Michael Levine is President of ML Search Partners, the company he founded in 1990. His firm’s clientele includes major media organizations involved with cable and broadcast television, theatrical studios, publishing and digital media. He recruits top executives in marketing, programming, digital media and general management and over the course of his career has placed numerous leaders around our industry. Mike spent the decade leading up to the launch of his own firm as a recruiter specializing in marketing services.

Prior to executive search, Mike was a psychologist for a joint New York State program where he worked with children and their families to prevent institutionalization and foster mainstreaming. He also served as a placement counselor in a rehabilitation agency for the physical, emotional and mentally handicapped, where he worked with local industry to create jobs for his clients in the community. Mike has also managed not-for-profit arts groups.

Chris McCumber was named executive vice president of marketing and brand strategy in December 2007, after holding the title of senior vice president since November 2004. In this position, he is responsible for the overall strategic and creative vision for USA Network marketing, as well as overseeing all expressions of the network brand, including consumer marketing and media planning, on- and off-air creative advertising, interstitial programming and all digital efforts. McCumber also serves as executive in charge of all WWE programming, and has recently added integrated sales marketing to his responsibilities.

Charged with unprecedented brand transformation at USA, McCumber oversaw development and execution of the first comprehensive multiplatform brand identity for USA in its 30-year history. “Characters Welcome” has won multiple accolades, including Addys for the multi-tiered campaign and a Clio for design. His digital team launched a television first –ShowUsYourCharacter.com, the first-ever social networking site for a television network – and he also spearheads all of USA's digital efforts, including usanetwork.com, mobile, electronic sell-through, and VOD/SVOD marketing initiatives. In 2007, usanetwork.com won a total of 5 Web Marketing Association Awards, the most for any single media or entertainment property, including the "Best of Industry" awards for the Best Media Website and the Best TV Website. USA recently entered the online casual gaming category with the launch of the USA Character Game Lounge.

In 2007, McCumber was responsible for one of USA's biggest and most innovative marketing efforts to date for the Emmy-award winning original television event THE STARTER WIFE, consisting of a multi-layered 360° branding campaign that comprised a massive marketing blitz, grassroots/guerilla outreach, promotional partnerships with brands including POND’S (the exclusive presenting sponsor) and Simon & Schuster, a huge digital initiative and extensive product integration.

Stephen M. Pollan is a consultant who also serves as a professional coach, financial adviser, career counselor and practicing attorney. He is a best-selling author who brings more than four decades of real-world experience to helping clients with the "business of living." He has counseled, guided and mentored hundreds of people — including corporate leaders, world-class athletes, and professionals in the arts — and, in the process, has earned national recognition as a trusted adviser.

Stephen has counseled his clients on virtually every aspect of their lives, including investing, personal relationships and parenting. His philosophy is straightforward: He believes that attitude and persistence are the foundations for success. He applies a holistic approach, and customizes his services for each of his clients.

Appreciating that new clients may feel anxiety about their life direction or a crossroads decision, Stephen mitigates such concerns through sound reassurance. In this way, he has earned the reputation that's reflected by a sign on his desk: "Professional Fear Remover."

Gary Schuman is a consulting psychologist and president of CDL Consulting, Inc., a human resources consulting and training firm. He received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Florida State University.

Dr. Schuman is a frequent speaker on the topics of change, management, coaching, leadership, and career development. He designs and implements leadership and coaching efforts, large-scale change interventions and team building sessions.

Dr. Schuman has worked in organizations such as Apple Computer, Caterpillar Inc., Fidelity Investments, The Gap, Hallmark Cards, MTV Networks, NASD, Paramount Pictures, Rockwell Automation, Simon & Schuster, Viacom, and Volvo Cars of North America.

He has produced a video called The Art Of Coaching In Business, in which he interviews Jack Nicklaus and Herb Kelleher, among others. He has designed several unique workshops and is the creator of several feedback instruments.

Niels Schuurmans is Senior Vice President, and Creative Director at Spike TV. Schuurmans is responsible for all of the network's on-air and off-air look and sound, as well as its print media creative. He is also responsible for managing all creative aspects relating to the visual presentation of the network. Schuurmans reports to Kevin Kay, General Manager of Spike TV.

Schuurmans has been part of the MTV Networks family since 1990, most recently as Senior Vice President, On-Air Creative where he oversaw the creative teams that developed and created Nickelodeon's overall brand identity, Nickelodeon's LIVE and Daypart Packaging, Tune-in Promotion and on-air theatrical movie marketing as well as a variety of special events and program specific on-air creative.

During Schuurmans’ tenure at Nickelodeon, he has been an on-air promotion producer for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Nick@Nite, and has also worked as a show producer. Additionally, he spent several years abroad bringing Nickelodeon and Nick@Nite to people around the world where he served as Vice President, Creative Director, On-Air for Nickelodeon Europe and Creative Director for Nickelodeon UK. In that capacity, Schuurmans was responsible for the on-air creative direction for Nickelodeon's new businesses in Europe and managed the creative direction, presentation and on-air promotions of Nickelodeon UK, overseeing all in-house original production. Prior to joining MTV Networks, Schuurmans served as the Head of On-Air Creative at The Cartoon Network where he worked to set up the creative department and helped develop the Cartoon Network Brand.