Jen Harriger

HTV Early Career Recruitment

Jen Harriger leads enterprise-wide early career strategy, programs, and partnerships for Hearst Television, designing and delivering initiatives that build strong, diverse talent pipelines across the company’s 26 markets. With a decade at Hearst, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her early career as a news anchor and reporter, experience that informs how she connects talent development with the real-world demands of broadcasting. Today, Jen oversees the strategy and execution of Hearst Television’s flagship early career initiatives, including the Summer Internship Program, Station Connect Events, and multiple fellowship and recruitment programs. She manages national university and industry partnerships, represents Hearst Television at recruitment and industry events nationwide, and advises stations on early career recruiting strategy and branding. Jen is passionate about creating access, opportunity, and scalable early career programs that work for both emerging talent and the business.

Nikita Wallace

Sr Manager, Veteran Hiring & Engagement

Nikita T. Wallace is a highly accomplished Senior Leader and retired Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant with over 30 years of experience in talent acquisition, professional development, and process improvement. Currently serving as the Senior Manager of Veteran Hiring & Engagement at Hearst, Nikita is a recognized expert in building high-impact talent pipelines that bridge the gap between military service and corporate success. Professional Journey Nikita’s career is defined by a "mission-first" mindset. During his 23-year tenure in the United States Marine Corps, he rose through the ranks as a meritorious leader, eventually serving as the Quality Control Chief for the 6th Marine Corps District. His military service was marked by elite performance, including being named "Company Honor Man" at Parris Island and leading the 6th District to win "Military Entrance Processing Station of the Year." Prior to his current position at Hearst, Nikita has revolutionized how organizations attract and retain diverse talent. At Spectrum, he oversaw the military veteran recruitment strategy and managed relationships with national partners, including Hiring Our Heroes and RecruitMilitary. His expertise lies in translating the complex language of military service (MOS, AFSC, SFSC, Ratings) into tangible corporate value, ensuring that veterans and military spouses find meaningful career pathways. Education & Honors Nikita is currently pursuing his MBA at Southern New Hampshire University (Expected 2026). He holds a B.S. and A.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia Southern University. His military decorations include two Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medals, five Navy Unit Commendations, two National Defense Medals, Global War on Terrorism Medal, four Certificates of Commendation, and four Recruiting Duty Ribbons. A resident of Charlotte, NC, Nikita is a devoted family man married to his wife, Tia, and a proud father to their son, Christian Alexander.

Kevin Kalia

WCVB-TV Director of Engineering

Kevin Kalia is the Director of Engineering for WCVB Channel 5, Hearst Television’s flagship station in Boston, where he oversees broadcast engineering operations, facilities, and technology platforms. A seasoned broadcast leader, Kalia joined WCVB after serving as Director of Engineering at WGAL in Lancaster, PA, where he guided the station through major technological innovation during the pandemic and led the largest renovation project in its history. His career also includes engineering and newsroom leadership roles at Hearst stations WYFF in Greenville, SC, and WTAE in Pittsburgh, PA, where he began as a news producer, as well as an early start at WTAJ in Altoona, PA. Known for his commitment to mentorship and community service, Kalia has built strong partnerships with schools and universities to support the next generation of media professionals. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies/Film & Television from Penn State University and is a member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

Madison Stewart

WGAL-TV Broadcast Technologist

Madison Stewart is a Broadcast Technologist at WGAL-TV, Hearst Television’s market-leading station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where she supports broadcast operations, production technology, and equipment systems essential to daily newsgathering. Her Hearst Television journey began as a Broadcast Technical Intern, followed by selection into the highly competitive Marty Faubell Broadcast Technology Fellowship, an early-career program focused on developing future broadcast engineering leaders. Her rapid growth reflects both her technical aptitude and Hearst Television’s strong commitment to cultivating early-career talent through immersive training, mentorship, and real-world experience.

Danny Hastaba

WPBF-TV Local Sales Manager, Director of SAA Training & Development at Hearst Television

Danny Hastaba is a seasoned media sales leader and Local Sales Manager at Hearst Television’s WPBF 25 in West Palm Beach, where he drives high-impact advertising strategies and leads top-performing sales teams. With a career spanning nearly two decades in broadcast and digital media, Danny has held roles from Marketing Consultant to National Sales Manager, blending traditional media expertise with cutting-edge digital solutions to grow revenue and cultivate client success. He’s also focused on developing talent and training sales professionals across the Hearst network. Danny holds degrees in Advertising and Business from the University of Tennessee and Auburn University.

Kelly Hoffman

WYFF-TV Creative Services Director

Kelly Hoffman is the Creative Services Director at WYFF-4, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina, where she leads the station’s promotional branding, cross-platform creative strategy, and digital marketing efforts. In this role since the early 2000s, Kelly drives initiatives that elevate WYFF’s visual identity and audience engagement, oversees creative and social media promotions, and collaborates with sales and production teams to craft compelling content across broadcast and digital platforms. Before stepping into leadership, she began her broadcast career in promotion writing and production at WYFF and gained additional experience as a Promotion Writer/Producer at ABC 6 WSYX-TV in Columbus, Ohio. A seasoned communicator with deep roots in television marketing, Kelly combines strategic creativity with decades of broadcast media experience to help shape and amplify the station’s brand in a competitive media landscape.

Christina McCormick

WJCL-TV Account Executive

Christina McCormick is an Account Executive at WJCL-TV in Savannah, Georgia, part of the Hearst Television family, where she partners with local and regional businesses to deliver high-impact advertising solutions across broadcast and digital platforms. She joined Hearst Television as a Sales Account Associate and quickly advanced into her current role, earning a reputation for strong client relationships, strategic insight, and results-driven campaigns. Christina’s career progression reflects both her sales acumen and Hearst Television’s commitment to developing and advancing talent within its local markets.

Justin Johnson

WVTM-TV Creative Services Director

Justin Johnson is the Creative Services Director at WVTM-13, Hearst Television’s NBC affiliate in Birmingham, where he leads station branding, promotion, and image strategy across news, weather, and special projects. In his role, Justin oversees creative campaigns that strengthen audience connection and reinforce WVTM’s position as a trusted local news leader, blending strategic thinking with strong visual storytelling. Prior to joining WVTM, Justin built a diverse background across broadcast media, creative production, and brand development, holding roles that sharpened his expertise in on-air promotion, marketing strategy, and cross-platform content. Known for his collaborative leadership style and sharp creative instincts, Justin brings both big-picture vision and hands-on execution to every project, helping teams translate journalism into compelling, audience-focused storytelling.

Akili Franklin

Hearst Television News Management Recruitment Director

Akili Franklin is a media industry leader and currently serves as Director, News Management Recruitment for Hearst Television, where she plays a key role in identifying, attracting, and developing newsroom leaders across the company’s news operations. In this corporate role, she also oversees the prestigious Fred Young Hearst Television Producing Fellowship, helping strengthen the pipeline of future broadcast news talent. Before stepping into recruitment leadership, Akili built a highly respected track record in local news management. She most recently served as News Director at WYFF-4 in Greenville-Spartanburg-Asheville, North Carolina, where she led the newsroom and helped guide coverage that earned national recognition, including an Edward R. Murrow Award. Prior to returning to WYFF, she was the News Director at WDSU in New Orleans, where under her leadership the station became the No. 1 local newscast in several dayparts and collected multiple Emmy, AP, and Louisiana Association of Broadcasters honors. Akili’s career with Hearst Television spans decades and includes leadership roles such as Assistant News Director at WVTM in Birmingham, as well as earlier newsroom positions at WYFF and News Producer roles at WPBF in West Palm Beach, FL. She is a graduate of Hampton University with a degree in mass communications.

Stephanie Linton

WESH-TV News Director

Stephanie Linton is the News Director of WESH-2/CW18 in Orlando, where she leads editorial strategy and newsroom operations for one of Central Florida’s major broadcast outlets. A seasoned news executive with more than two decades in television journalism, she has held leadership roles in multiple top markets, including News Director at WPBF-25 in West Palm Beach and senior newsroom positions at WFOR-TV in Miami, WSOC-TV in Charlotte, and KGO-TV in San Francisco. A graduate of the University of Florida, Stephanie is known for her steady leadership, strong editorial judgment, and commitment to impactful local journalism.