The CTAM Beacon Award is given in recognition of a communications leader who exemplifies success in the discipline, demonstrates innovative thinking, supports corporate positioning and growth, and inspires excellence in others.
Driving Communications Excellence and Industry Innovation
Cameron Blanchard
Charter CommunicationsCameron Blanchard
Executive Vice President, Communications
Charter Communications
Industry Contribution
As Executive Vice President of Communications at Charter Communications, Cameron Blanchard has made a lasting impact on the industry through her leadership, strategic vision, and ability to shape compelling narratives that advance both company and industry progress.
Since joining Charter in 2019, Cameron has led communications around key milestones, including the company’s 2022 CEO transition; the launch of its rural construction initiative bringing broadband to 1.7 million rural homes and businesses; the company’s continued investment in its 100% U.S. based employees; a new streaming partnership with Disney that reimagined the distribution model for streaming apps and TV networks; the launch of Charter’s 2024 Customer Commitment and new brand platform; and the launch of Spectrum’s App store enhancing the company’s Seamless Entertainment experience.
Through her vision, storytelling expertise, and steady leadership, Cameron has strengthened Charter’s reputation, advanced consumer value, and helped drive meaningful innovation across the media and connectivity landscape.
Get to know the winner
A lesson from a mentor that helped shape your leadership style?
The way you treat people on the way up is how you’ll be treated on the way down.
Which tech innovation will have the biggest impact in the next five years?
AI – we haven’t begun to scratch the surface of what it will do and the seismic impact it will have on us all.
Your go-to item for staying organized during a busy day?
I’m old school and still print out my ‘to do’ list because it makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something when I cross stuff off that list.
Best way to recharge after a long day?
I play tennis – but for as much as I play, I really should be better by now.
Past Beacon Award Winners
Chris Albert recently announced his departure from National Geographic after more than 20 years, shaping the 135-year-old brand’s public narrative and keeping it in the cultural conversation. A brand with an ambitious agenda and revered legacy requires smart, creative, strategic (and scrappy) communications campaigns; and the team at National Geographic under the leadership and passion of Chris Albert, has developed a reputation for driving innovation and delivering results time and time again.
From helping to launch series like the 20-time Emmy-nominated GENIUS franchise to the most-watched Nat Geo series on Disney+, LIMITLESS WITH CHRIS HEMSWORTH to masterminding extraordinary events like the Abbey Road Studios film premiere and National Geographic’s debut at New York Fashion Week, Albert’s work has solidified National Geographic as a cultural juggernaut. Chris’ small but mighty team has been awarded PR Team of the Year on three separate occasions. He also played a crucial role in guiding the original Beacon Award through ACC as part of their award committee.
Chris Albert is founder and chief executive officer of ALBERT MEDIA GROUP, INC. (AMG) a Washington, D.C. based marketing, communications, awards, events and production firm.
Annie Howell personifies what the Beacon Award stands for through her proven ability to drive results impacting the industry. She leads with confidence, intellectual curiosity, empathy and a keen sense of humor. Annie’s dedication reaches far beyond her organization, she enthusiastically offers her time and communications prowess to collaborative efforts fostering industry-wide success.
A seasoned communications executive with over 30 years of experience, Annie Howell currently oversees Hallmark Media’s communication functions, including corporate communications, media relations, publicity, and government relations, as well as talent relations and events.
Rob Stoddard is an extraordinary communications executive, a mentor and trusted ally to many in our business; his insights and guidance helped cultivate opportunities during challenging times and foster collaboration within our industry to ultimately achieve greater success.
Rob oversees the NCTA’s member relations efforts and industry-wide public affairs programs, and he helps manage NCTA’s relationships with other cable industry associations and societies. Before joining NCTA, he served as chief communications officer for a variety of major cable companies, including AT&T Broadband, MediaOne, and Continental Cablevision.
Leigh Woisard SVP, Public Affairs, Cox Communications received the 2020 CTAM Beacon Award for communications excellence. The award spotlights communications executives for extraordinary accomplishments, innovative thinking and inspiring excellence in others. This year’s Beacon showcases a leader who distinguished themselves by successfully navigating communications efforts during COVID-19.
“At a time when the community was struggling to adapt to life at home, Leigh quickly established new, innovative ways for Cox to effectively communicate through the crisis,” said Vicki Lins, president & CEO, CTAM. “It’s a pleasure and honor to acknowledge her extraordinary communications efforts during a time of uncertainty.”
CTAM is pleased to announce that the recipient for the 2019 CTAM Beacon Award for Communications Excellence is Quentin Schaffer, former Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications at HBO with an extraordinary 39-year tenure at the company. The award, established by the CTAM Communications Steering Council, spotlights communications executives for extraordinary accomplishments, while exemplifying the pillars of communications and public relations excellence. The Council selected Schaffer as a bow to his impressive career, stellar expertise, professionalism and reciprocal relationship with the press that paved the way for HBO’s tremendous success.
“Quentin played a vital role establishing cable’s reputation for excellence in original programming,” said Vicki Lins, CEO, CTAM “It’s an honor to acknowledge his remarkable accomplishments in the field of communications.”
Schaffer joined HBO as a senior publicist in 1980 and rose to executive leadership where he pioneered the first premiere of a TV show in a theater with Sex and the City in 1999. As one of the originators of HBO’s Emmy campaigns, he led publicity for landmark series Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, The Wire and many more. Most recently, he helped facilitate the launch of HBO Now with Apple.
CTAM is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2018 CTAM Beacon Award for Communications Excellence is Chris LaPlaca, senior vice president, corporate communications, ESPN. The award, established by the CTAM Communications Steering Council, spotlights communications executives for extraordinary accomplishments, while exemplifying the pillars of communications and public relations excellence. The Council selected LaPlaca as a bow to his impressive career, spanning 38 years.
“Chris LaPlaca is just as good as it gets for our function, our industry and – most importantly – as a person, all of which make him the perfect choice for the first CTAM Beacon Award,” said Jim Maiella, SVP and co-head of corporate communications for AMC Networks. “His leadership of a dynamic team of highly achieving communicators at ESPN, across a broad array of activities and business opportunities over many years, has been remarkable. Yet, he still finds the time to be a trusted friend and ally for so many of us focused on driving results at our own companies through our shared function and expertise. We couldn’t be more pleased to present him with this well-deserved recognition.”
Cameron – Congratulations on being named the 2025 recipient of the CTAM Beacon Award. This award is reserved for the very best communications executives in our industry. Your exceptional work at Charter stands out among our peers.
Congratulations, Cameron on your 2025 Beacon Award!
Always so lovely to see strong, smart and lovely people like Cameron receive recognition for a tremendous body of work and career. HUGE congratulations, Cameron!!
Congratulations Cameron! A well deserved honor. Thank you for all that you do for CTAM and for the industry.
Congratulations, Cameron. Wishing you continued success and recognition for your outstanding contributions!