COMPETITIONS
academy
awards
WHO
WE ARE
The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences is home to the creative and strategic minds driving the industry forward. With a worldwide network, we empower, celebrate excellence, and preserve the enduring significance of marketing creativity and strategy in the ever-evolving world of entertainment, from TV/Streaming, Video Games, Sports, Music, to Film. Our mission is to honor marketing and creative excellence, nurture growth and inclusivity among industry professionals, and enrich our cultural landscape.
Community can’t be scripted — but it can be thoughtfully designed. We’re a global collective of marketers and creatives united by a shared desire to innovate, captivate, and inspire. G.E.M.A. is a place to launch your career, hone your craft, and share your knowledge of an ever-evolving landscape. Join us to connect with the people and ideas that shape not just your future, but the future of entertainment marketing.
Innovation is the driving force behind the world’s greatest entertainment marketing. That’s why G.E.M.A. is evolving with a greater focus on empowering our members to achieve new heights in their careers, making this more than a place to gather and celebrate. This is a stage to reconnect, rejuvenate, and uncover the inspiration that moves our industry forward.
mission
network
vision
Executive
Committee
The Executive Committee serves as a pivotal link between the Board of Directors and the organization's day-to-day operations. This dedicated group not only advises and prioritizes issues but also offers invaluable guidance and oversight. Their involvement is instrumental in steering the organization towards success while ensuring that all decisions made align harmoniously with the G.E.M.A. mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
Linnea Hemenez
Co-Chair
Former SVP, International Marketing - Formerly Starz
Alan Beard
Co-Chair
CEO - Synonymous Technologies, LLC
Scott Edwards
Awards Committee Officer
EVP, Head of Creative Advertising - FOX Entertainment
Kendrick Reid
Treasurer
SVP, Executive Creative Director, Brand Strategy, BET Media Group - BET Media Group, A Division of Paramount Global
Andy Baker
Secretary
VP, Marketing - Disney+
Stacy La Cotera
President & CEO
The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Our vision and values serve as the guiding principles behind every action we take. That's why our Board of Directors hold a central position in guaranteeing that every executive decision aligns seamlessly with our shared mission: to foster creativity, honor excellence, and shape the future of entertainment marketing. They chart the course for a sustainable future.
Mary Beck
Board Member
CMO
Big Ten Conference
Melissa Bell
Board Member
EVP, Global Marketing
Warner Bros. Games
Stephen Bruno
Board Member
VP, Film Marketing
Amazon MGM Studios
Carrie Brzezinski-Hsu
Board Member
SVP, Head of ESPN Creative Studio
ESPN
Amanda Butler
Board Member
Head of Music Marketing
Netflix
Rishi Chadha
Board Member
Head of Global Emerging Content Partnerships
X
Pia Chaozon Barlow
Board Member
EVP, Originals Marketing, HBO & Max
Warner Bros. Discovery
Angela Courtin
Board Member
VP, Marketing, YouTube: Connected TV & Creative Studio
YouTube
Matt Edelman
Board Member
President & CCO
Super League Enterprise, Inc.
Michael Engleman
Board Member
CMO, Paramount+ Domestic & Showtime
Paramount
Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick
Board Member
CMO
Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Goldman
Board Member
EVP, Creative Marketing Disney Entertainment Television
The Walt Disney Company
Tracy Grandstaff
Board Member
SVP, Creative Content
NBC Entertainment Marketing, NBCUniversal
Deanna Gravillis
Board Member
CEO & Co-Founder
Gravillis Inc.
Barrie Gruner
Board Member
EVP, Marketing & Publicity
Hulu
Kenya Hardaway
Board Member
SVP, Integrated Promotions
FX Networks
Matt Hernandez
Board Member
SVP, Head of Design, Paramount Streaming
Paramount
Nicole Kankam
Board Member
Managing Director, Pro Tennis Marketing & Entertainment
USTA
Richard Kim
Board Member
Former Global Head of Media, Consumer Insights, and Marketing Performance
Formerly Amazon
John Kirkpatrick
Board Member
SVP, Brand Partnerships
Epic Records
Chris Kramer
Board Member
Head of Communications, North America
Tencent Games
Todd Lichten
Board Member
Head of Entertainment Partnerships
Roblox
Andrea Murphy
Board Member
VP, Marketing
Vinik Sports Group and the Tampa Bay Lightning
Kjetil Njoten
Board Member
Global Head of Creative
IMAX
Riley Sexton
Board Member
VP, Broadcast Distribution & Marketing
FOX Corporation
MyKhanh Shelton
Board Member
Former SVP, Equity & Inclusion
Formerly Warner Media
Lyndsay Signor
Board Member
SVP, Consumer Engagement
NBC Sports
Remi Sklar
Board Member
SVP, Worldwide Communications & Public Relations
Warner Bros. Games
Chris Van Amburg
Board Member
Former Head of Apple TV+ Marketing
Formerly Apple TV+
Josh Veilleux
Board Member
SVP, Global Partnerships, AEG Sports
AEG
Jacob Weinreich
Board Member
Former CMO
Formerly TV 2 Denmark
Shannon Willett
Board Member
CMO
Peacock
HONORARY BOARD OF ADVISORS
The Honorary Board of Advisors for G.E.M.A. is composed of distinguished industry leaders, former board members, and dedicated supporters who are passionate about championing the entertainment marketing industry. These esteemed individuals recognize the crucial role and mission of G.E.M.A. and offer invaluable guidance and expertise.

Serving in an advisory capacity, they support the Academy's commitment to innovation and excellence in entertainment marketing. Together, they help build a thriving organization dedicated to nurturing the next generation of marketers and creatives.
Joe Earley
President, Direct-to-Consumer
Disney Entertainment
Stephanie Gibbons
President, Creative, Strategy & Digital, FX Multi-Platform Marketing
FX Networks
Robert Gottlieb
President, Marketing
FOX Sports
Peter Jung
Chief Marketing Officer
NASCAR
Rick Lewchuk
Head Coach
Film At 11 Marketing
Niels Schuurmans
Chief Marketing Officer
101 Studios
Jennifer Storms
Chief Marketing Officer, Entertainment & Sports
NBCUniversal
Denny Tu
Former Global Chief Marketing Officer
Formerly IMAX Corporation
STAFF
Meet the team that turns ideas into reality. Our committed staff plays a crucial role in supporting the board, its committees, and its task forces. We turn board policy, and strategic direction, into actionable steps that foster community, creativity and honors excellence. While we may be a small team, our dedication shines as we show up each day for our valued members.
Stacy La Cotera
President & CEO
Chris Pursell
Vice President of Community and Partnership Development
Da Shiek Woodard
General Manager, Global Operations & Development
Paige Albiniak
Director, Editorial
Hannah Auslander
Coordinator, Awards
Ron Casa
Director, Finance & Business Operations
Michael Chewning
Manager, Awards Process & Compliance
Isaiah Cruz
Intern, Marketing
Megan Doughty
Graphic Designer
Nichole Harris
Executive Assistant
Kayla Karlsson
Marketing Manager
Sergio Ortega
Director, Europe Industry Relations & Executive Producer of Content
Angie Panelo
Director, Latin America & U.S. Hispanic Relations
Eileen Rasnake
Director, Awards & Event Operations
Wolfgang Thiele
Staff
Meet the team that turns ideas into reality. Our committed staff plays a crucial role in supporting the board, its committees, and its task forces. We turn board policy, and strategic direction, into actionable steps that foster community, creativity and honors excellence. While we may be a small team, our dedication shines as we show up each day for our valued members.
Stacy La Cotera
President & CEO
Chris Pursell
Vice President of Community and Partnership Development
Da Shiek Woodard
General Manager, Global Operations & Development
Paige Albiniak
Director, Editorial
Hannah Auslander
Coordinator, Awards
Ron Casa
Director, Finance & Business Operations
Michael Chewning
Manager, Awards Process & Compliance
Isaiah Cruz
Intern, Marketing
Megan Doughty
Graphic Designer
Nichole Harris
Executive Assistant
Kayla Karlsson
Marketing Manager
Sergio Ortega
Director, Europe Industry Relations & Executive Producer of Content
Angie Panelo
Director, Latin America & U.S. Hispanic Relations
Eileen Rasnake
Director, Awards & Event Operations
Wolfgang Thiele
Our History
Our industry isn’t static, and neither are we. Journey through the rich history of G.E.M.A., rooted in the dynamic world of entertainment marketing.
How It Began:
The organization's origins can be traced back to 1956 when a group of visionary sales and promotion managers, gathered for lunch at the Kungsholm Restaurant in Chicago. During this meeting, they conceived the idea of establishing a professional promotion association to address the emerging needs of the broadcast promotion and marketing industry. This gathering led to the formation of the Broadcast Promotion Association (BPA).
Purpose:
The primary purpose of the BPA was to provide a platform for professionals in the entertainment marketing and promotion field to collaborate and share knowledge. In their first letter to their peers around the United States, they expressed the desire for an organization that would allow members to learn from each other about various aspects of the industry, including ratings, audience engagement, promotion strategies, merchandising, and other related challenges. They believed that such an organization would benefit everyone involved in the field.
Transformation:
Over time, BPA underwent remarkable transformation. This evolution included its official status as a nonprofit 501(c)(6), the development of award competitions to honor and celebrate outstanding work, an expansion of its international reach, and the eventual transition into the Promotion Marketing Executives, Broadcast Design Association, better known as PromaxBDA. This pivotal shift marked the integration of strategic and design marketing and solidified its reputation as a prominent global association dedicated to professionals in the realm of entertainment marketing.
Today:
Today, we proudly embrace the name, The Global Entertainment Marketing Academy of Arts & Sciences (G.E.M.A.), as our own. Within our organization resides a community of the most imaginative and strategic marketing experts in the entertainment field. Our identity is more than just a label, it embodies the significance of our members' work— at our core we are a platform that celebrates the art and science of marketing – a wonderful convergence of data analytics and insights into human behavior with compelling storytelling and design. It stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to celebrating the wide array of creativity, innovation, and brilliance that defines global entertainment marketing. This commitment now home to the achievements in Film, Music, Video Games, Sports and beyond!