JHRTS had another eventful, fun month! We had one of our best panels to date and an awesome mixer to boot! We also sadly said our goodbyes to Mel Pangkey (former Co-President of JHRTS) as she decided to take some time to travel the world and welcomed current Board Member, Alyson Beckman as our new Co-President!
Our latest mixer was held November 8th at The Phoenix. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, members and non-members alike were given the opportunity to mix and mingle, all while enjoying some of the best cocktails the city has to offer. The turnout was tremendous, as hungry young professionals from across the industry traded tips and tricks (and a few business cards along the way). Despite what became an unseasonably chilly night, patrons willingly spilled out onto the covered patio when the attendance began to creep towards maximum capacity. Conversations around the bar varied tremendously, but what kept the place buzzing were rumors and excitement about the impending Holiday Party!
Next Generation: 35 Under 35
On November 13th, we held our “Next Generation: 35 Under 35” Panel in association with The Hollywood Reporter at UTA’s brand-new screening room. The esteemed panelists represented some of the best and brightest of television, and provided more than 160 JHRTS members with a unique glimpse into the future of the industry. Matthew Belloni and Lacey Rose of The Hollywood Reporter moderated the panel and did an excellent job keeping the conversation both lighthearted and thoughtful. Our panelists, Joey Chavez (NBC), Cara Dellaverson (Lionsgate), Melanie Frankel (USA), Grant Gish (20th Animation), Matt King (Warner Bros.), and Kate Lambert (FX) shared their insights and advice, giving our members an idea of how to prepare for and continue to have a successful career in this challenging but exciting industry! This annual panel is a huge draw for members, and we were proud to provide such a special opportunity for them to learn from these inspiring executives.
The board is busy at work planning for our annual holiday party to be held this year on Tuesday, December 11th at Boulevard 3. We’re getting close and we couldn’t be more excited! We are so thankful for all of our generous sponsors. This year we’ve decided to keep our charitable focus on the LA Regional Food Bank, a nonprofit charitable organization that has been distributing food to those in need throughout the LA County. Each attendee is encouraged to bring at least 2 cans of non-perishable food in exchange for an entry into our raffle.
Our 4th annual Professional Mentorship Program is already on a roll! This is a fantastic program, and we’re so excited to be teaming with HRTS again this year. We have more confirmed mentors than ever before. We will be pairing the mentees before the upcoming holidays and plan to hold the Meet and Greet Mixer in February. A special thanks to all of our fabulous Mentors!
We will be back and better than ever in the New Year with a Writer’s Panel, a Latino themed Panel and another mixer all planned for January. Be on the lookout for our Philanthropy newsletter for opportunities to volunteer and get more involved in our community.
Happy Holidays!
Rachel Polan & Alyson Beckman
JHRTS – LA Co-Presidents