Robert Blackmore

Robert Blackmore is the former Executive Vice President of the NBC Television Network, where he was responsible for all sales and marketing for more than 12 years. He also helped introduce CNBC sales domestically and NBC Super Channel sales internationally.

Mr. Blackmore started in broadcasting as a page and television sales representative for CBS in Hollywood. After working in television sales for KFEL TV in Denver, he joined the NBC Syndicated Film Division, where he managed offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.

After joining the NBC Television Network as an account executive, Mr. Blackmore became Vice President of Sales for the “Today” and “Tonight” shows and subsequently became head of Eastern sales for the television network. He was then named head of sales, and in that position, he was responsible for all network sales, which included primetime, daytime, late night, news, sports and specials. He was also responsible for the sales and marketing of three Olympics: the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.

Mr. Blackmore was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) 1988 to 1989, and now serves on its Chairman's Advisory Council. In 1993, the AAF honored him with an Annual Achievement Award for their college chapter of the year competition.  He was Chairman of the International Association of Sales and Marketing professionals, and was inducted into the Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame in 1994. He was Chairman of the Global Research Institute. Mr. Blackmore also worked with the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympic Games, and was Television Commissioner for the 1995 Special Olympic World Summer Games in New Haven, Connecticut.

An inventor, Mr. Blackmore holds patents in the visual aids field and is a software provider. Blackmore lives in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and has two daughters, Robin and Karyn.

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Dick Schade

Dick Schade was most recently Vice President, Central and National Field Sales at NBC, a position he had held since July, 1983. Prior, he had served as Vice President, Central Sales at NBC since 1974. A 1957 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Schade served in the Army Reserve and was discharged with the rank of Captain. He was President of the Broadcasting Advertising Club of Chicago and is the outgoing Chairman of the American Advertising Federation, headquartered in Washington D.C.

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Andrew Susman

Andrew Susman co-founded Studio One Networks in 1998, and is the active CEO. He is in charge of the organization’s strategic direction, new business development, programming, distribution and research activities.

Previously, Mr. Susman was the Director of Business Development for Time Inc. New Media. At Time Inc., his responsibilities included the oversight and general management of activities such as custom content, syndication, distribution and network development for publications including Time, Life, People, Money, Fortune, Sports Illustrated and Entertainment Weekly. Prior to Time Inc., Mr. Susman was with Young & Rubicam. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Advertising Educational Foundation and Business for Diplomatic Action, and is Chairman of the Interactive Advertising Bureau's Sponsorship Committee. He is also the founding chairman of the Internet Content Syndication Council. Mr. Susman is a native of Ladue, Missouri, and Evanston, Illinois.

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Alan Baker

Alan Baker worked for NBC for 26 years. He left the organization in 1987 as Executive Vice President, responsible for all business news, entertainment and sports information. Mr. Baker's consulting clients have included the Lifetime Network, Manifold Productions, Evergreen events, the McMarketing Group and the Marquee Group.

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Peter Sikowitz

Peter Sikowitz oversees development of editorial and programming. He has been a consultant, editor and Editor-in-Chief at publications such as World Tennis, Men’s Fitness, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel and Time Inc. As a writer, his articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Harper's Bazaar and other publications on a range of subjects. The winner of numerous awards for his editorial work, Mr. Sikowitz participated in round-table discussions at the White House at the invitation of former Vice President Gore.

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Celeste Mitchell

Celeste Mitchell is responsible for development of editorial and programming. A former Deputy Editor at Cosmopolitan and Senior Features Editor at Family Circle, Ms. Mitchell has been a writer and editor of general interest articles in leading national publications, including Woman's Day, Teen and Elite Fitness. Her features have been distributed by national newspaper syndicates and she has lectured on journalism at New York University, the New School and the University of Oregon. She has been a frequent panelist at the American Society of Journalists and Authors Conferences.

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