MTV Networks

Beth Matthews is the Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. Beth joined MTVN in 1998 and currently manages the MTVN Global Digital and New Media Business and Legal Affairs team which covers a variety of MTVN businesses such as digital distribution, advertising sales, new business development, on-line, wireless, gaming, consumer products, radio, marketing etc. MTVN is a leading creator of programming and content across all media platforms. With more than 137 channels worldwide, MTVN owns and operates the following television programming services & related digital businesses: MTV: Music Television, MTV2, mtvU, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Comedy Central, TV Land, Spike TV, CMT, Noggin, Vh1 Classic, Logo, MTVN International and the Digital Suite. Prior to joining MTVN, Beth was an associate at Chadbourne & Parke in the Intellectual Property and Corporate Groups. Prior to Chadbourne & Parke, she was an associate at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy in the Business Technology Group. Beth received her juris doctor at Emory University School of Law in 1993 and her Bachelor of Arts Honors Program at Purdue University in 1990. She is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and Georgia.

S. Reginald "Reggie" Williams is Senior Vice President, Music Strategy for MTV Networks. In his role, Reggie conceives and executes the overall company strategies and financial models for securing the use of music on MTVN's global TV and digital platforms, including online, wireless and video on demand. In this capacity, Reggie regularly advises senior company executives on music strategy matters and manages a team of 5. In addition to his responsibilities at MTVN, Reggie also pursued his creative interests by producing the 2006 HBO/Cinemax documentary, "Cutting Edge", which depicted a day in the life of a Harlem barber shop. Prior to MTVN, Reggie was the Director of Corporate Development for Vanguarde NeoMedia. Before his tenure at Vanguarde, Reggie founded and was the CEO of nuRules.com, an urban lifestyle web site that featured news, reviews, articles, streaming media, secured digital downloads and e-commerce related to urban culture. Reggie began his career as a corporate lawyer at the New York office of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker. He left Paul, Hastings to practice entertainment law at Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz and Weinstein, prior to founding nuRules.com. Reggie received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1995. Reggie received his undergraduate degree from Harvard College in 1992, where he studied philosophy. Contents and graphics on this site are owned by Ananse Shield Group.

Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard is vice president, senior counsel for MTV Networks, where she specializes in entertainment law. She has committed herself to giving back through the use of one-on-one mentoring as well as conducting self-empowerment seminars. While Khadijah has spent the greater part of her life serving as a motivational speaker here in the United States, she has taken her message of activism around the world. In 1991, she was selected by Mayor David N. Dinkins to serve on his delegation to South Africa and represent the concerns of New York City youth. In 1992, Khadijah was selected from a pool of scholars from across the nation to serve as one of twelve youth ambassadors to Russia, where she studied the socioeconomic, political, and environmental issues that plagued the new democratic regime. In 1995, Khadijah served as a representative for Muslim American women at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. She has been featured as a young political activist on several television programs and has been spotlighted in the New York Times. She lives with her husband and daughter in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Alan Carter has enjoyed a storied career for over 20 years as a writer, reporter, columnist and editor for many of the leading entertainment publications including People, TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly. Most recently, he oversaw the much-lauded redesign of the Television Academy's official website, www.emmys.org. Carter is also co-owner, co-founder and senior editor for www.soapstarworld.com, one of the leading soap sites on the Internet. At the New York Daily News, he wrote about prime-time TV and feature film celebrities. There, he saw a niche no one was writing about daytime TV and he began contributing almost daily newspaper soap updates. At People, Carter had three different two-year tours of duty where he was a reporter, TV Correspondent [covering just about every story on the Today show and many human interest pieces] and fill-in TV critic. As the fill-in critic, his funny and often barb-filled columns got him noticed. Liz Smith wrote: "I love those Alan Carter reviews in 'People' but when he says Designing Women isn't as good as The Golden Girls he is flat out wrong!" Not wanting to be tied to a desk, or NYC, Carter moved to LA to become senior writer for Entertainment Weekly. There he wrote many cover stories [most memorably 'The Men of Melrose Place'] and created 'The Soap Box' a popular feature which ran for nearly three years. For TV Guide, Carter was the Soap Insider for two years. An unabashed soap lover, he's also served as bureau chief for Soap Opera Digest, as well. Before coming to Digest as a full-time editor and senior staffer, he co-wrote the Soap Awards for NBC and Dick Clark productions for four years. Carter was one of the original correspondents on the Warner Brothers Television show 'Extra.' In addition, he is the co-author of a book on the groundbreaking television MTV show 'The Real World.'

Alison received her B.A. in Photojournalism from Boston University College of Communication. She graduated Cum Laude in 1998 after completing research and photography in nine countries. She moved to Los Angeles in 2000 after originating a youth magazine-style television show in San Francisco, and has since worked as an Associate Producer for MTV and National Geographic, among other networks. Alison recently spent six months in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where she produced, shot and directed videos for nonprofits. She currently works as Director of Development at Creative Visions, and continues to produce media projects. She is a certified yoga instructor and fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Degy Management Services, Inc. made its entrance into the music industry in the latter part of 1996. Ari Nisman joined forces with Josh Degenstein to create a company that was designed around their passion for the entertainment industry and their love for music. Originally based out of Ann Arbor, MI where both owners have their roots, Nisman and Degenstein saw an opportunity to move the firm to a richer music market in Richmond, VA. After two years based in Richmond, and the signings of nearly a dozen groups to their management roster, it was time for the company to firmly plant itself in the NYC area. The company had multiple record label and publishing company signings with groups like The Booda Velvets (Gotham/Warner), Faceplant (EMI), Brother Rabbit (Sony), Leon Milmore (Altergressive), All Hail Me (Overture), Ball in the House (MacoMusic/Sony Korea) and more. Licensing deals including accounts for their acts with MTV, Sony Pictures, Dawson's Creek (Fox), ESPN, NBC, and so on. The company also inked major endorsement and sponsorship deals including Ball in the House becoming the Kraft Foods/Cool Whip campaign voices for TV and Radio, Cider signing with Klipsch Audio (pa systems) and Bulmers Ciders (promo endorsement for CiderJack, Woodchuck Cider, Strongbow Cider). Plus endorsements from Mountain Dew/AMP Energy Drink, Jagermeister, Bulmers, Budweiser, Coors Light, Red Bell, Modulous Guitars, Ernie Ball Strings, D'Addario Strings, Remo, UFO Jeans, and more.

With over 6 years experience in the New Media industry, Ben has worked with some of the top names in the business, including KPMG, GE Consumer Finance Home Lending, Tesco, GE Money, MTV and more.

Billy Taylor started his own production company in January of 1999 after working for six years as a staff producer for MTV Networks in New York.

Chrysovalantis Stamelos was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1980. Growing up in a First-Generation American household, he furthered his education at the school of S.I. Newhouse, Syracuse University. With his degree in Television, Radio, and Film, Chrysovalantis moved to New York City, and is now a Production Assistant at MTV Networks. Chrysovalantis is also Co-Founder of Crescent Street Films.

Klein is Vice President of Human Resources for Actimize. In this capacity, Klein oversees hiring, compensation and benefits administration for Actimize associates. She brings over 13 years of experience in compensation, benefits, and human resources project management from a variety of companies and industries including Viacom's Comedy Central and MTV cable tv channels and Mercer Human Resources Consulting. Klein received her BA from Connecticut College and her M.S. in Organizational Management and HR Development from Manhattanville College.

Assistant Producer, Darlene Anderson is a multi-tasking wizard that works on various pieces of the show including on-line ticketing, show set-up and photography, among other things. She is extremely enthusiastic about her first role as a producer and brings not only her energy to the show but also a strong attention to detail. While working with the show, Darlene is also employed full time in banking as well as attending school full time. Stage Manager/Box Office/Set Design/Costumes: Candi Pallotta does it all. A master of transformation and set design, she has created an environment that embraces the strong Italian theme of the show. Candi is responsible for ticketing, costuming and so much more. She is the heart of this production and the welcoming voice and smile to all who attend. She is also a gifted artist and has appeared on stage in Sylvia and The Problem, at Sylvia's Class Act Theatre. Sound & Video: Bob Pallotta is the owner of RGP Concepts, specializing in video engineering. He has more than 20 years experience in audio & video production, Formally a NY resident. Bob has worked and traveled with famous Gospel, POP and Rock Artists. Bob also works with Good Morning America, BET, MTV, VH1, The Wedding Story, This Old House, Extreme Sports, KNMT, TBN, Fuel TV and a wide variety of production houses around the country. He has a special appreciation for local musicians and theater. When he is not up in the crows nest engineering for his brothers interactive dinner theater, Who Stole My Dead Husband, he is directing and producing television style videos. Specializing in event videography, we have what you need for an affordable, quality production.

Denise Jackson highly creative and seasoned Chyron Operator with 10 years of broadcast design experience. Denise graduated from Salisbury State University in 1996, with a Bachelor's degree in Communications in the field of television production. In 1994, Denise began her career in Salisbury at WMDT TV as a floor director and Typedeko operator for "Good Morning Delmarva." After working with WMDT for 3 1/2 years, Denise moved on to work for Baltimore's WB54 and Fox45 news at 6:30 and 10:00. There Denise sharpened her skills as both a chyron operator and graphic designer using TypeDeko and Photoshop. In 2000, Denise came to work for Atlantic Video, where she has put her tremendous skills to work, playing an important part with the start ups of several ESPN shows taped in Washington and New York. With ESPN's ATH, Denise has demonstrated her talent for the highly-fluid, improvisational creativity needed for daily, fast-paced live broadcast television. She has worked on several high profile productions for Atlantic Video, including "Be Heard: A Global Discussion with Colin Powell" for MTV, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" for Comedy Central, and TV One's "Star Jamz" and "Get The Hook Up." For many productions, such as "Star Jamz," Denise designs the lower thirds and credits that give a signature look to a production. Denise is proficient with Chyron Max, Maxine, Infinite and Lyric.

Ferdinand has been dancing for sixteen years in jazz, ballet, hip hop and musical theatre. He has studied with some of the best choreographers in Vancouver, Los Angeles and New York. Some of Ferdinand's credits include performances at the 98 degrees concert, for Disneyland music days in Los Angeles, as a member of the Vancouver Grizzlies Extreme Dance Team, in the MTV 2gether series, in VTV's V and countless other tv, film and stage shows.

Gregory Yap Sam is Founder and CEO of Fierte Cosmetics. He has more than 20 years of creative artistry and expertise within the beauty industry, having worked with numerous cosmetic houses and entertainment powerhouses MTV and Sony Records. As Master Artisan of Fierte Cosmetics, he trains and cultivates aspiring make-up artists and consults on fashion, film and photography projects. He has styled for a diverse array of celebrities including actresses, entertainers and two former Miss World titleholders. Yap Sam was the Lead Stylist and Associate Producer for Fashion Week held this past January 2007 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the upcoming independent film "Lost Everything." He also is the featured Beauty Editor for LuxLIFE Magazine. He maintains a limited schedule of appearances as a guest artist.

Jesse James Dupree, Executive Producer of Humidity Entertainment, brings an extensive working knowledge of the entertainment industry to this groundbreaking company. With a career spanning more than 15 years, Mr. Dupree holds vast experience in music management, recording, event production, live television productions and performing. Most recently Mr. Dupree developed and produced a reality-based Pay Per View movie and DVD series exposing the rarely seen world of motorcycle enthusiasts at the infamous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Working with MTV Studios, Mr. Dupree is currently supervising the production of a new reality-based mini series for the popular network. He has also produced numerous music videos and award-winning album/compact discs. Mr. Dupreea s considerable management experience in the entertainment industry earned him professional accolades and praise. Bands under his direction have achieved gold and platinum status, while other acts he has recorded have earned Grammy awards.

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Mark joined the BIGgross/OnPoint team in December of 2003 where he serves as the Broadcast Director. Prior to joining BIGgross, he ran his own successful Film and Video Production Company, Laughing Bird Productions, in Denver where he helped create digital tier cable networks, like Discovery Health and Encore, designed promotional campaigns for clients including the Denver Broncos and Coors. An active writer and director of independent films, Phillips has earned a number of local and regional awards for his work in advertising and production. While working for a local Fox Affiliate as a writer/producer in Florida, Mark won 19 regional Addy Awards, including Best of Show and Best of the Bay for his Radio and Television promotional spots. Later, as Senior Writer/Producer position for :30 Airborne, a national cable ad agency, he won two International Promax Gold Awards and helped create ground-breaking film and video promotions for channels such as Discovery, Request Pay-Per-View, HBO, Showtime, TNT, and TBS. Mark majored in Film at Sherwood Oaks Experimental College before interning with Mitch Jacobson, a regional producer for MTV News.

Paul Amitai is a media artist working in video, sound and installation. His projects have been exhibited at a number of venues, including Scope New York, Art Chicago, St. Louis University Museum of Art, Soap Factory (Minneapolis), Institute of Visual Art (Milwaukee), Milwaukee Art Museum, and Exchange Square (Manchester, UK). Paul is also a musician who performs electronic and improvised music in clubs and galleries around the U.S. In addition to work as a practicing artist, Paul has written on electronic arts and culture for New Art Examiner, Signal to Noise and MTV Online. He has also worked as a curator, organizing film screenings at the Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University and creating the New York Festival of Electronic Composers and Improvisers at the Knitting Factory, New York. Previous to relocating to New York in Fall 2005, Paul was an art lecturer at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the City Editor for the Milwaukee edition of The Onion.

Peter Beinart is editor-at-large at The New Republic. He is also a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Time contributor and a monthly columnist for The Washington Post. His book, The Good Fight: Why Liberals--And Only Liberals--Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again, was published by HarperCollins in June 2006. Beinart has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic Monthly, Newsweek, Slate, Reader's Digest, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Polity: the Journal of the Northeastern Political Science Studies Association. The Week magazine named him columnist of the year for 2004. He is a contributor to CNBC, and has appeared on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," "Charlie Rose," "The McLaughlin Group," MTV, "The Colbert Report" and many other television programs. Beinart graduated from Yale University, winning both Rhodes and Marshall (declined) scholarships for graduate study at Oxford University. After graduating from University College, Oxford, Beinart became The New Republic's managing editor in 1995. He became senior editor in 1997, and from 1999 to 2006 served as the magazine's editor.

Fusion MEDIA is headed by Ramcchandran Ayyar, who is an alumnus of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. He is one of the first persons to market cable television in India and brings a decade of pioneering experience and association with television majors like Star TV, MTV and Primetime IP Media Services.

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Rob Allen, has years of experience directing high quality programming for such major-market outlets as MTV, Nickelodeon, The Golf Channel, Telemundo and The Discovery Channel, and HBO, to name just a few.

Lyricist Elliott Ness is determined to be heard. His hunger and powerful street skills first established him as a tough contender in the battle ciphers of his native Philadelphia. After years of dedication to his craft, the hard work paid off. In 2000 his natural and undeniable flow earned him a position in the too hot for TV group, da Band, assembled by Sean "P. Diddy" Combs for the MTV Making the Band series. As the first member selected, of over 40,000 auditioning, Ness soon became known to the masses. Frequently called the "Captain" by Combs, Ness played an influential role in the success of the group which debuted at number 2 on the Billboard charts. As a cast member of MTV's #1rated television show, Ness grew as an artist and learned lessons essential to survival in the entertainment business and the importance of being a professional. Since the break up of da Band in the spring of 2004, Ness has been busy promoting himself as a solo artist. He has performed in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Baltimore, Myrtle Beach and more. Highlight performances include Funk Master Flex Celebrity Car Show and the upcoming Power House concert in his hometown. He has completed a children's book for release in 2005, auditioned for his first feature film, and sold over 10,000 copies of his mixtape, Rhyme or Crime Vol. 1: The Leak, which was listed in the September issue of the Source Magazine as the #1 Best of the Best street record. He has been featured in XXL and Mixtape Magazine and will bless the Source Magazine for the second time in the November issue. Ness is in the streets, in the studio and on the radio making sure the world hears and appreciates his music and his voice. With much anticipation his explosive debut album entitled Nessessary is scheduled for a February 2005 release. Ness, now 25, began his music career in 1984, competing in local talent shows and artist showcases. At the age of 12 he began assisting local group, DaBumrush, with performances at local night clubs and several tours, during which time he had the opportunity to appear on Amateur Night at the Apollo in New York. He continued to surround himself with music while he finished school, something his mother insisted on. His persistence and dedication to the music later linked him with producer Black Key who is responsible for hit records for DMX, Jadakiss, Ludacriss, and State Property. Ness was recording with Key just prior to joining the MTV family and continues to do so. Of his many personal and professional goals, Ness has established an entertainment company, Rest Ya Neck Entertainment. He would like to develop his company so that he can produce and manage artists, own small businesses and most importantly, give back to his community through his organization N.E.S.S. Kids (Nutritional and Educational Supportive Shelter).