Michelle Ray Named Interim Executive Director
Dr. David Porter, Jr. announced his decision to step down from his role as Executive Director of The Walter Kaitz Foundation on April 13, completing a nearly 12-year run at the helm of the Foundation. Porter, who joined the foundation as its Executive Director in August 2006, is a multifaceted executive with a background in engineering, sociology, and organizational behavior, in addition to his expertise in diversity and inclusion. He intends to begin looking at new career opportunities.
Kaitz Foundation Deputy Executive Director, Michelle Ray, will assume the role of Interim Executive Director. Ray has served the Foundation since January 2006 and worked previously for 16 years in staff positions at NCTA - The Internet & Television Association.
Under Porter's leadership, the foundation has raised more than $20 million to fuel cable-industry diversity initiatives implemented by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), and the Emma L. Bowen Foundation. In addition, the Foundation has led a variety of nation-wide programmatic activities aimed at improving diversity in the industry's workforce, suppliers, and content creators. During his time leading the Foundation, Porter has worked extensively with corporate and industry leaders in strengthening their personal and professional commitments to principles of diversity and inclusion. The Foundation under his leadership also pioneered bi-annual industry-wide surveys which were conducted jointly with WICT and NAMIC, to identify and track progress in the diversity of the industry's workforce at all levels.
"Under David's leadership, the Walter Kaitz Foundation has reached new and sustained levels of achievement, becoming the bedrock for efforts across our industry to enhance and embrace diversity as a core operating principle," said NCTA President & CEO, Michael Powell. "David's leadership has brought out the best in us, in our efforts to shape our industry into a national leader on diversity and inclusion. His passion for, and commitment to, this work is unsurpassed. We will miss his vision and presence, and we wish him all the best in future endeavors."
"It has been my privilege to serve in an industry that has continued to increase its commitment to diversity and inclusion as a business imperative," Porter said. "I particularly appreciate the support of the industry's leadership, executives and my fellow co-workers. Without their commitment, the work of the Foundation would not have been possible. In a period of profound demographic and societal change, I'm proud of our success and I look forward to the industry's continued efforts to develop a workforce which is truly reflective of society at all levels."
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