Michelle Ray Departing Kaitz Foundation in December

The Walter Kaitz Foundation, the cable industry’s leading advocacy organization in advancing equity, inclusion and belonging in media and entertainment, today announced that Michelle Ray will leave her position as Executive Director on December 2.  Ray has served the Foundation for over 15 years in successive leadership roles and the December date ensures her management of the annual foundation dinner on October 12 and a smooth transition afterwards.

“Michelle has been a true force of nature and her leadership at the Kaitz Foundation has been invaluable to the industry. Her passion and tireless efforts over the years to drive mission focused diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at NCTA’s member companies have been second to none,” said Michael Powell, President & CEO, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association. “Michelle has been a leader and true visionary over the years, and we wish her the very best as she embarks on her next chapter.”

Ray joined NCTA in 1990 working in the Industry Affairs department which produced The Cable Show and CableACE Awards, the industry’s early version of the Emmys. Ray transitioned to the Walter Kaitz Foundation in 2006 as Senior Program Director. During the last decade at the Walter Kaitz Foundation, Ray played a pivotal role in launching the annual Hollywood Creative Forum. The Forum serves as an important intermediary for diverse creatives in Hollywood seeking access to networks, studios, and production companies for opportunities to showcase their talent and work.

“With more than 30 years in this incredible industry, it has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated individuals from the smallest cable operators to the largest content companies and many organizations in between,” Ray said. “I am very excited to continue this work and shift my focus to serving people and organizations in a more direct way. I look forward to embarking on this next chapter of my career.” 

Despite Ray’s departure, the cable industry’s commitment to diversity and inclusion will remain strong. Over the last two decades, Kaitz expanded its priorities to include the launch of a consolidated Career Center and created a robust grant program in support of the industry’s key diversity organizations serving women, college students and diverse executives. 

The search for a successor is underway.

About The Walter Kaitz Foundation: WKF has become the entertainment and telecommunication industry’s leading national foundation dedicated to advocacy around diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Foundation provides resources and significant funding to key organizations that support vital programs and initiatives that further diversity’s impact. The foundation was initially established in 1980 as a not-for-profit with the purpose of advancing the contributions of women and ethnic minorities in cable telecommunications and today serves the broad embrace of diversity and inclusion across the entire cable industry. With headquarters in Washington, D.C. the Walter Kaitz Foundation is co-located with NCTA –The Internet & Television Association.