Raising CTAM to the Next Level

Honorees: TAMI Awards

Artie Bulgrin

Artie Bulgrin, ESPN senior vice president of research and sales development, is being honored for his leadership in upgrading CTAM’s 2006 Research Conference, which set attendance and satisfaction score records.

Bulgrin joined ESPN as vice president of research and sales development in February 1996 and was promoted to his current position in June 2001.

He oversees a staff that provides audience and market research services to all divisions of the company, including programming, domestic and international ad sales, affiliate sales and consumer marketing. He also manages ESPN’s interest in the “ESPN Sports Poll,” a service of TNS Intersearch, and the leading provider of consumer intelligence about sports fans and sports sponsorship in the U.S.

Before joining ESPN, Bulgrin had been director, research and sales data services, at Capital Cities/ABC National Television Sales Inc. While there, he was responsible for national sales research operations for all company-owned TV stations.

Steve Goldmintz

As managing director of cable and media recruiting for AE Feldman Associates, Steve Goldmintz has been active in CTAM for over 20 years. He has served as a board member, program planner and marketer for the organization’s New York chapter.

Goldmintz began his cable career in 1974, when he worked in the sales and marketing departments of TelePrompTer, then the nation’s largest operator. While there, he was chairman of the marketing committee and worked alongside many executives who became industry leaders.

Goldmintz has effectively recruited for cable networks, operators, hardware suppliers, related publishers, public relations firms, Internet service providers and advertising firms. He has also been a consultant on pay-per-view projects for numerous studios, as well as for ISPs and network start-ups (Universal Studios, Buena Vista, Twentieth Century Fox, Prodigy, Excite, Adventure Television and Rock Legends among them).

Goldmintz has successfully performed executive search assignments for positions, including president, senior vice president, regional vice president, vice president, director and manager.

Steve Leblang

Steve Leblang, senior vice president of strategic planning and research for FX Networks and Emerging Networks at Fox Cable Networks, was instrumental in crafting the success of the 2006 CTAM Research Conference.

Leblang is responsible for conducting and interpreting all primary and secondary research for FX and Fox Movie Channel. He is intricately involved in the strategic development of potential future business with FX Networks.

Prior to joining FX in 1999, Leblang presided over all research and strategic planning for Fox Family Worldwide and the former MTM/Family Channel, including Fox Family-owned entities Fox Kids and Saban International. Before that, Leblang spent five years as vice president of research and programming, respectively, for Twentieth Century Fox Television and Fox Television Stations, and then four years as vice president of marketing and sales strategy at Turner Program Services.

A native of New York City, Leblang is a graduate of State University of New York at Oswego and resides in Culver City, Calif., with his wife, Amanda.

Holly Leff-Pressman

Holly Leff-Pressman, executive vice president and general manager for Nielsen Entertainment, is being honored this year for her ongoing support of CTAM and the on-demand category, including support of the Summit, Digital Conference and, in particular, her multiple contributions to the Consortium’s “On Demand Segmentation Research Study.”

Leff-Pressman has been in the TV industry for over 20 years. She joined Nielsen Entertainment in September 2004.

Prior to joining Nielsen Entertainment, Leff-Pressman was senior vice president of worldwide PPV and VOD at Universal Studios where she worked for some 10 years.

Before that, she was executive director of programming for Viewer’s Choice (now In Demand LLC).

Leff-Pressman has worked in the television departments at William Morris, Triad Artists and Interplanetary Productions and was an associate at the entertainment law firm of Cooper, Epstein & Hurewitz.

Steve Schiffman

Steve Schiffman, executive vice president of marketing and digital media for National Geographic Channel, is being honored for his leadership on the CTAM Summit Planning Committee, including spearheading a strategy brief. He is also being noted for his dedication over the last three years in raising the prestige of the Mark Awards, culminating in a completely new brand experience.

Schiffman is currently responsible for Nat Geo’s consumer and trade strategies as well as expanding its broadband brand. He works closely with parent Fox Cable Networks to support distribution of the channel.

Prior to Nat Geo, Schiffman was the executive vice president of marketing for The Weather Channel, where he was responsible for all domestic and international marketing, and strategic partnerships, as well as oversight of research, creative services, public relations, on-air promotions and consumer, affiliate and ad sales marketing.

Before that, he was vice president of strategic marketing at NASCAR, directing broadcast and corporate partnerships.