The Headhunters

Name: Susan Bishop
Title: President/CEO, Bishop Partners
Age: “Old enough.”
Years in Industry: 25+
Years left in Industry: “As many as they will have me!”

Name: Ann Carlsen
Title: Founder/CEO, Carlsen Resources, Inc.
Age: “One year older than last year.”
Years in Industry: “Still awaiting the results of the carbon dating.”

Name: Michele James
Title: Founder, James & Co
Age: “Version 3.0”
Years in Industry: “20-something.”
Years left in Industry: “Unlimited.”

Why Them? Bishop, Carlsen and James continue to prove invaluable behind-the-scenes players in the headhunting world. Bishop, a true entertainment, media and communications insider, has placed hundreds of senior level executives during the past 20 years. She’s recently worked with Comcast, MTV, Showtime, National Geographic Channel, and champions industrywide causes as an active member of WICT. Carlsen, who along with executives Renee Hauch and Jeannine Sommer is best known for remembering her executive clients are “real people,” also provides an impassioned voice for workplace diversity. Industry veteran James, who scored big this year doing simultaneous work for the NFL, NBA, NHL, Madison Square Garden, and the Jets/Giants, also gives back. She sits on the board of Cable Positive and has done pro bono work for the Cable Center, Walter Kaitz Foundation and CTAM.  CAO

Susan Bishop

I knew the cable industry was for me when: “I was living in Alaska in the late 1970’s, and helped to build the first MDS system there (one live channel), bringing live TV to the state for the first time. I was hooked! We later built the first cable system in Anchorage.”
The coolest new cable tech is: “SlingBox –love it!”
Person I most admire in the cable industry and why: “Geraldine Laybourne for all she has done for women in this industry.”
Top personal achievement in 2007: “Completed all course work (4 years) for PhD in Organizational Leadership. Just the dissertation to go!”
In my free time, I like to: “I don’t have any free time, but I would practice yoga and play tennis.”
Favorite city: “New York City, Paris”
Favorite sports team: “Cleveland Indians”
What is your favorite word? “Delicious”
What is your least favorite word? “Whatever”
What turns you on? “Intellect”
What turns you off? “Narcissism”
What sound do you love? “Rushing water (creek, ocean, thunderstorm).”
What sound do you hate? “Fingernails on chalkboard.”
What profession other than yours would like to attempt? “Actor”
What profession would you not like to participate in? “Air traffic control”
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? “I hope you have an explanation for being so late.”

Ann Carlsen

What is your favorite word? “Yes”
What is your least favorite word? “Never”
What turns you on? “Passionate people”
What turns you off? “Closed minds”
What sound do you love? “A screen door slamming on a hot summer night.”
What sound do you hate? “The screech of brakes.”
What profession other than yours would like to attempt? “National Geographic photographer”
What profession would you not like to participate in? “Accounting”
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?   “What you did mattered!” 

Michele James:

Top personal achievement in 2007: “Simultaneously executing searches for the NFL, NBA, NHL, Madison Square Garden, the Jets/Giants and Brooklyn Sports. James & Co. is a certified Women Owned Business.”
Person who I’d most like to work for: “Lisa Gersh, Judy McGrath, Kerry Chandler, Kathy Dore, President Hilary Clinton.”
In my free time, I like to: “What free time?”
Favorite restaurant: “The Four Seasons Grill Room”
Favorite piece of tech: “iPod playing Rhianna’s ‘Umbrella’.”
Least favorite piece of tech: “My mobile, it’s never fully charged.”
The world would be a better place if: “(1) all cable channels were HDTV, (2) I could push one button on the remote to watch it, and (3) the volume was the same when I changed channels.”

Click here to go to the next entry
Click here to go to the previous entry
Click here to return to the 2007 CableFAX 100 list