Jha's Rule: New NAMIC Chief Doesn't Look Back

The extra time NAMIC gave companies to respond to its minority employment research survey resulted in 4 more participants, for a total of 15. The original deadline of Sept 10 ’04 was extended to Dec 15. "We had 14 [companies] last time. Given the consolidation in the industry, we think that’s a step forward," new NAMIC pres Manish Jha says (diplomatically, we believe). Yet he admits more companies would have been desirable. 15 companies is fewer than half the number that participated in WICT’s most recent PAR study, which examined pay equity, advancement opportunities and resources for women. While predecessor Jenny Alonzo of Lifetime was vocal in her disappointment over the low turnout for the NAMIC study (Cfax, 11/21/04), ESPN’s Jha is soft-spoken and won’t compare NAMIC’s survey with WICT’s: the methodology, the companies targeted, etc may differ, he says. Instead he’s focuses on "what we’re doing at NAMIC now vs how we’ve done it in the past." Indeed, NAMIC is developing organizational strength, planning to add as many 8-9 staffers, thanks in part to a Kaitz grant. The new full-time positions cover a variety of areas, including research, member development and fundraising. The new staff will support NAMIC’s mentoring program and "help us become a little more self sufficient," Jha says. "To realize long-term organizational growth, we need an associated fundraising strategy. Heretofore, we’ve been extremely lucky in having tremendous support from industry companies. We think this effort by Kaitz will really take our game to a whole new level." NAMIC held a strategic planning meeting last week to discuss the staff positions and goals. Among the possibilities is development of a 2nd Executive Leadership Development program. The current program is open only to execs at the director-level and higher, and is held in L.A. The 2nd program could be for more execs and held on the east coast (probably NY). As for NAMIC’s minority survey, Jha says results may be released as early as the National Show.