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• Val Nicholas

Val Nicholas

Award-winning television marketing and program production executive with on-air experience that drives ratings and CPMs. Unique expertise in new media, event and consumer promotion partnerships. Understands and meets needs of Programming, Ad Sales, Affiliate Sales. Track record in doubling staff productivity when head count expansion not an option. Consistent high performer under pressure, producing breakthrough creative work.

NBC News 2008 – present
Vice President Creative Director

• Started Hiring Our Heroes campaign for NBC News in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As a result of that nationwide On-air project, more than 20,200 veterans found jobs with 1,200 companies at a total of 570 job fairs.
• Leader of the work group on Jobs for the Clinton Global Initiative since 2011
• Creating a new job portal and an app
• Created and developing 3 television pilot programs for NBCU’s Peacock Productions
• Helped Launch theGrio.com, NBC News’ African American news site, now number one in that space…
• Gave MSNBC it’s first solid identity and mission statement “The Place for Politics,” as well as the History Channel’s “History is Made Everyday”
• Spearheaded NBC Publishing and developed its first video-enhanced e-books using the resources of 83 years of NBC News Archives
• Developed and teaches his original Maximum Creative classes at GE Crotonville’s

Leadership School, where it consistently receives the highest ratings at that campus. The course was requested for presentation by various divisions at NBC Universal, the Gannett Corporation, the NY Film Academy, Brooklyn Hospital and several international GE divisions in Canada, Dubai, Lebanon, Cardiff, England and South Africa.

• A founding organizer of Got Your Six and GotYourSix.org, the entertainment Industry initiative that puts the media power of Hollywood in support of active duty, veterans and military family issues. Got Your Six involves all the major film studios, networks, craft guilds talent agencies, and the best-in-class Service organizations, including Joining Forces at the White House.

MILITARY EXPERIENCE & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Served in the 11th Armored Cavalry on border patrol in the Fulda Gap.
US Army Signal Corps – Communications Security Specialist, East/West German Border.
Designated to attend US ARMY Leadership Training School.
Launched and serves as the national leader of the NBCUniversal Veterans Network and consults for the GE Veterans Network, Comcast Network and all the NBCU Affinity Groups.
Sits on the national Board of the USO and Blue Star Families.
Mentors high school students in programs for NBCU and the City of New York.

AWARDS AND HONORS
Nominated for 24 Emmy Awards, winner of seven, including three Emmys for best on-air promo; three for program production; and one national Emmy, the Academy’s first ever for Best Commercial (Snap.com). Snap.com spot also won the prestigious international Best Commercial in the World award and AdWeek’s Best Commercial of the Year. Three NBC Golden Peacock Awards; various Promax Gold Medallions; Emmy nomination for brand packaging MSNBC/NBC.

Awards in Current Position:
2001 – 14 Telly Awards
2002 – 19 Telly Awards
2003 – 5 Telly Awards
2004 – 41 Telly Awards
2005 – 6 Cine Golden Eagle Awards
1 BDA Gold
1 Finalist Best Writing New York Film Festival
2006 – 6 Telly Awards
3 Cine Golden Eagle Awards
2007 – World Gold Medal, NY Festivals Film & Video Awards , 5 Cine Golden Eagle Awards , Promax Bronze Medallion

Note: MSNBC does not submit entries in non-News categories.

EDUCATION
A.A. Photojournalism (Dean’s List), Sacramento City College, 1978
B.A. Government and Journalism (with distinction), California State University at Sacramento, 1979

INTERESTS/ACTIVITIES
Skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountaineering, ocean kayaking, mountain biking, surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, tennis, racquetball, touch football. Second degree black belt. Tae Kwon Do instructor, blues guitar and harmonica, screenwriting.