Penn State Alumni Volunteer Update
By Penn State Alumni AssociationApril 2005
L.A. Chapter hosts interactive panel discussion about broadcast industries
On Feb. 26, more than 160 alumni and friends gathered at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown for "Penn State Meets Hollywood: An Evening of Networking with the Pros". The event, sponsored in part by the Los Angeles Chapter and the College of Communications Alumni Society, included a reception and buffet dinner plus a two hour program featuring Tom Ortenberg '82, president of Lions Gate Films Releasing; Lisa Salters '88, an ESPN reporter; and Andrew Kevin Walker '86, a screenwriter whose credits include "Se7en" and "Sleepy Hollow."
The master of ceremonies was Gary Kaplan '61, who in 1998 was named an Alumni Fellow. Kaplan is founder and president of Gary Kaplan and Associates, a Pasadena-based executive recruiting firm with an international clientele. Doug Anderson, dean of the College of Communications, also gave brief remarks.
Organizers brought together three distinct voices from the entertainment and broadcast industries to create what they hoped would be an enlightening, educational, and memorable experience for guests. Ortenberg, Salters, and Walker each offered insights into their respective professions and shared details of personal achievements and struggles that defined their career paths. Each panelist gave inspirational testimony about how they began their careers by accepting entry-level positions that enabled them to gain experience and get the proverbial "foot in the door."
They all stressed the importance of pursuing professional interests that provide personal satisfaction and fulfillment. Otrenberg encouraged audience members to "follow your passion and never let go." Walker echoed those sentiments and noted how, when working on a project, he follows his heart rather than what the market might expect or demand. Citing "Se7en," he commented: "I wrote the thing I felt like writing and that pleased me." Salters, an award-winning journalist who has covered many important national stories and worked as a Los Angeles bureau correspondent providing news coverage for ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, noted that her reports during "Salute to the Troops" provided more gratification than any other assignment in her career.
The evening concluded with audience participation in a question and answer session with the panelists, a business card drawing for prizes, and a dessert reception featuring Penn State Creamery ice cream.
The event was financially supported through registration fees, sponsorships by Gary Kaplan and Associates and Triple Canopy, and funding by the College of Communication, Smeal College of Business, Los Angeles Chapter, and College of Communications Alumni Society.
