Panels

Jim
Donnelly

Executive Vice President, Comedy Development, Universal Television

Jim Donnelly is Executive Vice President of Comedy Development at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. He's responsible for the studio’s comedy series development across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

Donnelly and his team support a slate of ambitious storytellers, including Tina Fey, Michael Schur, Nahnatchka Khan, Amy Poehler, Dan Goor, Michael Che, Justin Spitzer, Larry Wilmore, Alan Yang and more. He's been instrumental in the development of several Emmy® Award-winning series, including “Hacks” and “Russian Doll," as well as the critically lauded and commercially successful “Never Have I Ever," “Girls5eva,” “Little America,” “Loot” and “The Good Place.”

Vivian
Cannon

Executive Vice President, Drama Development, Universal Television

Vivian Cannon is Executive Vice President of Drama Development at Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. She's responsible for the studio’s drama series development across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

Cannon has been a driving force behind the development of many critically acclaimed dramas, including the Emmy® Award-nominated series “The Gilded Age” and “New Amsterdam,” as well as commercial hits like “Bel-Air,” “The Equalizer,” “La Brea,” “Quantum Leap,” “The Irrational” and “The Best Man: The Final Chapters,” which became Peacock’s first-ever series to crack Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming chart.

Monica
Rodman

Executive Vice President, Development, Universal Television Alternative Studio

Monica Rodman is Executive Vice President of Development at Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group. She oversees series development across all platforms and works closely with the studio's roster of producing partners, including Dwayne Johnson, Tina Fey, Jordan Peele, Dick Wolf, Jimmy Fallon and Amy Poehler.

Rodman has been instrumental in the development of hit unscripted shows and formats, including the popular competition series “Baking It,” starring Emmy®-nominated hosts Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler; athletic competition series “The Titan Games,” hosted by Dwayne Johnson; and the Emmy-nominated music and comedy event series “That's My Jam."

Marc
Velez

Senior Vice President and Head of Development, UCP

Marc Velez is Senior Vice President and Head of Development at UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. He's responsible for the studio’s series development across cable and streaming platforms.

Velez joined UCP in 2022 and oversees development of the studio’s premium and award-winning programming, which includes “The Umbrella Academy,” “Ted,” “Based on a True Story,” “Dr. Death,” “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” “Candy,” “Gaslit,” “The Girl From Plainville,” “Chucky” and “Resident Alien.” He and his team support an impressive roster of creators, including Nick Antosca, Sam Esmail, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Seth MacFarlane, Tanya Saracho and more.

Kelsey
Balance

Senior Vice President, Global Scripted Series, Universal International Studios

Kelsey Balance is Senior Vice President of Global Scripted Series at Universal International Studios, a division of Universal Studio Group. She's charged with building on the studio’s track record of creating premium scripted content with global appeal and developing series with emerging and diverse voices.

Balance oversees development of the studio’s award-winning scripted programming across global broadcast, streaming and cable platforms. The studio’s top titles include International Emmy® Award-winning “Safe Harbour,” Peabody and BAFTA-winning “We Are Lady Parts,” global Netflix hit “One Day,” “Apples Never Fall,” “Everyone Else Burns,” “The Capture,” “Stateless,” “Clickbait,” “Everything I Know About Love” and “Transplant."

Peter
White

Executive Editor, Television, Deadline

Peter White is now Executive Editor of Television. Having joined Deadline in 2017, White heads the U.S. TV staff while leading our coverage of the networks, studios and streamers. His specialties are late-night, unscripted TV, executive turnover and the podcasting business. He is based in Los Angeles, having moved from London in 2020.

Tom
Verica

Head of Creative Production, Executive Producer, Director, Shondaland

Tom has an illustrious career that spans thirty years in the entertainment industry. A gifted director, actor and producer, he is a true multi-hyphenate.
He has helmed over 100 episodes of television which recently include INVENTING ANNA, BRIDGERTON and THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY. A veteran actor with a distinguished career on stage and screen, he co-starred opposite Viola Davis as her husband, Sam Keating, on the ABC hit, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER.

Shonda Rhimes has brought Tom in house at Shondaland to serve as the company's head of creative production. In the newly created advisory role, Verica helps to translate Rhimes' creative vision across all Shondaland productions.

Jennifer
Loren

Senior Director, Cherokee Film

Jennifer Loren (Cherokee Nation) is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker and senior director of Cherokee Film, where she oversees Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios, the Cherokee Film Commission, and the Cherokee Film Institute. Selected as an inagural Obama Leader by the Obama Foundation, Jennifer is globally recognized for breaking new ground in Native American representation in film. In addition to hosting the Emmy-award winning docuseries “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People,” Jennifer leads a team of change-makers, whose mission is to protect and share the authentic Cherokee experience and increase the presence of Native Americans across film and media.

Jocelyn
Sabo

SVP, Television Development, Lionsgate

In her role as Senior Vice President of Television Development, Jocelyn is responsible for shepherding many high-profile series including the John Wick Spinoff series, THE CONTINENTAL, and the Spartacus Spinoff series, SPARTACUS: THE HOUSE OF ASHUR. During her ten-year tenure at Lionsgate Television, Jocelyn has been at the helm for HBO Max’s JULIA, Starz’s MINX, Apple’s ACAPLUCO, Roku’s SWIMMING WITH SHARKS, and Showtime’s THE FIRST LADY. Additionally, she developed and launched several Lionsgate Television-produced series for Starz including the Powerverse series. Jocelyn also worked on Netflix’s mega-hit series ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK.

Jennifer
Gwartz

Executive Vice President, UCP

Jennifer Gwartz is Executive Vice President of UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group. In her role, she guides operational workflows across all of UCP’s studio functions, including production, current programming and development. The studio's top titles include the Emmy® Award-winning show “The Umbrella Academy”; critically acclaimed series “Dr. Death,” “Ted,” “Based on a True Story” and “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off”; and fan favorites “Chucky,” and “Resident Alien.” Gwartz and her team collaborate with visionary storytellers, including Nick Antosca, Sam Esmail, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, John Legend, Seth MacFarlane, Patrick Macmanus, Sue Naegle and Tanya Saracho.

Melissa
Myers

Producer/Manager

Coming Soon!

Diana
Williams

Co-founder / CEO, Kinetic Energy Entertainment

Diana Williams is the Co-founder & CEO of Kinetic Energy Entertainment, a multidisciplinary entertainment and venture studio which develops and produces story-based IP for distribution across all platforms. Kinetic partners with a diversity of talent who are pushing the boundaries of storytelling and technology, with an eye towards the future of media and entertainment. An award-winning producer, Diana built her career in scripted film/tv, unscripted and documentary. Her experience ranges from indie film to studio franchises, and across the media landscape including videogames, podcasts and location based experiences. Prior to Kinetic, DIana was the Creative Development/Franchise Producer for Star Wars at Lucasfilm, and was a founding member of the team that launched ILMxLAB, an immersive entertainment and mixed reality laboratory. She has also consulted for a variety of companies across categories including studios/streamers, game developers, theater and tech.

Peter
White

Executive Editor, Television, Deadline

Peter White is now Executive Editor of Television. Having joined Deadline in 2017, White heads the U.S. TV staff while leading our coverage of the networks, studios and streamers. His specialties are late-night, unscripted TV, executive turnover and the podcasting business. He is based in Los Angeles, having moved from London in 2020.

Michelle
Hurd

Actor and Activist, Standing Naked Productions

Michelle is on the National board of SAG-AFTRA and Chair of the Sexual Harassment Prevention committee. She can be seen currently on Star Trek Picard and in the films Anyone But You, Kemba, Bad Hair, Plus One and Somewhere in Montana. Hurd is known for her roles on Blindspot, Hawaii 5-0, Lethal Weapon, Daredevil, The Walking Dead: Dead City,The Glades, Ash vs Evil Dead, Law&Order:SVU, POSE, Raising Hope and many more. On Broadway: Getting away with Murder. The Dog in the Manger at Shakespeare Theater Co. Favorite Off Broadway: The Violet Hour , Looking for the Pony and 900 Oneonta.

Alysia
Reiner

Actress/Activist/Producer, 2 wonder full to be ltd

Best known as Fig in 7 seasons of “Orange Is the New Black” (SAG Award), Agent Sadie Deever in 2023 Emmy & Critics Choice Award winning “Ms. Marvel”, 5 seasons as Sunny in Peabody Award winning “Better Things” (FX/HULU), 2 seasons as Kiki on “The Deuce” (HBO), 2 seasons as Kathryn in Sharon Horgan’s “Shining Vale” . “The Feeling That The Time for Doing Something Has Passed” in theatres now (Cannes,TIFF, NYFF), Other filmed highlights include Oscar winning “Sideways”, “Broad City” (Emmy winning episode), going head to head with Viola Davis in “How To Get Away with Murder”, etc.

Christy
Romano

Co-Founder, PodCo

Romano is a podcast host, creator, and the co-founder of PodCo, a podcast network. Her company has been profiled by the NY Times and Business Insider as one to watch due to its highly popular podcasts in the rewatch and pop culture categories. She resides in Austin, TX and works between TX and their LA studio.

Abbey
White

Freelance Journalist, The Hollywood Reporter

Abbey White a freelance entertainment journalist based in Philadelphia. They were most recently an editor and writer at The Hollywood Reporter, where they covered film, TV, animation, awards, theater, children's & family and industry inclusion. Other bylines include Variety, EW, Food & Wine, Vox, Billboard, Paste, Philadelphia Inquirer, and more. They are an ASME Awards finalist, National A&E Journalism Awards winner and GLAAD Media Award nominee. A Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY alum, they’ve been recognized as a 2022 Curve Emerging Journalist, ASME Awards finalist, National A&E Journalism Awards winner and GLAAD Media Award nominee.

Jocko
Sims

Actor / Producer, Stay Ahead Media

Jocko Sims recently starred in NBC’s hit medical drama, "New Amsterdam," where he played Dr. Floyd Reynolds, the head of the cardiac surgical department. And he recently wrapped filming the first season of the Hulu series, "How To Die Alone," a comedy from Natasha Rothwell, which airs this fall.

Sims has also recently stepped behind the camera, having written, directed and produced his TV pilot, "Grown," which won several awards, including the jury prize at SXSW (2023). Sims recently partnered up with 50 Cent his company (G-Unit) to turn "Grown" into a series, which is currently in development.

David
Schulner

Showrunner, Universal

David Schulner started his television career on Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz’s “Once and Again.” Other credits include “Desperate Housewives”, creator/showrunner of “Do No Harm”, and showrunner of “Emerald City”. His 2008 spec script, “The Oaks” started a bidding war between CBS, ABC and FOX, ultimately being picked up straight-to-series by FOX starring Jeremy Renner. Then the writers strike happened. David just wrapped five seasons as creator/showrunner of NBC’s “New Amsterdam” (WGA nom, Normal Lear Sentinel Award, Hollywood Critic’s Assoc. Award, Media Access Award) and is developing new projects under his fifth overall deal with Universal Television.

Dr. Nia S.
Mitchell

Chief Development Officer, Mile High Medical Society

Nia Schwann Mitchell, MD, MPH obtained her medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her internal medicine residency and primary care research fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Mitchell’s initial faculty appointment was at the University of Colorado, and she is currently an associate professor of General Internal Medicine at Duke University. Her research involves weight loss interventions for underserved populations, where she works to eliminate health disparities around excess weight.

Dr. Mitchell is also the Chief Development Officer of the Mile High Medical Society, the Colorado chapter of the National Medical Association.

Jandel
Allen-Davis, MD

CEO and President, Craig Hospital

Jandel Allen-Davis, MD is the President and CEO of Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital that exclusively specializes in the neurorehabilitation and research for patients with spinal cord injury and brain injury.
Dr. Allen-Davis is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and was in active practice for 25 years.

Dr. Michelle
Albert

Walter A. Haas-Lucie Stern Endowed Chair in Cardiology and Professor in Medicine at UCSF

Dr. Albert is the Walter A. Haas-Lucie Stern Endowed Chair in Cardiology and Professor in Medicine at UCSF, Admissions Dean @ UCSF Medical School and Director of the Center for the Study of Adversity and Cardiovascular Disease (NURTURE Center).
She has had a longstanding commitment to health equity and is engaged in cutting-edge research that innovatively seeks to incorporate “biology” with social determinants of health. A central component of her current work focuses on developing implementation strategies to curb adversity related CVD risk, particularly in women and diverse racial and ethnic populations with a focus on cumulative toxic stress.

Van
Lathan

Media GUY, 4116 productions

Van Lathan is an established, award winning media personality from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He hosts the Higher Learning podcast on the Ringer podcast network, and Hip Hop Homicides on WETV

Nkechi
Okoro Carroll

Showrunner,  "All American" Franchise & "Found"

Nkechi Okoro Carroll is the founder of Rock My Soul Productions and is the creator/executive producer of the Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) drama series Found, which debuted last Fall on NBC. The series was recently renewed for a second season. She is also the executive producer/showrunner of the WBTV dramas All American and All American: Homecoming, which rank as The CW’s #1 and #2 series among key demographics of Adults 18–34 and Adults 18–49.

Her prior credits include The Resident, Rosewood, Bones, and The Finder.

Michelle
Paradise

Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer, "Star Trek Discovery"

Michelle Paradise is Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer of the acclaimed Paramount + series, Star Trek: Discovery. It has been nominated for multiple Emmy, Saturn, and GLAAD Media awards, winning the Saturn for Best Science Fiction Series and the GLAAD Media Award for Best Drama Series. Prior to joining Starfleet, Michelle was a writer for series including The Originals and Rogue, and she has written several features. She also used to be an actor, which may explain why you feel compelled to buy Crest toothpaste when you look at her. She holds B.A. degrees in English and French, a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, and she’s a proud graduate of the prestigious Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop. Yes, that is her real last name.

Ashley
Michel Hoban

Showrunner / Executive Producer, “Dr. Death”, & "The Girl from Plainville"

Ashley Michel Hoban grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she watched too much television. She earned her MFA in Writing and Directing at NYU's Graduate Film and Television Program. She has written, directed, and produced on shows including THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE (Hulu), DR. DEATH (Peacock), HAPPY! (SYFY), and MARCO POLO (Netflix). Her short films have screened and earned awards internationally. She is based in New York, where she still watches too much television.

Janine
Sherman Barrois

Writer and Showrunner, "The Big Cigar"

Janine Sherman Barrois is an award-winning writer and showrunner under an exclusive multi-year deal with Warner Bros. through her company, Folding Chair Productions. Barrois was an executive producer on all four seasons of Claws, the hit TNT dramedy and was the showrunner for the first three seasons. In addition, she was the co-showrunner and executive producer of Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker, the award-winning Netflix limited series and was the creator of the highly acclaimed OWN series The Kings of Napa. Currently, Janine is showrunning an Apple TV+ limited series, The Big Cigar.

Alexa
Junge

Executive Producer, Amazon

Alexa is one of the most revered showrunners in the business. With credits from FRIENDS, GRACE & FRANKIE, BIG LOVE, WEST WING, SEX AND THE CITY, Alexa is known for her unique voice and wide range. (Currently she serves as an EP on BOSCH LEGACY - her first series where people blow up cars.) Nominated for 6 Emmy and 2 WGA awards, Alexa's new play, GRETHE B. is being directed by Moises Kaufman. A frequent contributor to THIS AMERICAN LIFE, her FRIENDS episode “The One Where Everyone Finds Out” was recently cited in "Atlantic Magazine" as a proven “mood booster.”

Perri
Nemiroff

Senior Producer, Collider

Perri Nemiroff is the senior producer at Collider where she hosts and produces the interview series, Collider Ladies Night, a show geared towards highlighting the need-to-know female voices in film and television.
In addition to her work at Collider, Perri conducts interviews for Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango, and can be seen on the big screen in NCM's Noovie Pre-Show hosting Close-Up with Perri Nemiroff. Perri frequently moderates post-screening Q&As and panels at film festivals and conventions including San Diego Comic-Con.
Perri splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. Wherever the film and television coverage takes her, she goes!