Access & Opportunity Ignited - Inside the LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards’ Transformative Debut
Learn How Nearly 200 Talented Young Adults Forged Career‑Defining Connections
April 24, 2025
GE Appliances’ CoCREATE in Stamford, CT
The inaugural LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards marked a milestone in our mission to create and share life‑changing career opportunities for young adults facing barriers. Leaders and young adults facing barriers came together to spark real connections, and accelerate careers through meaning connections. On CT, nearly 200 aspiring professionals joined 50 industry speakers and sponsors, alongside dozens of strategic partners, for the inaugural LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards.This full-day event brought together young adults, industry leaders, and marquee companies for an immersive experience of learning, networking, and recognition.
Built to Uplift
The Summit kicked off with an electric buzz, attendees flowed into the space for breakfast and the Glam Up Lounge, where stylists prepped textured and non‑textured hair for confident networking, and;. next door, the Headshot Suite where a professional photographer captured polished portraits, ensuring every participant left with a standout image for their resumes and bios.
Inside the Summit’s Career Center, the participants could access a variety of professional services: 1:1 resume reviews, deep‑dive portfolio critiques, mock interviews, and career coaching by executives from A+E Global Media, Netflix, Paramount, and more. Attendees crafted their own journey, seamlessly moving between workshops and panels that matched their ambitions and interests.
Deep, Actionable Insights
Next, the participants joined immersive sessions designed to illuminate every aspect of the entertainment, media, and sports industries—and how to get in. From strategic entry points and contract mechanics to creative leadership and emerging trends, each segment offered actionable insights and the chance for real-time Q&A. The goal was clear: equip talent facing barriers with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to launch their careers—no matter their starting point.
Opening Remarks
LaunchPad President’s rallying cry to introduce yourself boldly and build lasting networks.How to Get In
Corey Twitty (former Netflix Head of Emerging Talent) and Monique Coleman reveal critical playbooks, strategies, and the mindset needed to make your first industry moves.Fireside Chat with Kevin Nolan & Makeda Mays Green
Insights on leading through disruption from GE Appliances’ CEO and Paramount Nickelodeon’s SVP.Navigating the Business of Entertainment & Sports
Rob Ninkovich, Ben Moskowitz (sports attorney), and Niko Koutivides (NFL Alumni Association) break down contracts, branding, and NIL dynamics.Fireside Chat with Brent Montgomery & David George
Lessons from the founders behind Wheelhouse and ITV America on scaling hits and companies.Lunch & The Future of LaunchPad
President Jon Winkel unveils next-phase initiatives, scholarships, and partnerships.Creative Leadership in Action
Courtney White (Wheelhouse Entertainment) and Makeda Mays Green discuss bold risk‑taking and authentic culture-building.Media x Sports: Where Opportunity Lives
Ashley Battle (Boston Celtics), Stan Kaufman (G‑League AGM), and Amanda Castellano (AllianceBernstein) explore new career pathways at the intersection of media, tech, and fan engagement.Moving Up: Building a Career in Entertainment
Rasheed J. Daniel (Team Sheed Founder & CEO) and Liz Fine (EVP, Wheelhouse Entertainment) share the skills and moves that propel long-term success.Breaking In: Building Careers in the Creator Economy
Robert Goldburg (Filmmaker & Foundation) and Brooke Shepard (Monogram Mary) decode the booming creator economy and how to carve your niche.Resilience & Purpose
Marysol Castro (NY Mets) and Oscar Guerra (Emmy®‑winning filmmaker/educator) close the conference with an uplifting dialogue on turning setbacks into springboards.DMCT Awards Ceremony
At 4:00 PM, the stage shifted to celebration. The DMCT Awards spotlighted excellence in:
Film, Video & Sound Production Awards
Emerging Creator Award - "Through Her Eyes" by Mackenzie Marquardt
Cinematic Excellence Award - "Sunrise" by Caleb Taylor
Unscripted Excellence Award - "Pauline & Me" by Dorian Robinson
Social Impact Award - "The Dog Pound" by Adam Gonzalez
Ultimate Portfolio Award - Dorian Robinson
Motion Design & Animation Awards
Emerging Animation Award -"Lonely City" by Oluwaseyi Garritano
Animation Excellence Award - "Peach Pie" by Aaron Zhang
Ultimate Portfolio Award - Kathryn Markey
Game & Interactive Media Design Awards
Emerging Creator Award - "QU Social Impact Web Design" by Krista Miner
Interactive Innovator Award - "Scrap Mechanica" by John Roderick Carvantes Jr.
Interactive Innovator Award - "Oasis XR" by Shania Chacon
Ultimate Portfolio Award - Zachary Lauri
The Impact: Game‑Changing Results
The LaunchPad Summit was a powerful celebration of talent, transformation, and tangible opportunity. In one day, we saw barriers fall and momentum build—top companies discovered job-ready candidates too often overlooked by traditional pipelines, while participants walked away with polished resumes, new confidence, and meaningful connections that are already translating into real gigs, internships, and job offers. Through live reviews, executive coaching, and small-group mentoring, attendees gained not just skills, but belief in their ability to compete and lead. The impact ripples far beyond the event: communities are stronger as participants share insights back home, creative economies are energized by award-winning digital storytellers, and new mentorship loops keep the learning going. What began as a summit is becoming a movement—one that accelerates economic mobility, fills critical roles in growing industries, and builds a long-term ecosystem where emerging talent thrives.
Conclusion & Call to Action
We set out to ignite access and opportunity—and we delivered. The inaugural LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards transformed aspirations into concrete career moves, proving that when you bring talent facing barriers together with industry champions, the ripple effects redefine futures. Ready to be part of our next chapter?
