**Attendees, LaunchPad board members, speakers, and DMCT award winners.**

The LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards 2026 brought together more than 100 young adults for a full day built around one idea: access matters most when it becomes opportunity.

Across entertainment, sports, music, film, entrepreneurship, and leadership, the Summit created a structured environment where emerging talent could hear directly from industry leaders, engage in hands-on workshops, and leave with tangible next steps.

The day was not designed as a single moment of inspiration. It was designed as a system of entry and acceleration points.

Matt Worwood, Director of Digital Media Connecticut presenting.

LaunchPad Fellows, Explorers, and attendees attentively listening during the panels.

LaunchPad President Jon Winkel delivering remarks outlining LaunchPad’s mission and goals.

Opening the Day: Framing LaunchPad

Jon Winkel in conversation with Ray Sozzi, author and founder of Everest Leadership Academy, and Corey Twitty, Head of Executive Search at Zillow during the How to LaunchPad panel.

The program began by welcoming attendees and setting the tone for the day ahead, with:

George Norfleet, Executive Director of the CT Office of Film, Television, and Digital Media

Matt Worwood, Director of Digital Media Connecticut

Leah Kagan, Director of Economic Development for the City of Stamford

Jon Winkel, President of LaunchPad

From there, the opening session, “How to LaunchPad,” featured Jon Winkel, Corey Twitty, and Ray Sozzi. The conversation focused on how participants should approach the program itself, not as observers, but as active participants in a network designed to create access to real-world opportunities. And an in-depth look at how to build careers and rise as leaders.

The message was practical. Engage early, stay consistent, follow up, and treat every interaction as meaningful because the system is built to reward participation.

“Be impeccable with your word. Make sure your say do ratio is one to one. Things that you say you're going to do, do them and follow through."

Main Stage Panels: Inside the Industries

The morning shifted into three industry panels that brought executives, creators, and operators together to break down how careers are actually built across sports, entertainment, and music.

Sports Panel

Stan Kaufman of Wheelhouse Sports; Nick Newell, professional MMA fighter and entrepreneur; and Gary Lisiewski of Level One Fund speaking during “The Sports Playbook” seminar: Turning Passion into a Career.

Featuring mixed martial artist Nick Newell and investor Gary Lisiewski, moderated by Wheelhouse Sports Vice President Stan Kauffman, the conversation explored the realities of breaking into the sports industry. Topics included resilience, unconventional career paths, and the importance of finding roles that align with both skill and persistence.

"I think the touch point that I think to learn from too is just creating positive momentum, you know, and sort of taking sort of small wins and victories and turning them into momentum….. It's not totally important to know the destination, but I think to be curious is something that I would encourage." - Stan Kaufman

"I'm going to take risks because the things that I went through... every all these principles are universal and they apply to everything. So, I'm just no matter what, I'm going to get it done. It doesn't matter. It's I'm going to do a good job and I'm going to get it done." - Nick Newell

Entertainment Panel

Sandra Richards, Head of Global Sports and Entertainment; David George, CEO of ITV America; Sonali Basak, Chief Investment Strategist at iCapital; and Brent Montgomery, CEO of Wheelhouse, in conversation during “Behind the Scenes: TV & Entertainment.”

ITV America CEO David George, Morgan Stanley Head of Global Sports and Entertainment Sandra Richards, and Wheelhouse CEO Brent Montgomery joined moderator Sonali Basak, Chief Investment Strategist of iCapital for a wide-ranging discussion on the entertainment industry. The panel covered how storytelling, business strategy, and adaptability intersect in modern media.

“But the truth is creativity is what catapults you to success…. I would say look at failure as a success." - David George

Music Panel

**“Music Edition: Inside the Industry”** featuring Makeda Mays Green, SVP of Digital and Cultural Insights at Nickelodeon; Jim Koplik, President of Live Nation Connecticut & Upstate New York Region; Gary Dell’Abate, Executive Producer at SiriusXM; and Dave DiCianni, Manager at 11E1even Group.

Jim Koplik, Gary Dell’Abate, and Dave DiCianni joined moderator Makeda Mays Green to discuss the evolving music industry, from live touring to talent development and industry infrastructure.

“There's no secret to instant success in our business anymore. Take your time. Two things are important. Passion, but you have to also be good." - Jim Koplik

Across all three panels, one theme was consistent: there is no single path into these industries, but there are patterns of effort, relationships, and timing that matter.

Networking Lunch and Announcement

The midday networking session created space for attendees to connect directly with speakers, peers, and partners while also introducing a special music-related announcement.

The organization is officially launching LaunchPad Music, a new initiative dedicated to fostering careers, jobs, and internships within the music industry. The initiative will involve collaborations with key industry partners, specifically mentioning the Bridgeport Amphitheater. The new music initiative will be chaired at the board level by Makita Maze Green (2:31:27 - 2:31:30).

The room shifted from listening to conversation, with introductions turning into follow-ups and informal mentorship moments.

Breakout Sessions: Building Skills in Real Time

The afternoon was structured around rotating breakout sessions, giving attendees the ability to move between disciplines and explore multiple career paths.

Digital Lab

Wilson, Rob Goldburg, and Sahil Laul led a hands-on session focused on digital creation, production workflows, and emerging media tools.

Entrepreneurs Workshop

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Sonali Basak, Robert Brunetti, and Evan Jehle guided participants through foundational concepts in entrepreneurship, including idea development, execution strategy, and early-stage business thinking.

Music Workshop

Lauralee Donaldson and Makeda Mays Green led a focused session on navigating the music industry and building sustainable creative careers.

Sports Workshop

Sean O’Bradaigh led a session centered on sports industry pathways and professional development.

Film & TV Workshop

Beyhan Oguz and Danielle Gervais of ITV America, Russ McCaroll of Pocket Square, and Caitlin Gray of Block Party, alongside filmmaker and actor Guillermo Prieto IV, operations manager of LaunchPad, leading the Film and TV workshop

Caitlin Gray, Guillermo, Russ McCarroll, Danielle Gervais, and Dorian Robinson offered a broad look into film and television careers, spanning production, development, and creative leadership.

Career Center: Turning Preparation Into Action

A dedicated Career Center ran throughout the breakout sessions, offering resume reviews, portfolio feedback, and elevator pitch coaching.

Participants worked directly with Carla Rothberg, Celia Kohl, Jeff Fortmann, Anne-Marie Robinson, Hannah Alland, Valentina Djekovic, Julia Lambert, Lindsay Carlson, and Erin Malone.

The focus was simple: make each participant more prepared than they were when they arrived.

Leadership Lab

Sabrina Shortall and Ray Sozzi led a Leadership Lab focused on communication, presence, and decision-making in professional environments.

Headshots & Professional Prep

The day also included professional headshots and grooming support, with contributions from:

Eric Hernandez (Barber)
Ashia Wheeler (Textured Hairstyle & Makeup)
Gavin (Non-Textured Hairstyle)
Brian Jerez (Headshot Photographer)

These elements ensured participants left not just informed, but professionally equipped.

Closing Keynote: Perspective and Purpose

Rasheed J. Daniel, Founder and CEO of Team Sheed, delivering the final Fireside Keynote.

The afternoon keynote featured Rasheed J. Daniel in a fireside conversation that centered on leadership, resilience, and the long-term nature of building a meaningful career.

"The second you get on the field, I need you to play a little bit harder. And I need you to stop complaining and whining about what happened that was wrong." - Rasheed J. Daniel

The session reinforced a central theme of the day: success is rarely linear, but it is always built through action over time.

DMCT Awards: Recognizing Emerging Talent

Dorian Robinson receiving the Unscripted Excellence DMCT Award.

The team: Guillermo Prieto IV, Operations Manager; Jon Winkel, President; and Wilson Valois, Program Manager.

The day concluded with the DMCT Awards, led by Rasheed J. Daniel, honoring emerging creators and talent across media, film, and digital storytelling.

The awards celebrated individuals who are already producing work, building audiences, and shaping their own opportunities.

Categories included:

Cinematic Excellence Award: “Heart of The Game” - Alexandra Maxwell
Unscripted Excellence Award: “Sketching the Dream” - Dorian Robinson
Cinematography Excellence Award: “Your Love is One of a Kind” - Mawin Belfort
Animation Excellence Award: “Heart of the Woods” - Edith Carson
Animated Graphics and Title Design Excellence Award: “Connected to Greatness: Welcome to UConn ITS” - Sophia Jortner
Interactive Innovator Award: “Dine & Duel” - James Cioppa ; “Art Health Tracker” - Andrea Domingos
Digital Creator Excellence Award: “Sweet Tooth” - David Medzhulumian
Social Impact Award: “Caroline House” - Chumani Heard
Authentic Voices Award: “The Classroom that Challenged America: The Prudence Crandall Story” - Alexandra Maxwell
People’s Choice Award (48 Hour Film Challenge): “(Not) Alone” - ThreeJollys Production
Honorable Mention (48 Hour Film Challenge): “Chapter 28” - Blooming Soul Productions
48 Hour Film Challenge Winner: “Operation Wardrobe” - 2.5 Brains, 1 SD Card
Anim8 in 48 Best Animation: “Apple: United” - Sophia Jortner

Beyond recognition, the awards functioned as affirmation. The next generation is not emerging in theory. It is already in motion.

From Access to Opportunity

As the day closed, the impact was visible in small but meaningful ways. Conversations continued. Socials were exchanged. Follow-ups were planned. In some cases, next steps toward internships, projects, or mentorships were already in motion.

ITV America has successfully placed 13 LaunchPad fellows into roles within the company, including nine fellows working on the upcoming season of Hell's Kitchen and others serving as full-time employees in the office.
Networking Success: ITV hosted a "speed dating" event where fellows directly connected with department heads, which was cited as a highly successful outcome for facilitating mentorship and hiring.
Several students received DMCT Awards for their work, including categories for cinematic excellence and social impact, serving as a signal of high-quality output and project execution.
A sign of professional promise identified by speakers is when a candidate shows up with a pre-produced sizzle reel or a tangible project, demonstrating that they are bringing value to the table before asking for an opportunity.
Students who engage early in these initiatives by attending Summits and networking events show increased clarity in their career vision by the time they reach their senior year, compared to those who do not.

The LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards 2026 reinforced what the program is built around: access is only the beginning. What matters most is what participants are able to do with it once they are in the room.

At CoCREATE, that idea moved from concept to practice.

And for the young adults in attendance, it became something more concrete: a starting point.

About LaunchPad

LaunchPad is a workforce development platform and fellowship program focused on creating and activating real career opportunities for young adults. Through immersive experiences, industry access, and structured pathways into internships and jobs, LaunchPad connects emerging talent to the people, skills, and environments that help turn ambition into action.

Access in Action: Inside the LaunchPad Summit & DMCT Awards 2026