Former ABC executive to speak at Rockford College commencement
Friday, April 16, 2010
For immediate release – 5/16/10
Contact: Chuck Brown, Communications, 815-226-3374
Mark
Pedowitz, the former head of ABC Studios under whose leadership such
shows as "Lost,” "Desperate Housewives” and "Grey’s Anatomy” were
created, was the keynote speaker at Rockford College’s commencement
this afternoon at the Coronado Theatre.
Degrees were awarded
to 407 students from 16 states and seven countries. There were 224
baccalaureate degrees awarded, along with 157 MAT and 26 MBA degrees.
Honorary degrees were given to Pedowitz and to Ray Wood, president of
the college’s board of trustees.
Pedowitz, a 1974 Rockford
College graduate, recently left parent company Disney-ABC to pursue a
deal with Warner Bros. TV to produce shows through his own production
company, Pine Street Entertainment.
During his 19 years with
Disney-ABC, Pedowitz held a variety of positions. He joined ABC in 1991
as senior vice president, where he negotiated agreements to acquire
programming across the network. He headed the department in 1996 and
was promoted in 1999 to executive vice president, ABC Entertainment
Television Group, where he oversaw all business for ABC Primetime and
Touchstone Television, as well as affairs for ABC Daytime.
Other
shows created under his watch included "Ugly Betty,” "Scrubs,”
"Criminal Minds,” "Brothers & Sisters,” "According to Jim,” "Ghost
Whisperer,” "Private Practice,” "Flash Forward,” and "Cougar Town.”
Most
recently, Pedowitz had served as senior advisor to the co-chair of
Disney-Media networks and Disney/ABC Television Group, where he was
involved in evolving business, labor relations, and emerging media
issues. He currently sits on the board of directors for BMI and the
board of the Foundation for the Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Pedowitz has been active in Rockford College alumni activities and earned an alumni award of distinction in 2009.
Also
at the commencement, retiring faculty members Christine Bruun,
psychology, and Phil Hjemboe, library, were granted emeritus status.
For the first time, the event was streamed live on the college’s Web
site.
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