SPEAKER’S BUREAU

2016

www.cox.com

SPEAKER’S BUREAU OVERVIEW The Cox Speaker’s Bureau is a service offered by Cox to the communities we serve as a way to provide education and support to local businesses and organizations. Cox Speaker’s Bureau team members speak to small- or medium-size businesses, at special events and area organizations on a host of topics. Through these presentations, groups are provided tips and easy-to-use resources from Cox experts to help their businesses excel in a competitive market. There are an array of formats in which Cox’s speakers are available. These include, but are not limited to, keynote presentations, panel discussions (with or without other Cox speakers) and workshops. Assistance and resources are available through the Virginia Cox Public Affairs offices for coordinating the program.

ABOUT COX Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security over its own nationwide IP network. It’s the third-largest cable provider in the nation serving approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers.

Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising.

COX VIRGINIA Cox Communications Virginia provides Communications, Business and Media services to the communities in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and Roanoke. For more information about the programs and services offered in Cox Virginia, visit www.coxlocal.com

SAMPLE TOPICS Below is a list of topics that our leaders can present. However, if you have a specific topic that you are interested in, we will attempt to accommodate your request. Sales/Sales Leadership Media Sales Sales Organization Management Contract Negotiations Marketing Plan Development Marketing Basics Developing Marketing Plans Identifying/Locating Prospective Customers Overcoming Sales Objections Building and Retaining a Diverse Customer Base Selling Skills and Strategies

Creative Services Commercial Creation Long Form production Creative Leadership Scriptwriting Photography

Customer Service Net Promoter Customer Service Interpersonal Communication Skills Empowering Employees for Success Providing Performance Feedback Handling Performance Concerns Building a Strong Team Retaining & Motivating Employees Managing Change

SAMPLE AGENDAS Networking Lunch 10:45am - 11:00am 11:00am - 11:10am 11:10am - 11:30am 11:30am - 12:30pm 12:30pm - 12:50pm 12:50pm

Arrival and Registration Welcome and Introductions Keynote Networking Lunch Panel with Q&A Closing Remarks

Working Lunch 11:15am – 11:30am 11:30am – 11:45am 11:45am – 12:45pm 12:45pm – 1:00pm 1:00pm

Arrival and Registration Welcome & Introductions Keynote (Working Lunch) Question & Answer Closing Remarks

After Work Network 6:00pm – 6:30pm 6:30pm – 6:40pm 6:40pm – 6:45pm 6:45pm – 7:15pm 7:15pm – 7:25pm 7:25pm

Open networking begins Welcome & Introductions Venue Introductions Keynote Q&A Closing Remarks

OUR SPEAKERS The Cox Speaker’s Bureau includes executive-level leaders within all divisions of the organization—Cox Media, Cox Business and Cox Communications. Our speakers are available for individual presentations, panel discussions, workshops (small and large), Lunch ‘n Learns, as well as networking and after-hours events. Cox Virginia has three regions—Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Roanoke. Some speakers are available in specific regions and others are available in all regions, it depends on the speaker. If you business falls within our footprint, we are excited to work with you to develop a dynamic presentation that meets your needs.

SCHEDULING A SPEAKER If you are interested in a speaker for your organization, please contact the Cox Public Affairs office. Becky Lawson – [email protected], 757-222-6576 Sarah Buck– [email protected], 757-222-2646

COST OF SERVICES There is no fee for our any Cox speakers. We value the opportunity to present to area businesses and organizations.

Executive Bio

J.D. MYERS II Cox Communications Senior Vice President & Region Manager J.D. Myers, II is the senior vice president and region manager for Cox Communications . With more than 30 years of industry experience, Myers is responsible for leading more than 2,400 employees and the day-to-day operations across Virginia, including Hampton Roads, Roanoke, Northern Virginia.

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelors of Science, Business Admin, American University • M.B.A. Finance & M.B.A. Marketing , American Univ. Career Highlights: • 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 Most Influential Minorities in Cable Communications • CTAM Business Services Council, CoChair Areas of Expertise: • Sales & Management Training • Public Speaking • Leadership Development Notable Appearances/Media: • Executive Discussion Series • Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Opening Speaker

Previous to his current role, Myers was the Market Leader for Northern Virginia with extensive operations experience in the telecommunications industry. He was Vice President of Cox Business and led Cox’s commercial business in Northern Virginia, serving businesses, schools and government agencies of all sizes. He also has held various senior leadership positions in Bell South, General Electric, WorldCom, and has served in the U.S. Army as a NonCommissioned Officer. He was named by CableFAX as one of the Most Influential Minorities in Cable in 2012 and in 2011; in 2009 he was named on CableFAX Magazine's National List of the Top 35 Regional Executives; and in 2008, he was recognized by CableFAX as one of the Top Minority Executives in Cable Communications. Myers holds a M.B.A. in Finance and a M.B.A. in Marketing from American University, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from American University, and an Associate of Arts in Electrical Engineering Technology from Regis University. He is a graduate of University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and its National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) sponsored Executive Leadership Development Program. He is an active member of the Board of Trustees for the George Mason University Foundation, a member of the Board for the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and a member of the Board of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of NAMIC. Myers also serves as CoChair on the CTAM Business Services Council.

Executive Bio

SHARON FANTO Cox Media Vice President With a 20-year track record of success in leading multi-platform media sales management and leadership, Sharon Fanto serves as vice president for Cox Media.

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelor’s of Science, Mass Comm & Adv, Boston University • MBA, College of William & Mary

Career Highlights: • Senior Vice President, Ad Sales East Coast, Fox Sports Net • VP/General Sales Manager KTBC Austin, TX • Who’s Who in Media, 2000 Areas of Expertise: • Multiplatform Sales Experiences • Media Buying • Digital Marketing • Broadcast & Cable Television • Dynamic Advertising Notable Appearances/Media: • Clash of the Titans: Introductory Speaker • Monarch Bank Top Flight Selection Panel

A proven innovative and strategic thinker driving bottom line growth, Fanto came to Cox Media in October 2012, after serving for nine years as General Sales Manager of Cox Media Group’s (CMG) KICU TV36 in San Francisco, California. Her commitment to early adoption of new technologies resulted in a multi-platform community station initiative instrumental in building key market relationships and contributed to positioning the station as a leader in dynamic advertising. Prior to joining CMG, Fanto co-founded and served as senior vice president of sales for InfoAlly, a pioneer in ecoaching technology. Additionally, she was senior vice president of sales for the East Coast for Fox Sports Net. Fanto also served as vice president/general sales manager for KTBC, the Fox-owned TV station in Austin, Texas. Fanto holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Mass Communications and Advertising from Boston University and a Masters of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary. Applying her leadership skills as a volunteer, Fanto has served on several Boards of Directors including Bay Area STAR (Society of Television Advertising and Radio). Currently Fanto serves on the Board of Directors at the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association and Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (HRCC). She serves on the Executive Committee of the HRCC as vice chair of communications and membership. Fanto is the executive sponsor of the Cox Conserves Council, leading local environmental conservation efforts.

Executive Bio

THOM WATKINS Cox Business Director, Sales, Hampton Roads Thom Watkins joined Cox Communications in 2009 as director of sales for Cox Business in Hampton Roads. In his role, Watkins provides strategic vision and management direction for Cox Communication’s commercial telecommunications operations in Hampton Roads and is responsible for all business-to-business sales and relationships.

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelors of Science, Business Administration, Southeast Missouri State University

Career Highlights: • Regional Vice President CoStar Group • Assistant Vice President Dun & Bradstreet Areas of Expertise: • Sales & Management Training • Public Speaking Notable Appearances/Media: • Executive Discussion Series • Junior Achievement Hall of Fame Opening Speaker

Watkin’s 30 years of senior sales leadership experience includes regional director and regional vice president roles with Jobfox, Inc. and CoStar Group respectively. He has held senior sales leadership positions in the telecommunications industry with Level 3 and with Genuity, Inc./GTE Internetworking. Prior to his experience in the telecom field, Watkins spent 16 years in various executive and sales management positions with Dun and Bradstreet. Throughout his experience, Watkins has demonstrated his ability to drive business success by identifying and capturing market opportunities, streamlining sales operations, and building longterm partnerships. Watkins attended Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Giradeau, Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration while playing college football. He currently serves on a number of boards in Hampton Roads including USO of Hampton Roads and Central Virginia, as well as Junior Achievement of Hampton Roads.

Executive Bio

JIM ZAGAMI Cox Media Director, Sales Jim Zagami serves as the director of sales for Cox Media. In this role he is responsible for total advertising sales revenue for Cox via local, the regional cable Interconnect and national sales. Zagami also oversees sales projects, hiring, recruiting and retention. He has been with Cox Media since 2006, starting as local sales manager for Northern Virginia and later general sales manager for Northern Virginia before being named the statewide director of sales for Cox Media ,which includes the Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia and Roanoke markets.

AT A GLANCE Career Highlights: • Cox Media national CAMY Award for Leadership Areas of Expertise: • Media Sales • Sales Organization Management • Client Relations • Contract Negotiations • Marketing Plan Development

Notable Appearances/Media: • 2007 Cox Media CAMY Award for Leadership

Prior to joining Cox Media, Zagami was the director of sales for Clear Channel radio in Washington, D.C. In this role, he was responsible for the sales revenue of an eight-station radio cluster where he oversaw a 10-member management team and a sales organization of 65 account executives. Zagami was accountable for all sales projects, inventory management, hiring, training, recruiting and retention and for developing synergy among all assets within the cluster, trading area, region and non-radio divisions. During his tenure, Zagami served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Washington Marketing Business Unit. Prior to Clear Channel, Zagami was the local sales manager at WASH-FM and WARW/WLTT-FM and national sales manager at WARW/WLTT. Prior to his roles in management, Zagami was an account executive for 10 years in Washington, D.C. at WLTT, WMAL, WTOP and WWDC/DC101. Zagami served of the Board of Directors of Vehicles for Change, a car donation organization, from 2004-2010. In 2007, Jim won the prestigious Cox Media national CAMY Award for Leadership.

Executive Bio

CUTCH ARMSTRONG Cox Media Director, Marketing & Client Solutions Cutch Armstrong oversees marketing, research, and production operations for Cox Media. He has been with Cox Media since 2002. He previously served as marketing director and production manager for several television stations in Indianapolis, Indiana and Norfolk, Virginia.

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelor of Science, Communication Arts, James Madison Univ. • Pursuing Master of Business Admin. degree, Western Governors University Career Highlights: • VP, Tidewater Council Boy Scouts of Am. • District 3 Governor, American Advertising Federation • Chair, Journalism Alumni Comm., James Madison University • Member, National ADDY® Awards Committee Areas of Expertise: • Marketing • Advertising • Journalism • Writing/Editing • Branding/Positioning • Social Media

Armstrong has experience as a cable television system manager, as an independent television producer, and in editorial and creative capacities for television and radio stations and newspapers. He is a past District 3 governor for the American Advertising Federation, vice president for marketing with Tidewater Council Boy Scouts of America, and chair of James Madison University’s Journalism Alumni Committee. Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts from James Madison University . He has served as a judge for several professional, college, and high school advertising and marketing competitions. Additionally, he has won a variety of industry and volunteer awards .

Executive Bio

DAVID FERRARO Cox Media Production Manager, Hampton Roads David Ferraro is the production manager for Cox Media in Hampton Roads. In this role, he is a combination of manager plus creative leader, director and executive producer. In this role, Ferraro manages multiple projects from concept to completion providing quality control oversight. Ferraro is a great story teller and shapes the story of a client’s message to be impactful and effective.

AT A GLANCE Education: • B.A. Communication Arts, Duquesne University • Graduate work, University of Pittsburgh, Clarion University

Before joining Cox in 2005, he worked as a programming and production executive for public broadcaster WHRO for 23 years. Ferraro’s contributions resulted in the creation of milestone programs and series in Hampton Roads history, arts, sciences and culture. Some of those milestones include: Best of Virginia Farms, an innovative on-location cooking series; Virginia Conversations, a multi-media project; and ArtBeat, WHRO’s award-winning TV program on the arts. Ferraro is a certified instructor for The Dale Carnegie Course and has been associated with Dale Carnegie Training since 2000. He takes pride in developing people, building productive teams, and helping people extend the limits of their vision.

Career Highlights: • Creative leadership in public broadcasting and commercial production

During the past several years, his production department has garnered dozens of industry awards including ADDY Awards, Telly Awards, and Videographer awards , as well as several highly coveted Cable Advertising Bureau awards, which is the highest form of recognition for cable commercial production.

Areas of Expertise: • Commercial creation • Long Form Production • Creative Leadership • Scriptwriting • Photography

Additionally, Ferraro is a writer and photographer whose work has been featured in publications and websites.

Notable Appearances/Media: • Presentations at Virginia Wesleyan College, Virginia Beach Public Schools, and Norfolk Public Schools

Executive Bio

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Emory & Henry College • Graduate of Batten Leadership Institute, Class of 2009 • Alum of Leadership Pensacola, Class of 2004 Career Highlights: • Cox Business Sales Manager of Year (VA), 2013 • Cox Media Manager of Year (FL), 2005 • Cox Media Sales Leadership Award, 1999

Areas of Expertise: • Sales & Management Training • Marketing

BETH SHERMAN Cox Business Sales Manager, Roanoke Beth Sherman is the Sales Manager for Cox Business responsible for supporting the development of telecommunication solutions for small, medium and large businesses in the Roanoke Valley. Additionally, she is part of a team of internal retention representatives handling the Northeast region for customers requiring sales and support of their businesses. Sherman assumed new responsibilities in her role with Cox Business in late January 2012. Sherman returned to Cox Communications in 2010 after a one year hiatus. Previously, she served 16 years with Cox Media, most recently as General Manager in Roanoke from 2007 to 2009. Prior to coming to Roanoke, Sherman was general sales manager for Cox Media in Pensacola, FL. Sherman also worked with Cox Media in Scranton, PA and Gainesville, FL. Sherman holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Emory and Henry College. She is a graduate of the Batten Leadership Institute Sherman is an active member of the community and serves on the Board of Directors for Downtown Roanoke, Inc. and the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council. She on a variety of community boards.

Executive Bio

MIKE MASTRULLO Cox Media Digital Media Sales Manager Mike Mastrullo is the Digital Media Sales Manager for Cox Media He assumed his role in April, 2011, and is based in Hampton Roads. Mastrullo’s duties include managing advertising sales efforts for all digital products and on-demand platforms that Cox Media offers

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelor of Science, Radio & Television Broadcasting, Univ. of Wisconsin – Platteville Career Highlights: • Member, Va Beach Mayor’s Special Advis. Commission on eGovernment, 20002004 • 2013 Winner’s Circle Recipient, Digital Sales Mgr, 2013 • Google Analytics Individual Cert., 2012-2016 • IAB Digital Media Sales Certification, #DMSC00870, 20132017 Areas of Expertise: • Digital/Online advertising & marketing • Radio advertising and marketing • Television advertising and marketing

Mastrullo has been a part of the marketing and advertising community in Hampton Roads since 1989. His focus on digital media started in 1995 when, as Promotion & Marketing Manager for WAVY-TV, he developed, launched and managed WAVY.com. Mastrullo expanded his digital knowledge with stints at Trader Publishing Company (helping launch what is now AutoTrader.com), the Virginian-Pilot, (managing display advertising sales for Pilotonline.com and HamptonRoads.com) and two return visits to WAVY-TV (with WAVY.com). Mastrullo attained his Digital Media Sales Certification through the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) in July, 2013, and successfully renewed that certification in April, 2015. He also attained Google Analytics Individual Qualification in September, 2012, and successfully renewed that qualification in October, 2014.

Executive Bio

ROBERT “BERT” CONLEY Cox Communications Regional Director, Support Services, East Region Bert Conley is the Regional Director, Support Services – East, for Cox Communications with strategic responsibility for Security, Facilities, Loss Prevention and Compliance. In his previous role at Cox he served as Director of Human Resources with responsibilities for Security, Risk Management, Safety, Business Continuity Planning and Compliance. Conley has more than 26 years of progressive leadership experience .

AT A GLANCE Education: • Bachelor of Science, American Military University • FBI Command Institute, Princeton University Career Highlights: • Two time recipient of the USAF Lance P. Sigon Leadership Award Areas of Expertise: • Leadership and Management • Business Continuity Planning • Security/Safety • Facility Management • Public Speaking Notable Appearances/Media: • Executive Discussion Series • Homeland Security and Defense Symposium

Prior to joining Cox, Conley served as the Superintendent of Protective Services for the United States Joint Forces Command. He was responsible for executive protection for the four star commander, as well as the strategic and tactical Antiterrorism Force Protection plans/programs. He is a Veteran of the United States Air Force and still continues to serve in the Reserves. Conley holds membership in the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, and the Associate of Contingency Planners. He currently serves as Co-chair for the FBI Multi-Cultural Advisory Board.