Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor

Government of the District of Columbia
Executive Office of the Mayor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Mafara Hobson
FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2007 PHONE: 202.727.2320 (office)
202.744.4549 (mobile)

MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY NAMES TWO
INTERIM DIRECTORS

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty named two interim directors to head the Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications (OCTT) and the Department of Employment Services (DOES).

The following interim appointments were named:

" Eric E. Richardson, Interim Director, Office of Cable Television and Telecommunications
" Susan O. Gilbert, Interim Director, Department of Employment Services

Eric E. Richardson, who previously served as both the director of programming and station manager for OCTT, will serve as interim director of the office. He has more than 15 years of experience in the radio and television industry. As director of programming, Mr. Richardson was responsible for the day-to-day management of all programming staff and the implementation of all television production plans. In the role of director of programming, he was responsible for the design and execution of the technical and programming infrastructure for the agency.

Prior to joining OCTT, Mr. Richardson worked for Howard University's PBS affiliate, WHUT-TV, as the director of broadcast services. He was responsible for the station's overall operations oversight capacity and supervised and coordinated the overall on-air product that included news, information and entertainment. Mr. Richards was also responsible for several station productions, website operations, news and programming staff, as well as for analyzing and interpreting audience data, and working with management to make programming decisions in response to audience research. After over a nine year absence, Mr. Richardson successfully implemented WHUT's on-air fundraising strategy in September of 2004. Additionally, he served as executive producer of Evening Exchange with Kojo Nnamdi and played a key role in the development and direction of such shows as The Tavis Smiley Show, Moneywise with Kelvin Boston, and White House Chronicles. .

Mr. Richardson is a member of the Board of Governors for the National Capital/Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences where he co-chairs the Student Affairs committee. Mr. Richardson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from The Manship School of Journalism at Louisiana State University.

Susan O. Gilbert will serve as the interim director of the Department of Employment Services (DOES). Ms. Gilbert began her career in the District government in 1981 as an analyst with DOES, specializing in employer services and initiatives focused on increasing employment opportunities for residents of the District of Columbia. Prior to joining DOES, Ms. Gilbert served as the Director of Wider Opportunities for Women, an organization that works on both the local and national levels to promote economic independence and long term self-sufficiency for women.

For the past several years, Ms. Gilbert has served as associate director for the DOES Office of Employer Services. In this role, she successfully spearheaded initiatives that maximized employment opportunities for District residents on major economic development projects such as the new Washington Convention Center, the Verizon Center, and the new Washington Nationals Stadium.

Ms. Gilbert has also assumed the very important role of directing the District's First Source Employment Program which requires businesses receiving District financing, including contracts and Industrial Revenue Bonds, to hire a set percentage of District residents. As First Source Director, she has negotiated effective employment agreements with employers receiving District government contracts and other financial assistance. Under her leadership in 2006, the First Source program executed 1,015 Employment Agreements which produced more than 3,800 job openings. More than 2,400 District residents were placed in jobs resulting from First Source Employment Agreements.

Ms. Gilbert, who is a resident of the District of Columbia, has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin and received a master's degree from the University of London, London, England.

For more information visit the agency's website:
http://www.octt.dc.gov