years.  Bill championed the Cable Center for more than 15 years as chair and was a passionate leader on the diversity front.

We’ve lost a great friend.

December 10
CTAM Midwest - Tech It Out Workshop and Holiday Wrap-Up

Wrap-up the year with a dose of education with local industry leaders at a Holiday Wrap-Up & Toy Drive being held by CTAM Midwest.  Chapter members can help spread the joy of the holiday season by bringing an unwrapped new toy to the event. All toys will be given to the Catholic Charities toy drive benefiting families and children throughout the Chicago region. The event will be held at The Grotto, Promenade Shopping Center, 3011 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, IL, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

For more: http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=193624

December 10
CTAM Carolina – Holiday Gala

CTAM Carolina, WICT and NAMIC will host a Holiday Gala at the Sunset Club, 1820 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, from 6:00 -10:00 pm. The registration cost is $30 for members and $40 non-members.

Don’t forget to bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots!

Contact:
Carla Lewis-Long, 212-736-6703 or clewislong@sitv.com

December 17
CTAM Greater Philadelphia – 2009 Holiday Networking Event

Join CTAM Greater Philadelphia for cocktails and conversation and come dressed in festive attire for this holiday get together. This event will be held at the Beat Street Station, Manyunk, PA, from 5:30 – 9:30 pm.

Toys will be donated to the Red Cross holiday toy drive, so please bring an unwrapped toy or a $10 donation.

For more:
http://www.ctamphilly.com/event_Holiday2009.htm

Would you like CTAM to post your chapter event? Email Lisa Jackson with your event listing, date and time.

Did you hear? Lisa Jackson, better known as lisajack1999, is tweeting about CTAM Chapter and CTAM National events. Follow Lisa at http://twitter.com/lisajack1999.

Research! Research! Research!

We know that curiosity is in your DNA.  So, we tend to research like mad…for you!  As a CTAM member, you have access to some of the most topical, most meaningful, and most actionable intelligence out there.  Did you know that as a CTAM member:

• You receive CTAM’s research Pulse online publication every other month.  The Pulse features consumer insights on topics that matter most.  Recent Pulse issues answer these questions, and more:
   
  •  How do generational differences affect television and technology use? Oct/Nov 2009 Pulse
     
  •  How are consumers viewing content across platforms, including online, mobile and television? Apr/May 2009 Pulse
     
  •  What impact has the economy had on consumers’ spending habits and subscriptions to cable services? Jan/Feb 2009 Pulse
     
• If you have a question, we have the answer!  CTAM’s Research Department is here to help you pull together facts and figures for your next presentation.  Just shoot us an email at research@ctam.com and ask away!  Remember… this is an exclusive members-only benefit.

CTAM Carolinas sponsored their 3rd Annual panel at University North Carolina How to Market to Today’s Savvy Consumer in High Tech Times.  The panelists discussed ways in which marketing has evolved, while the basic principles have remained the same. They touched on new mediums such as social media and its affect on consumers. The panel was attended by more than 160 participants.

CTAM Rocky Mountains hosted a “magical” event during Fall Cable Connection, the Magical Industry Tour cast the spotlight on the best of cable in Denver and the Rockies. Thirty-two attendees visited the cable industry’s leading facilities in the region, including Starz Entertainment, Comcast Media Center and The Cable Center, and networked with many influential industry leaders.

CTAM Washington-Baltimore hosted a panel discussion for more than 50 members at the NCTA offices in Washington, D.C., Summiting: The Art of Building and Sustaining Relationships with Customer Top Management.  

CTAM West held their 5th Annual Napa Valley educational, wine tasting and fundraising event, Cork 'N Connect.  The event featured expert thought-leaders from Comcast, Facebook, TV Guide Network and YouTube who shared their unique insights on how advanced technologies and marketing trends are changing our lives and our business experiences.  Following the panel, more than 70 attendees enjoyed an intimate evening in the Meritage Resort Estate Cave networking and tasting boutique area wines. The event raised $5,714 for DonorsChoose.org and $6,050 for the Matt Zavala Children's Fund auctions. 

Meet Mary Bourne-Marth, VP Key Account Marketing, Showtime Networks, and President, CTAM Texas. Here are five fun facts about Mary to help you get to know her better:

Favorite TV Show?
My favorite TV show is Dexter – really!  The show has amazing writing and acting and this season with John Lithgow as guest star is the best yet.

Are you a cat or dog person?
I love all animals and we have two Siamese cats, but most of all I am a horse woman.  My favorite way to relax is to saddle-up and ride off into the countryside with my 13 year old son, my husband or a girlfriend.  Currently we are leasing a quarter horse named Pistol and learning how to compete in reining events.

Hidden talent?
My mother taught me to stand on my head when I was very young, and I passed the skill on to my son, who is now a Junior Olympic competitive gymnast.  Although she is in her 70’s, my mother can still outlast both of us upside down.

Fun fact not many people know?
In between high school and college I worked for almost a year in Pattani, Thailand teaching English and learning to cook Thai food at an outdoor restaurant on the beach.  I still love to teach, and I also enjoy cooking – and eating –Thai food.

What’s your favorite CTAM moment?
Listening to Sam Howe, Matt Bond and Joe Rooney trade their thoughts on portability of content at TexTAM 2006.  They set the standard for all of the high quality TexTAM Executive Forum sessions that have followed.  I am also very grateful to have so many favorite moments to choose from, courtesy of my fellow CTAM Texas Board members – we have a tremendous team and it has been a pleasure working with you all!

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Meet Michael Cuccurullo, Domestic Distribution - Marketing, Discovery Channel and President, CTAM Washington-Baltimore. Here are five fun facts about Michael to help you get to know him better:

Favorite TV Show?
Dexter

Hidden talent?
I play the saxophone

Favorite song?
Any song by the Rolling Stones

Decade or era that best suits your personality?
Current decade (I'm a technology junkie)  

What’s your favorite CTAM moment?
My first CTAM Summit.  I met a lot of great people that I still keep in contact with.

Laura and David Gray were thrilled to announce the arrival of their sons Alexander Lawrence (left), and William Roland (right), born Friday, November 13 at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT.

• Alexander was 6 lbs, 9 oz; 19.5 inches, and was born at 9:45 am.
• William was 5 lbs, 12.5oz; 18 inches, and was born 9:47 am.

David is Regional Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Time Warner Cable’s New York City Region, and CTAM Chapters’ Council Co-chair.  Laura Pesce Gray manages Business Services sales for Cablevision in Norwalk, CT.  

Congratulations to the Gray family!

We know our members are stars! Did you meet an expert sculptor at the TeleSeminar? Did a guitar hero eat lunch with you at The CTAM Summit? Let us know! Members in the Crowd pays tribute to CTAM’s exceptional members. Send nominations to Lisa Jackson.

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