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Deon Cole is a comedian, writer, and actor, who can be seen in the title role of BET+’s dark comedy series, AVERAGE JOE, from McG, which has garnered incredible reviews from Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly. Most recently, Deon can be seen in THE MADNESS, a political drama-thriller for Netflix, from Clement Virgo and VJ Boyd, produced by Chernin, and starring Colman Domingo. Additionally, he can be seen in Blitz Bazawule’s critically acclaimed remake of THE COLOR PURPLE, the film scored 16 nominations at the 55th NAACP Image Awards, winning 11, including Outstanding Motion Picture. Before that, Deon starred in Jeymes Samuel’s THE HARDER THEY FALL for Netflix opposite Idris Elba, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, and LaKeith Stanfield. Deon was featured in Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill’s YOU PEOPLE for Netflix, acting opposite Jonah Hill, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Eddie Murphy.
Deon was previously seen as Charlie on ABC’s BLACK-ISH and Freeform’s GROWNISH. For his work on BLACK-ISH, Deon won three consecutive Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series awards at the 2020, 2021, and 2022 NAACP Image Awards. Deon can be heard as the voice of Dave, for DreamWorks Animation’s Netflix series, KIPO AND THE AGE OF WONDERBEASTS. Previously, he starred as Detective Daniel “DJ” Tanner on the TBS comedy ANGIE TRIBECA opposite Rashida Jones. Additionally, Deon was featured in the Ice Cube-led BARBERSHOP series. Next, Deon can be heard as a voice in the BET+ animated series, LIL KEV, opposite Kevin Hart and Wanda Sykes.
In standup, Deon recently released his third one-hour special for Netflix, OK, MISTER. His previous special, CHARLEEN’S BOY, was released by Netflix in 2022. His earlier special, COLE HEARTED, also for Netflix, was released in 2019 after the success of his appearance in Netflix’s THE STANDUPS. His previous one-hour special, DEON COLE’S: COLE BLOODED SEMINAR was shot for Comedy Central. His stand-up documentary, WORKIN’ IT OUT, debuted exclusively on Netflix is a Joke’s YouTube channel, and has garnered 6 million views on social media, and 2.4 million views on YouTube alone.
naacp Executives
Leon W. Russell has dedicated his life to fighting for human rights and has served on the National Board of Directors since 1990 in various roles, including Assistant Secretary, Chair of the Convention Planning Committee, and Vice Chair. His peers recognized his decades of work and leadership when they elected him as chair in 2017.
Before joining the board, Russell served as president of the NAACP Florida State Conference of Branches for 4 years after serving for 15 years as the first vice president.
After 35 years of public service as the Director of the Office of Human Rights for Pinellas County in Clearwater, Florida, Russell retired in 2012. During his time as a civil servant he was responsible for implementing the county’s affirmative action and human rights ordinances. These ordinances continue to ensure a racially and sexually diverse workforce and support the implementation of the county’s equal employment opportunity programs.
From 2007 to 2011, Russell served as President of the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies (IAOHRA). The IAOHRA membership consists of statutory human and civil rights agencies throughout the United States and Canada and other nations. These agencies enforce state and local civil rights laws and are actively engaged in reducing and resolving intergroup tension and promoting intergroup relations.
As part of his lifelong work and leadership, Russell has served as a member of several organizations including the International City Management Association and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. He served as a board member of the Pinellas Opportunity Council, president and board member of the National Association of Human Rights Workers, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Campaign of Florida.
As the Chairman of Floridians Representing Equity and Equality (FREE), a statewide coalition, Russel worked to oppose the Florida Civil Rights Initiative, an anti-affirmative action proposal. Ultimately, the initiative failed to get on the Florida ballot for voter consideration, because of the strong legal challenge spearheaded by FREE.
Russell has received numerous civic awards and citations for his work ensuring equality and equity across the U.S.
Derrick Johnson serves as President and CEO of the NAACP, a title he has held since October of 2017. President Johnson formerly served as vice chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, as well as state president for the Mississippi State Conference NAACP. A longstanding member and leader of the NAACP, Mr. Johnson has helped guide the Association through a period of re-envisioning and reinvigoration.
Under President Johnson’s leadership, the NAACP has undertaken such efforts as the 2018 “Log Out” Facebook Campaign, pressuring Facebook after reports of Russian hackers targeting African Americans, the Jamestown to Jamestown Partnership, marking the 400th year enslaved Africans first touched the shores of America, and the 2020 We are Done Dying Campaign, exposing the inequities embedded into the American healthcare system and the country at large.
As the Biden Administration took office in 2021, President Johnson led the charge in calling for a Cabinet-level position focused squarely on advancing our nation’s longstanding issue of racial justice. President Biden signed an Executive Order establishing an interagency effort to eliminate systemic racial barriers and ensuring federal policies are rooted in equity, optimizing the well-being of all in public policies.
President Johnson also continues to be on the frontlines on some of the most pressing civil rights issues of our time, calling out Virginia Governor Ralph Northam for his use of Blackface, condemning the burning of Black churches in Tennessee and Louisiana, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Attorney General William Barr’s nomination, and overseeing the NAACP’s vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump at the 110th National Convention in Detroit.
President Johnson elevated the Association’s visibility and voice as we called for a national response to the coronavirus pandemic that was informed by existing racial disparities in health care outcomes, access, coverage and services, as well as the disparate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and other people of color.
Recognizing the critical importance of quality health care, he has long advocated for expanded Medicaid eligibility, affordable health insurance options, and investment in community-based health care infrastructure through a strong network of equitably-located, well-resourced community health centers.
Born in Detroit, Mr. Johnson attended Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS. He then received his JD from the South Texas College of Law in Houston, TX. Mr. Johnson has also furthered his training through fellowships with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the George Washington University School of Political Management, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He has served as an annual guest lecturer at Harvard Law School, lending his expertise to Professor Lani Guinier’s course on social movements, and as an adjunct professor at Tougaloo College.
Mr. Johnson is a veteran activist who has dedicated his career to defending the rights and improving the lives of Mississippians. As State President of the NAACP Mississippi State Conference, he led critical campaigns for voting rights and equitable education. He successfully managed two bond referendum campaigns in Jackson, MS that brought $150 million in school building improvements and $65 million towards the construction of a new convention center, respectively. As a regional organizer at the Jackson-based non-profit, Southern Echo, Inc., Mr. Johnson provided legal, technical, and training support for communities across the South.
President Johnson is frequently featured on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC and many others, advocating on behalf of the Black community and all those who are affected by systemic oppression and prejudice.
Karen Boykin-Towns built a reputation as a visionary and driver of strategic results. She brings demonstrated success in the areas of policy, advocacy, communications and proactive change management to NAACP in her role as Vice Chair of the National Board of Directors. Her goal is to apply and share her experience to make positive change. She now serves as Founder and President/CEO of Encore Strategies LLC a boutique consultancy focusing on integrating business and public affairs initiatives. A distinguished strategist, global business, and civic leader, Boykin-Towns previously contributed her expertise across government, the nonprofit sector, and Pfizer a Fortune 50 global biopharmaceutical company, while also championing civil rights and social justice issues.
At Pfizer, Boykin-Towns advanced quickly into executive management roles. She was recruited as a senior legislative analyst based on her reputation for success in state government and held key leadership roles in public affairs, government relations, global policy, and human resources. Based on her positive impact driving change across the organization, in 2008 she was selected by Pfizer’s CEO to serve as its first Chief Diversity Officer. In this role, she successfully developed an integrated, global strategy resulting in internal progress and external recognition of the company’s advances in diversity and inclusion as a competitive advantage. Boykin-Towns concluded her time at Pfizer as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for their $34 billion Innovative Medicines business where she served as a member of the Senior Leadership Committee which consisted of the top 200 leaders in the global organization.
Embracing her passion for policy and politics, Boykin-Towns’ early career involved serving as legislative director and then chief of staff to New York State Senator David Paterson who later became the 55th Governor of New York. In this role, she led the strategy and execution of legislative efforts related to civil and human rights, community development, and environmental issues.
Boykin-Towns leverages her talent as a coalition builder and social change agent through her active participation in various organizations. Along with her work with the NAACP where she is a Diamond member, Karen serves on the boards of several organizations including American Airlines Community Council; Visiting Nurse Services; Brewster Academy, and independent director for iFIT, maker of NordicTrack. She also serves as senior advisor for FGS Global and was co-executive producer for the 53rd NAACP Image Awards show.
Karen has been featured in Black Enterprise, Bloomberg Businessweek, Black Entertainment Television, PR Week, WWD, Ebony Magazine, Crain’s, African American Career World, Network Journal and The Cut. Savoy Magazine named her a “Top Influential Woman in Corporate America” in 2016. In 2020, she was named “Woman of the Year” by Seeds of Fortune and named by City & State as one of New York’s Power Players in Politics and Government. In 2021 Karen was selected for Lafayette 148’s Unordinary Women Campaign.
Karen Boykin-Towns holds an MBA degree from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College of the City University of New York (CUNY), as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Mount Saint Vincent. A mother of two young women, Boykin-Towns is married to former State Assemblyman Darryl Towns and lives in Brooklyn, NY, and Charlotte, NC.
BET Executives
Louis Carr is the President of BET, a role he assumed in December 2025 after nearly four decades of transformative leadership within the company. Across his 39-year tenure, Carr has helped shape BET into the premier media destination for Black audiences worldwide, driving culture, impact, and community empowerment at every step.
Before becoming President of BET, Carr served as President of Media Sales, where he redefined the multicultural space for some of the world’s biggest brands and stimulated over $10B in advertising sales. Through strategic partnerships with corporations like Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Unilever, McDonald’s, Meta, Toyota, and many more, he has been a guide and a consultant on opportunities that exist within Black and brown communities.
Through his deep understanding of linear TV, digital, and social platforms, he has made BET Networks the number one brand and choice for Black consumers. Carr’s mantra, “Be led by data and insights,” has driven BET to have the largest repository of information on Black consumers than any other media company worldwide. His understanding of this data has inspired him to create content and messages that help marketers sell products and services and help them become good corporate citizens.
In addition to Carr’s stellar professional career, he has had a long-term commitment to young people and his community. Carr founded the Louis Carr Internship Foundation (LCIF) 23 years ago to help improve diversity in corporate America through paid internships. The foundation has provided 300+ paid internships, in which 70 alumni now have full-time jobs within the industry. Staying true to his commitment of giving back, Carr launched his latest brand called WayMaker. He proposed this initiative to help provide direction, wisdom, and inspiration to people wanting to grow their lives and change the world. Through the quarterly WayMaker Journal and other avenues, the umbrella brand offers insight from subject matter experts across a wide range of fields. He has also created the WayMaker Men’s Summit (formerly known as The Blueprint Men’s Summit) and The Blueprint Connect Podcast, which bring together some of Black America’s high-profile thought leaders to educate Black men in the areas of Finance, Health, Careers, Relationships, and Entrepreneurship.
Carr has authored two books, Dirty Little Secrets and Little Black Book: Daily Motivations for Business and Personal Growth. He openly lays out his blueprint to greatness, covering much-needed topics like Leadership, Culture, Strategy, Vision, Success, and Diversity.
In 2023, Carr was inducted into the Advertising Hall of Fame and received the Chicago Advertising Federation (CAF) Silver Medal Award the same year. Carr has been recognized by the boardiQ as a Top 100 Hall of Fame African American and was named one of the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy Magazine. He has served on numerous advertising industry boards, including the International Radio and Television Society (IRTS), the Video Advertising Bureau (VAB), the Advertising Council, and the American Advertising Federation (AAF). Currently, he holds positions on Six Flags’ Board of Directors, Drake University’s Board of Trustees, and the United States Track and Field Foundation (USATF) Board. In 2024, Carr was honored with the Social Impact Award by the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), alongside his Executive BET peers. Most recently, the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum recognized him with a Chicago Men’s Fashion Award, in appreciation of his personal style and dedication to men’s fashion.
Mr. Carr attended Drake University on a full athletic scholarship and received a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. He has been happily married for 39 years. For more information, visit iamlouiscarr.com or follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @iamlouiscarr and Louis Carr on LinkedIn.
Aisha Summers Burke’s passion for finding diverse, inclusive stories and placing them on the right platform has established her as one of the leading voices in the industry. She works closely with some of the most coveted writers and producers, helping to hone their ideas for the cable and streaming marketplace. Recognized for her hard work, intuition, and ability to cultivate a protective, trusted environment, Aisha is perhaps best known for her innate talent for discovering and nurturing new writing and producing voices.
Currently, Aisha serves as EVP, Head of Creative at BET Studios, now a label within CBS Studios. In this role, she has positioned BET Studios as a trailblazing destination for premium content by creators of color, continuing to build its reputation as an industry leader in diverse storytelling. Under her leadership, the studio has made deals with high-profile creators such as Kenya Barris, Taraji P. Henson, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, and Jenifer Rice-Genzuk Henry, further cementing its influence in Hollywood.
BET Studios made a powerful entrance with its first series, DIARRA FROM DETROIT, which premiered on BET+ in March 2024 and quickly drew critical acclaim, high praise, and nominations from the NAACP Image Awards, GLAAD Media Awards, and Film Independent Spirit Awards. The studio also executive-produced the documentary THE DEBUTANTES alongside NBCU News Studios and Westbrook Studios. Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Contessa Gayles, the film follows a group of Black girls revitalizing the debutante ball tradition and premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival. BET Studios is also involved in the Hulu pilot GROUP CHAT, executive- produced by Kenya Barris and Kim Kardashian, underscoring the studio’s expansion into high- profile, pop-culture-relevant projects.
Previously, Aisha was a respected creative executive at Warner Bros. Television, where she played an integral role in landing overall writing and producing deals with Cord Jefferson, Robin Thede, Matthew Cherry, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and other remarkable creators. Prior to that, at Warner Horizon Scripted Television, she was the development executive behind OWN’s LOVE IS, as well as KINGS OF NAPA, Netflix’s MEDICAL POLICE, Epix’s PENNYWORTH, HBO Max’s DMZ, and the hit series THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.
Before rejoining the Warner Bros. Group in 2017, Aisha was part of the creative Drama Development & Programming team at FOX Broadcasting Company, where she managed multiple development projects per year, covering top dramas such as EMPIRE, as well as STAR, SCREAM QUEENS, LUCIFER, and LETHAL WEAPON. She began her executive career at Warner Bros. Television in Development in 2012, where she applied her passion for emerging talent to both the Studio and WBTV’s experimental program, Fresh Ink.
Aisha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Theatre Arts from Howard University and earned her Master of Fine Arts in Film & Television Producing from UCLA in 2011. Her proudest accomplishment remains her beautiful family: husband Curtis and twins Malachi and Isabelle.
Constance M. Orlando is an award-winning media executive recently named Executive Vice President of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc.. A pop culture visionary, Ms. Orlando oversees all genres of original programming, including scripted offerings “The Quad,” “Being Mary Jane,” and specials including, Black Girls Rock! and ratings juggernaut BET Awards. Ms. Orlando also leads the BET News department, overseeing critically acclaimed specials on Ferguson and Baltimore. She also ushered BET into the documentary space with BET Truth Series, which in its inaugural year produced award-winning projects Katrina 10 Years Later, Muhammad Ali: The People’s Champ and Stay Woke.
Ms. Orlando previous roles with BET include Senior Vice President of Specials, Music Programming and News, and VP of Original Programming. Ms. Orlando was part of the network’s largest expansion into original programming in its history. Her ability to lead, inspire and create hits resulted in a list of accomplishments including BET Presents: Love & Happiness, an Obama Celebration, Sunday Best, TD Jakes Presents: Mind, Body, & Soul, The Steve Harvey Project, Monica: Still Standing and scripted series The Game, which scored record-breaking ratings.
Ms. Orlando is Executive Producer of all tentpole events, including the BET Awards, the #1 program in cable television history among AA viewers and a top 10 awards show on television amongst total viewers.
Prior to joining BET Networks, the Syracuse University graduate ran her own full service production company, CMO Productions, Inc. While running CMO, Orlando served as Executive Producer of award-winning director Hype Williams’ Big Dog Films. Among CMO’s crowning triumphs was a partnership with music icon and businessman Jay-Z to produce the first of its kind, direct-to-video movie soundtrack The Streets Is Watching.
Outside of work, Orlando is passionate about advocating for and providing support to women and children in need, so in 1998 she launched a non-profit foundation, ‘Just The Girls’. She also serves on the Advisory Board for Clark Atlanta University’s TV department as the Programming Committee Chair. Orlando accolades include NAMIC’s “Top 40 Under 40”. Her work has earned her nine NAACP Image Awards (“The Mo’Nique Show” 2010, “Sunday Best” 2011, “Black Girls Rock!” 2012/2013/2014/2016, “The Game” 2012, “Ali: The People’s Champ” 2015, and Love & Happiness: an Obama celebration 2016), and five NAMIC Vision Awards (“Black Girls Rock!”).
show producers
Oscar, and Emmy nominated director and producer Reginald Hudlin is one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation. Hudlin’s first feature film was House Party, which was recently inducted into the National Film Registry. Hudlin also directed the movies Boomerang and Candy Cane Lane with Eddie Murphy, Marshall with Chadwick Boseman and the award-winning documentaries The Black Godfather and Sidney. In addition, Hudlin produced the Oscar-Winning Django Unchained and the animated hit Bebe’s Kids.
Hudlin’s latest movie, Number One On The Call Sheet, debuts in March on Apple+.
Hudlin is the second African American to executive produce the Oscars® (2016) and the first African American to executive produce the Emmys® (2020, 2021, 2022). This is his 13th year as executive producer of the NAACP Image Awards.
As a comic book writer, Hudlin created award-winning runs on The Black Panther and Spiderman and is an owner of Milestone Media, which features characters like Static Shock.
Hudlin has been honored by numerous esteemed organizations including the NAACP, The American Civil Liberties Union, The United Negro College Fund, The Sundance Film Festival, The American Film Institute, The San Diego Comic-Con, The African American Film Critics Association, The Critics’ Choice Awards, and many more venerable organizations.
Phil Gurin is an award-winning Producer, Writer, Creator, and President/CEO of The Gurin Company (www.gurinco.com) and TGC Global Entertainment (www.tgc-global.com).
He is honored to be Executive Producer and Writer on this his 13th NAACP Image Awards with Reggie Hudlin and Byron Phillips.
He is known for his exceptional ability to create, acquire, sell, produce, and distribute entertainment programs across the globe. Gurin won four Primetime Emmy Awards for ABC’s Shark Tank, an international Rose d’Or (Golden Rose) for the physical comedy game show Oh Sit!, and a Gold Telly Award for the 50th NAACP Image Awards. His musical game show The Singing Bee remains one of the Top 50 most produced original formats worldwide. In 2025, Gurin received the prestigious International Formats Business Gold Award in Cannes, France for his contributions to the global format industry.
With a career spanning more than 3,000 hours of television seen in over 185 countries, Gurin has contributed to the producing, writing or creation of a vast array of formats and specials, including Canada’s Ultimate Challenge, Fridge Wars, Weakest Link, Lingo, Test The Nation, Candid Camera, Double Dare, Remote Control, Before They Were Stars, Your Chance To Dance, Dancing Fools, Wanna Bet?, All-New 3’s A Crowd, Make The Grade, Win, Lose or Pawn, So You Think You’d Survive, Split Second Decision, FOX’s New Year’s Eve Live, Women Rock, US Olympic Hall of Fame, KISS: Live, Friday Night Vibes, Honoring Our Kings: A Celebration of Black Fatherhood, Holocaust: The Revenge Plot, When Cameras Cross the Line, World’s Most Incredible Animal Rescues, Hollywood’s Greatest Stunts, The Swap Project, Miss America, Miss Teen USA and for 8 years both Miss USA and Miss Universe.
Gurin is currently honored to be a Governor of the Television Academy for the Producer’s Peer Group and is both a member of the Executive Committee and Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee. For 10 years he served on the TV Academy Honors committee (producing its first 10 award shows), and he has produced 3 TV Academy Hall of Fame award shows.
In 2024 he launched TGC Global Entertainment, an independent distribution company specializing in formats, entertainment, factual content, and documentaries from all over the world.
For 11 years Gurin was Chairman of FRAPA (the Format Recognition and Protection Association), an international non-profit organization focused on global recognition of intellectual property throughout the television industry. He was on the Board of Directors for NATPE (National Association of Television Program Executives) for 15 years.
He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, Producers Guild of America and Directors Guild of America.
A frequent speaker, panel moderator, awards competition judge, and editorial writer, Gurin regularly shares his expertise on the world of formats and the international television business.
Outside of television, he is the owner/proprietor of The Gurin Wines, producing high-quality California wines (visit www.gurinwines.com).
Gurin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
Byron Phillips has developed and produced Award winning content across all major media platforms, including television, film, music, digital, and gaming.
Most recently, he served as executive producer on NUMBER ONE ON THE CALL SHEET an upcoming Apple documentary exploring the lives and careers of the top Black feature film stars, Phillips was also executive producer on PHAT TUESDAYS, a three-part docuseries about the legendary black comedy night at the Comedy Store, as well as the award winning feature documentary BLACK GODFATHER , a Netflix feature documentary about the life of Clarence Avant.
In the television space, Phillips executive produced the 72nd, 73rd, and 74th EMMYS as well as the last 13 NAACP Image Awards. Previously Phillips produced HONORING OUR KINGS, a Father’s Day special, along with Oprah Winfrey, and BEAR WITNESS, TAKE ACTION 1&2, a Youtube social justice special, and FRIDAY NIGHT VIBES a variety/talk show hosted by Tiffany Haddish, and a reboot of SHOWTIME AT THE APOLLO hosted by Steve Harvey.
Phillips previously served as Executive youVice President of Entertainment for BET Networks (a Viacom company). In that capacity, he and director-producer Reginald Hudlin oversaw the development and production of all network content. Together, they created BET’s first original programming slate and oversaw the production of over 50 shows.
Prior to BET, Phillips served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Hollywood Records (a Disney company), where he oversaw development, recording, marketing, and promotion for all recording artists.