2024 Speakers

With a career spanning over two decades in marketing, Grace Agostino is a seasoned professional who takes pride in building and nurturing deep relationships within the industry. Specializing in multicultural marketing, her expertise has propelled her to the forefront of the ever-evolving media landscape, staying ahead of the curve and positioning her clients and colleagues for continued success in an ever-changing market. Starting as a sales assistant in 1996, Grace has risen through the ranks to her position today as Vice President of Network Sales at Nueva Network. In that capacity, she works with national brands and agencies, delivering multicultural solutions through Nueva’s audio network of Spanish language stations that reaches a monthly audience of 20 million. Grace was recognized by Radio Ink as a “Woman to Watch” last December.

Raul Alarcón, Jr. joined Spanish Broadcasting System — founded by his father, Pablo Raúl Alarcón, Sr. — in 1983 as an account executive. He has been President and a director since October 1985 and Chief Executive Officer since June 1994. On November 2, 1999, Alarcón became chairman of the board of directors and continues as CEO and President. Alarcón is responsible for long-range strategic planning and operational matters and is instrumental in the acquisition and related financing of stations.

Kurt Bagelmann is General Manager for Lotus Communications’ Sacramento market.  A 30-year radio sales veteran, Bagelmann has spent the last 13 years managing in Spanish radio, with an emphasis on leading his teams to promote sales to local businesses that ignore Spanish consumers with their marketing dollars. Bagelmann also supports his stations’ providing nonprofit and other local organizations a community forum to share information about programs and resources available to northern California Hispanics.  His favorite marketing quote is from Mark Twain: “Many a small thing has been made large by the right kind of advertising.”

Angelica “Angie” Balderas is a Hispanic Media executive with more than 25 years of experience in broadcasting. As Senior Vice President for Entravision, she currently oversees all operations and sales fpr seven radio stations in Sacramento and Modesto, CA. Prior to that, she was the Director of Sales for Adelante Media Group, where she led all local, national, network, and digital sales.  She was previously the National Sales Manager and worked with national advertisers (clients) and their agencies to execute advertising and promotional programs over Adelante Media Group’s  nine markets. Before that, she was the President/Principal of Aztec Media. Balderas has consistently been named one of Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women (MIW).  She has served on NAB Radio Show steering committee, Radio Ink’s Hispanic Conference, and Nielson Audio’s Multi Cultural ANA Conference boards.  She is a past president of the National Latina Businesswoman’s Association and a Hispanic Rado Conference Medalla de Cortez winner, among numerous other awards.

Pierre Bouvard is Chief Insights Officer for Cumulus Media and Westwood One and leads their Audio Active Group, a media and creative advisory service. The Audio Active Group is a full-service advisory offering national brands media planning recommendations, creative best practices, and measurement services.

Erin Callaghan is Futuri’s President, Enterprise Partnerships. She works with broadcasters and digital publishers worldwide, helping them keep pace with fast-changing technology. She has built her career helping her partners win in challenging environments. And she delights in using Futuri’s technology to help partners increase revenue, grow their audiences and create better content faster and more efficiently. Prior to joining Futuri, Callaghan spent more than 25 years in broadcast sales and sales management at companies including Cox Media, Journal Broadcast Group, and Capstar.

Mario Carrasco is Co-Founder and Principal of ThinkNow, a full-service, cross-cultural research technology company based in Burbank, CA. ThinkNow provides insights to help organizations thrive in the culturally evolving and dynamically shifting demographics of the U.S. consumer market.

Cameron Coats is the Online Editor for Radio Ink. Before joining the publication, he held numerous roles in copywriting and commercial development including Regional Creative Director at Commonwealth Broadcasting and Production Director at Townsquare Media Albany. He was a Radio Mercury Award finalist in 2021 and has served as a first-round judge for the competition in 2022 and 2023.

A North Carolina native, Shirley Davenport grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where her parents were Christian missionaries. Her early years in South America, combined with her fluency in Spanish, give her a unique perspective on marketing to the growing Hispanic community in North Carolina. With her unique blend of retail management and radio and television media sales and management, including a Hispanic market focus and a broad and deep knowledge of the Triangle area, Davenport is the perfect leader for the La Ley sales team. She was a top AE with Univision television in Raleigh-Durham before joining CMG in 2014 and has built a customer-focused sales team for the popular Spanish regional station. Her passionate understanding of the Latino customer, her trademark customer service for clients, and the professional development of her team members are the keys to success for this unique radio property.

Ben Downs is General Manager of a group of 11 radio stations in Bryan-College Station, Texas. Downs began his broadcasting career in 1968 as a weekend announcer at KXAR in Hope, Arkansas. He moved to College Station to attend Texas A&M University and over subsequent years has operated two statewide groups of broadcast stations in Texas. He continues to operate locally owned stations in College Station with a focus on community service. His stations have been nominated for 20 Crystal Awards, winning four, and 15 Marconi Awards, winning six. The stations have also won many Texas Association Awards for Community Service and the Service to America Award. Downs is a former Chairman of the Texas Association of Broadcasters, a current board member of the NAB, a member of the Texas Broadcasting Hall of Fame, and the recipient of the Marconi Legendary Manager award.

Ann-Marie Figueira is Senior Vice President Hispanic Platform and Multicultural Initiatives at Gen Media Partners National Sales. She has been a champion of Hispanic Radio her entire career of more than 25 years.  A sought-after resource to upper-level ad agency account supervisors, Ann Marie helps them effectively position an advertiser’s message in the Hispanic radio marketplace. Among Spanish-Language radio stations, she is well-respected, providing key insights on how to best market themselves for national revenue success. She is known across the Hispanic radio community for helping countless Spanish-Language stations navigate their path to minority certification.

As CEO of Orci, Marina Filippelli drives both business strategy and day-to-day operations for multicultural initiatives, working closely with her team to deliver engaging, effective campaigns that help global brands like Honda, Acura, Dole, VCA, Anheuser Busch, Chevron, and ExtraMile build meaningful relationships with diverse targets in the U.S. and Latin America. With roots in Mexico and Argentina, Marina launched her career at Orci, ultimately returning after leading the multicultural division of Heat and client teams at Zubi Advertising and Conexión. She serves on the National Advertising Review Board and is dedicated to supporting efforts related to diversity, inclusion, education, and the arts, volunteering as a mentor and activist with P.S. Arts and various Los Angeles nonprofits.

Eric Garcia is a seasoned media professional with more than 20 years of experience in integrated sales and content strategy across all distribution channels of audio and video streaming, linear operations in TV and radio, and branded social and experiential creations, in addition to a dynamic portfolio of digital project offerings. He is currently Regional President/General Manager of Univision’s Florida stations in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa. Garcia joined Univision in 2018 in New York before assuming roles of increasing responsibility in sales leadership and station management in Washington, DC; Philadelphia; and Miami. Prior to Univision, he spent 14 years at Spanish Broadcasting System, where he held various senior sales and GM positions.

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is the first Latina-American to be confirmed to the FCC in over two decades; she brings over 30 years of public and private sector experience in domestic and international communications law and policy to her position. Gomez most recently served as a Senior Advisor for International Information and Communications Policy in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the Department of State, where she led U.S. preparations for the International Telecommunication Union World Radiocommunication Conference 2023.She served as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration Deputy Administrator from 2009 to 2013, where she led efforts that resulted in a new $7 billion public safety broadband network program. She also served for 12 years in various positions at the FCC, including as Deputy Chief of the International Bureau and as Senior Legal Advisor to then-Chairman William E. Kennard. Prior to joining the State Department in 2023, Commissioner Gomez worked in private practice focusing on telecommunications law.

Natalie Henderson, an audio enthusiast, serves as Senior Audio Investor at Horizon Media. Her career began on the promotions team at radio, gathering audio sound bites from listeners and setting up meet-and-greets with upcoming artists for her local stations, WBAB-FM and WBLI-FM. From there, she joined Horizon’s promotions department, where she crafted hundreds of successful local and national experiential opportunities for clients. In her current position, Henderson leads broadcast and digital audio strategy and investment for retail, insurance, and tune-in brands. Her expertise on the audio landscape has led to innovative thinking and successful delivery that exceeds her clients’ goals and proves audio’s effectiveness.

As Vice President of Cross Platform Insights, Tony Hereau is leveraging the full suite of Nielsen’s services to demonstrate the impact audio has on media investment, marketing execution, and sales outcomes. With over 25 years of experience in the buying and selling of media, Hereau has become the “Audio Ambassador” to advertisers and agencies in an ever-changing media landscape.

Cecilia Jato Bitz is the VP/Sales Director of National Audio Services at Nielsen. She provides audio measurement solutions and audience insights to her audio clients across radio networks, audio production companies, and podcast publishers. Prior to Nielsen, she served as the Director of Strategic Planning and Account Management at TelavisaUnivision in its network radio division. Jato Bitz has also managed audio investment strategies for leading advertisers as a Supervisor of National Audio Investments at OMD. Her career in the audio industry began at Interep in 2003. Her contributions to her teams and to the audio industry have earned her recognition throughout her career, including features in Radio Ink’s “African American Leaders in Radio” issues in 2016, 2019, and 2023.

Clark Logan has a 25-year career in radio and publishing that includes 15 years at the helm of the HRN Media Network, a leader in syndicated Hispanic radio programming. Under Logan’s leadership, HRN has partnered with some of the biggest names in Hispanic broadcasting including Don Cheto of Estrella Media, nationally syndicated Erazno y Chokolata, World Cup broadcaster Fernando Fiore, Univision network morning host Anna Maria Canseco, and more. Prior to HRN, Logan worked in national radio sales at Interep and was Northeast Sales Manager at Televisa Publishing. He began his career in broadcasting as an on-air traffic reporter for Westwood One’s Metro Traffic and CBS-TV in New York.

Gerardo Lopez is Partner and President of Programming for Costa Media. With more than 30 years of experience, Lopez has managed a variety of radio stations with different formats in Mexico and the U.S., including Regional Mexican stations and many others. He got his start in Tijuana, Mexico, where he launched the largest Regional Mexican network in Mexico, “La Mejor” at MVS Radio. Later, he joined Univision Radio where he served as Regional Program Director for 10 years, overseeing all Univision’s Regional Mexican stations. In 2016 Lopez started his own radio station, “La Pantera,” in San Antonio and developed that into the La Pantera Radio Network, which now airs in more than eight markets. Additionally, he is the show manager for “Chiquibaby,” with more than 100 station affiliates in the U.S. and now in Spain.

A graduate of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Paula Maes spent almost 30 years in broadcasting before becoming president of the New Mexico Broadcasters Association, a position she has held for over 20 years. Maes was one of the first Hispanic women to work at KOB FM Radio, a job she took while still in college. That job led to work as a researcher and later producer in the KOAT TV 7 newsroom, and eventually, a move across town to become Creative Services Director at KOB TV 4. She received an Emmy in 1984 for a public service program on child sexual abuse. Later she was named a New Mexico Woman of Distinction by the local YWCA, and she was inducted into the New Mexico Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2023. Maes is also a founding member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Mark Mandell is the Director of Audio for IPG Media Brands — spanning national clients across Initiative and UM and local clients across all IPG agencies. Mandell has been working in the business for 16-plus years. He works on holding company-level partnerships and strategies for the audio space. He is currently the liaison between the Hispanic Radio Coalition and IPG. Mandell is able to steward clients based on needs with innovation in the audio space and different ways of viewing how audio can work. He is also an avid sports and music fan — always happy to talk audio at a game or in between acts at a concert.

Gerardo G. Martinez, MBA, has dedicated the past 25 years to refining his expertise in marketing, communication, and leadership to propel businesses of all sizes toward revenue and marketing success. Currently he is Chief Revenue Officer at Lazer Media, a role he has held since 2019. In this capacity, he oversees the organization’s 47 radio stations across 20 markets in California and Nevada, which encompass not only radio but also digital, social, and experiential platforms.  Throughout his career, Martinez has been associated with groups including Univision, Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Hearst, EstrellaTV, and Adelante Media Group. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he is involved in the RAB Multicultural Committee, where he conducts research and educates on the importance of multicultural audiences and the positive impact of a diverse focus on advertisers’ campaigns. For the past 13 years, Martinez has been teaching business and marketing college courses as adjunct faculty.

Matt Martinez, President at SDC Broadcasting Co., Inc., has been a New Mexico broadcaster for over 24 years, with four radio stations in Las Vegas, NM, and one in Albuquerque. He also currently serves as co-chair of the Governmental Committee with the New Mexico Broadcasters Association, of which he was formerly president.  Martinez earlier served on the City Council and as Mayor of Las Vegas, NM, and has been appointed to state boards and commissions by various governors over the past 30 years. He is currently chair of the community’s Economic Development Corporation.

Maire Mason is VP/GM of Spanish Broadcasting System New York. She joined SBS in February 2018 from Cumulus Media, where she launched NASH-FM, the first country music station in the New York market. In September of 2022 she was elevated to VP General Manager of both the New York and Chicago markets, and in April of 2023 she was promoted to Executive Vice President, GM of WSKQFM & WPAT FM, New York and WLEY-FM, Chicago. Mason’s background includes a 20-year tenure at CBS Radio as VP/GM of some of New York’s most iconic stations: WCBS-FM, WXRK-FM, and WNEW-FM. From 2010-2012, she was the Director of Sales for Univision New York: WADO-AM, WXNY-FM and WQBU-FM, and in 2012 she launched the first ever FM news station, WEMP-FM. Mason’s other accomplishments include numerous years on Radio Ink’s Most Influential Women in Radio annual list and the Medallas De Cortez General Market Manager of the Year award in 2022.

Katie Miller is the Vice President of Client Relations at Harker Bos Group, a leading media research firm established in 1989. With over a decade of experience as a developer in the marketing agency space, Miller has a strong foundation in building websites and apps. Transitioning to the media side of marketing, she now specializes in conducting market research for media companies, encompassing radio, television, podcasts, and more. At Harker Bos Group, Miller plays a pivotal role in providing clients with actionable, strategic research that drives success. In addition to her primary responsibilities, she is involved with Crowd React Media, HBG’s division dedicated to advertising, sports, and political research.

Francisco “Frank” Montero is a Partner with the law firm of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, specializing in telecommunications, broadcasting, media, and technology. Montero’s practice includes FCC regulatory counseling, corporate finance, asset and securities acquisitions, intellectual property, and real estate and commercial transactions. Montero was an appointed member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age and served as Director of the FCC’s Office of Communications Business Opportunities during the Clinton Administration. While at the FCC, Montero worked extensively with industry, trade associations, financial institutions, and governmental agencies to create business opportunities for entrepreneurs and technology and telecommunications startups and was recognized for his “dedication to bridging the digital divide.” Montero is well known as an early advocate for Hispanic and Spanish-language media in the U.S. and Latin America. He is on the board of the Multicultural Media, Telecom, and Internet Council (MMTC) and serves as the Washington, D.C. legal representative for the Puerto Rico Broadcasters Association.

Otto Padron is the President and CEO of Meruelo Media. Before leading Meruelo, he was Senior Vice President of Programming for Univision Television Network, the leading Spanish-language network in the U.S. Padron is the only executive to have successfully headed programming for both major U.S. Spanish language networks, Univision and Telemundo. As a shaping member of these powerhouse brands, he blended solutions-based ideas with a value-oriented management style driven by bottom-line results. During his 20-plus-year tenure programming these competitive networks, Padron developed a keen understanding of relevant entertainment formats. He has established a reputation for delivering winning results through production excellence and execution.

Masa Patterson began his career in 2006 at KNX in Los Angeles, writing and editing sports updates as an intern before shifting to Premiere Networks, learning the network and audio branding space. He connected with Dave “Chachi” Denes in 2009, and they began working to grow Benztown’s footprint. In 2012, he was honored in Edison Research’s “30 under 30,” highlighting the most promising young members of the broadcast industry — a list he wishes he was still eligible for. His efforts have contributed to numerous accolades for Benztown, such as being named to the prestigious “Inc. 5000” by Inc. Magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s fastest-growing privately held companies and one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. Media sector. Patterson currently oversees general operations and growth efforts for all of Benztown’s offerings.

Alfredo Plascencia has been at the helm of Lazer Media as President/CEO since 1991. Under his leadership, Lazer Media has grown from a single station to a network of 48 stations in 20 markets across California and in Reno, NV. He has successfully navigated Lazer Media through various industry challenges in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Beyond professional achievements, Plascencia is passionate about the community and supporting causes that are close to his heart. He has participated in philanthropic endeavors and has served on several charitable organizations aimed at promoting education and providing scholarships. Renowned for its involvement with various nonprofit and for-profit organizations dedicated to serving the community, Lazer Media stands out as a pillar of community support. Notably, Lazer Media’s commitment extends to initiatives such as the Children’s Miracle Network, where it has raised over $10 million for local community hospitals.