Letter from the President 
Happy spring, everyone. I want to welcome you to our first newsletter for 2011. We have some new columns and some exciting news to share. So take a few moments to peruse this first edition and let us know what you think or tell us what else you would like to see. Click here to share your feedback.
I also want to remind everyone about our Visionary Leadership Breakfast on April 6. We are thrilled to have Bill Connors, Central Division President for Comcast, as our Keynote Speaker. And you won't want to miss the opportunity to sit and chat with a wide range of cable industry leaders during the Round Table Chats. If you haven't signed up yet there is still time. Click here to get to our registration page.
And I hope to see you all there!
Cathy Traczek, President, WICT Greater Chicago Chapter
Cool as Ice! 
Heather Hipke, WICT Greater Chicago Board Member and Director of Finance with Time Warner Cable - Wisconsin Division, and her Wauwatosa Curling Club Team, captured the Wisconsin State Mixed Championship. The team went 5-1 in a four-team double round robin. They will represent Wisconsin at the Mixed National Championship March 19-26 in Midland, Michigan. Photo (l to r) Rob and Heather Hipke, and Tim and Sarah Torgerson.
I Am WICT...Get to know your WICT Board
Fun Facts about Kioni Hall, WICT Wisconsin Director and Development Manager for Time Warner Cable.
Tell us something no one knows about you? I own over 100 pairs of shoes - can you say fetish???
What is your Must See TV show? Gossip Girl
What leadership books do you recommend to colleagues? Crucial Conversations Tolls for talking when stakes are high by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan and Switzler
Who are you rooting for? (this can be politics, sports, Oscars anything)? Angelina Jolie in anything - I LOVE HER!
What was the best/worst advice (professional or personal) you ever received? Best advice was to always reach back and always give back.
What do you do on the WICT Board? I'm on the programming board and I help incorporate the WI WICT members into the programming activities, sort of bridging the gap.
Why are you involved with WICT? I'm involved with WICT because it's a great tool for networking and it offers wonderful learning and developmental opportunities that I may not otherwise receive in my otherwise busy, day-to-day job.
Click here to see you WICT Greater Chicago Board
I Am WICT...7 Questions with an Industry Leader 
Each quarter we will interview an industry leader to include their perspective on women in leadership. This quarter we introduce you to:
Kim A. Bradley, Senior Director of Sales, Comcast Spotlight Chicago. Her office is on Chicago's Mag Mile - 444 N. Michigan Avenue to be exact.
Short description of what you do/how many you lead: Lead the sales efforts of Regional and National Sales for the Chicago Interconnect. Direct and set financial and operational goals for the Sales Team across our 360 degree product set, inventory management and pricing, account list assignments, budget development and client relationship management. I manage a group of 25.
Now to the 7 Questions
1. How would you describe your leadership style today?
I would describe my leadership style as a combination of action-oriented and participative leadership. I look at information from a global viewpoint, looking for new patterns and relationships that lead to an understanding of key issues. I tend to focus more on possibilities for the future and enjoy change, challenge, and variety. I try ideas out in practice, to explore new possibilities and discover which ones work. I also prefer to change procedures to see if any improvement can be made and take an evolving approach to development with an eye on strategy that can change.
2. How has your leadership style changed over the years, and why?
My leadership style has developed over time and improved. With experience comes maturity and confidence in your leadership style and the ability to change as needed in dynamic and volatile business environments. You learn to appreciate the variety of individuals on your team and the contributions they make from very different perspectives.
3. What is one lesson about leadership you learned from a boss or mentor?
The best lesson I learned from a mentor was to lead by example - to demonstrate through actions how and why key objectives can be achieved. And to teach and mentor your staff so they could learn, grow, develop and advance their careers - ultimately my team's success is truly my success.
4. What is one lesson you would like to pass on to other women leaders?
The one leadership lesson I would like to pass on to other women is that great and memorable leadership does not depend on gender - men and women are equals. Modern leadership demands that you recognize your own strengths and exploit them, but also have the ability to adapt your style to different situations in order to achieve the maximum effectiveness. Excellent leaders are able to take different approaches to suit the various needs of differing circumstances, while making sure their own needs are met regardless of whether they are a man or a woman.
5. What is the best career or management decision you have made?
The best career decision I ever made was to network and meet my boss before there was a job opening. We had an opportunity to have an informative yet casual discussion about the company, our products and forward-looking strategic direction which set a foundation for future job opportunities. Two months after that meeting the job I currently hold became available unexpectedly and I was called and included in his consideration set and the rest is history.
6. What is one career or management decision you would like to do over?
I decided to start a company with a woman I had known socially for several years and didn't fully vet out our partnership goals and objectives before we "went into business". Everything looked good on paper and our business plan was sound but we were two very different people with very diverse management styles. I learned how difficult it is to find a true business partner.
7. What is one thing you wish "they" would have told you, about being a leader?
I wish they would have told me the difference between being a manager and a leader. I learned the biggest difference between managers and leaders is the way they motivate the people who work or follow them, and this sets the tone for most other aspects of what they do. Leadership and management must go hand in hand although they are not the same thing but are necessarily linked and complementary. Any effort to separate the two is likely to cause more problems than it solves. The manager's job is to plan, organize and coordinate. The leader's job is to inspire and motivate.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We picked the first leader to answer our 7 Questions, now we want to know who you would like to hear from. Email us your suggestions for our next interview and let us know if you have any other questions you would like asked. Click here so send us your suggestions.
Membership Update
Andrea Oden and Allen Roscoe, Membership Co-Chairs
The Greater Chicago Chapter is off to a great start in our membership drive for 2011. We are focusing our early efforts on renewing existing members and acquiring new members. The existing member renewal has a two-fold approach. Comcast and Time Warner are reviewing the 2010 membership rosters and making the necessary adjustments. For all other 2010 Chapter members, we are aiming for a 90% renewal rate. We are currently at 31% and we continue to communicate with those who have yet to renew. Our overall goal for membership in 2011 is to have a Chapter membership 10% greater than our 2010 levels.
We are also actively soliciting new members. We have added 23 new members already this year. With some exciting programming coming up, we expect to meet and exceed our membership goals. We are also looking to increase the involvement of students. WICT has a great student rate and we welcome your assistance at identifying individuals or local colleges/universities that would benefit from WICT. It is a great networking opportunity for up and coming college grads.
Growing membership is a contribution every existing Chapter member can make to WICT. Andrea or Allen can help you with your membership efforts or work with an individual you have already identified. We are an e-mail away. Andrea can be reached at andrea_oden-wilson@cable.comcast.com and Allen at allen_roscoe@cable.comcast.com. Thank you to everyone who has helped drive membership.
We would like to welcome our new members: Roderick Abernathy, Angelique Anguiano, Lindsey Bentall, Stacy Browner, Vivian Chavez, Michelle Farrell, Richard Foresman, Lynn Kasik, Olga Martinez, Anne McNicholas, Imelda Nino, Rachelle Nirchi, Michelle Noe, Arzo Noor, Deb Papenbrok, Janice Shimokubo, Kenisha Skinner, Susan Smith, Marguerite Stevens, Shilpa Thakkar, Whitney Vicha, Erica Vinyard and Kristina Wedeven.
Upcoming WICT Greater Chicago Events
WICT Greater Chicago Events
Visionary Leadership Breakfast Featuring Keynote Speaker Bill Connors
It's still not too late to register for our signature event for 2011.
Kick off your professional development in 2011 with accomplished leaders as they share best practices, words of wisdom and tried and true tips for success. Get to know Comcast's own Bill Connors as he speaks about his personal journey and what he's learned along the way. Meet 3 additional industry leaders during roundtable session and leave feeling motivated, inspired and armed with new ideas to aid you on your own journey.
Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Time: 8 a.m. Registration & Breakfast; 9 a.m. - Noon Keynote Speech and Roundtables
Address: Rosewood Restaurant 9421 Higgins Rd.
City: Rosemount, IL
Members: $50
Non-members: $75
Click here to register for the Visionary Leadership Breakfast
Top 10 Know It or Blow It Technology Trends - 2011 Edition hosted via webinar by Leslie Ellis 
Leslie Ellis is back by popular demand! Join us for an informative and lively webinar designed to demystify technology trends and leave attendees feeling empowered, informed and ready to tackle the most important technological developments impacting our industry in 2011. The Top 10 Know It or Blow It Technology Trends - 2011 Edition webinar is a MUST for the well-rounded cable professional!
Leslie Ellis is an independent technology columnist, analyst, author, and owner of Translation-Please.com and Ellis Edits, Inc. She is known for translating sometimes scary and challenging technology concepts into easy to understand information that every listener can grasp.
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 10 a.m. (CT)
Location: Webinar
Members: $25
Non-members: $35
Click here to register for the Top 10 Know It or Blow It Technology Trends.
WICT Mentoring Program
Mentoring occurs when a person strategically enhances the professional life of someone else by fostering self-insight, identifying needed knowledge or expanding the other person's perspectives. This year's mentoring program was custom-created by Billi Lee, the CEO and Founder of the Savvy Institute.
The deadline to register is May 21.
Click hereto learn more and get an application
WICT National Events
WICT Signature Luncheon during Cable Connection Spring
Date: June 14, 2011
Location: Chicago, IL
Registration is open.
WICT Leadership Conference During Diversity Week
Dates: October 3-4, 2011
Location: New York, NY
Registration is open.
For more details, and to register for these national events, visit www.wict.org.
Connect with WICT
· Network with your colleagues across the country through WICT Connects
· Friend us on Facebook and share with your friends
· Follow-us on Twitter
· Get LinkedIn with other professionals
· Subscribe to WICT Chicago's YouTube channel
· And make our WICT Greater Chicago page one of your favorites!
· Check out photos from our events on our Photo Page
