Schedule of Events

Check out the awesome conversations and panels attendees will be able to see at this year’s MVJ Convention! Please note: this event schedule is subject to change.

Thursday 3 Oct

5:30 pm

MVJ24 Keynote Speech

Priya SridharBrooklyn Brewery

Join us at the MVJ24 Opening Reception to hear from this year's keynote speaker, NBCUniversal reporter and MVJ Board member Priya Sridhar!

**Priya Sridhar** is an Emmy-award winning Atlanta-based reporter for NBC News. Prior to her current role, she was a political reporter at NBC7 San Diego and a reporter at KPBS, where she worked as a general assignment reporter and fill-in host for the station’s radio and television programs.
Priya has worked as an investigative and general assignment reporter for the CBS affiliate in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to local news, Priya has worked as a White House correspondent and morning show co-host in New York City for Arise News, a 24 hour international news channel headquartered out of Nigeria. She has also worked as a Washington correspondent and anchor for RT and went on to work for that channel as a South Asia bureau chief and correspondent posted in New Delhi, India.
She began her career at the NBC affiliates in Maine and has also worked at the Associated Press in Chicago. Priya received her undergraduate degree in International Relations and History from Bowdoin College and a master’s degree in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
Some of the most impactful stories she’s covered in her career include the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri for the Associated Press and the historic 2015 presidential elections in Nigeria.
Priya is originally from outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She is an officer in the United States Navy Reserve and fell in love with San Diego through her work in the Navy. She is the co-President of Asian American Journalists Association San Diego, on the board of directors for Military Veterans in Journalism, and was selected to be a term member with the Council on Foreign Relations.

Thu 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

6:30 pm

MVJ24 Opening Reception

Brooklyn Brewery: Packaging Room

Thu 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Friday 4 Oct

9:00 am

MVJ24 DAV Career Fair: Day 1

Brooklyn Brewery

Fri 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

9:15 am

Veterans in Politics and Political Coverage

Jackie Garrick, Moises Montalvo, Rye Barcott, Zachary Iscol (speaking in personal capacity), Moderator: Lucy BustamanteBrooklyn Brewery: Tasting Room

Moderated by news anchor Lucy Bustamante, this panel promises a dynamic discussion on the unique role veterans play in shaping and covering politics. Panelists will explore the valuable perspectives military veterans bring to political leadership and political journalism, offering insights into how their experiences enhance understanding of complex political issues. Whether serving in office or reporting on the latest developments, veterans contribute essential viewpoints that enrich both governance and media coverage while also building trust in these critical institutions.

Brought to you by the With Honor Institute.

**Jackie Garrick** is a policy and program expert and the founder of Whistleblowers of America with 30 years of service to the military/veteran community. She was a political appointee at the Pentagon for eight years, setting up personnel programs for Wounded Warriors and the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. She established a crisis hotline in Afghanistan and later investigated issues related to diversity and inclusion and NO FEAR Act violations. While working for the Defense Department that Ms. Garrick blew the whistle on fraud, waste, and abuse and suffered retaliation. Before that, she worked for the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Disability Assistance, and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, drafting legislation to assist disabled veterans and their families. Ms. Garrick is a former Army social work officer. She has used her clinical knowledge to inform her advocacy and intervention work with The American Legion as the Deputy Director for Health Care and then with the Veterans" Disability Benefits Commission. She has several prestigious awards, including the Lincoln Award and a Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service. Ms. Garrick has published books and several articles and has appeared worldwide as a health and resilience expert. She founded the FAR Group after 9/11 and continues to offer consulting services. Her MSW is from Temple University.

**Moises Montalvo** is a U.S. Army veteran, former human intelligence collector, and Arabic linguist who graduated from the prestigious Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center at the Presidio of Monterey, CA. After serving in the military, Moises has continued to make a difference by organizing with Common Defense and advocating for a wide range of issues, including racial justice, protecting our democracy, the environment, and poverty. He was also part of the first Climate Change cohort of the Veterans Organizing Institute and recently completed their first-ever train-the-trainer program. Moises has now joined the facilitation team at the Veterans Organizing Institute, helping to train and inspire the next generation of veteran organizers. Through his dedication and leadership, Moises has become a respected voice in the veteran community and an example of what it means to serve your country in and out of uniform.

**Rye Barcott** is co-founder and CEO of With Honor, a cross-partisan political organization led by veterans focused on promoting and advancing principled veteran leadership to reduce polarization in the U.S. Congress. Previously, he co-founded and led the clean energy investment firm Double Time Capital, and co-founded the non-governmental public health organization CFK in Nairobi, Kenya. His memoir, It Happened on the Way to War, juxtaposes military service and social entrepreneurship. Barcott serves on the boards of the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation, NDI, and the U.S. Institute for Peace. He chairs the board of CFK.

**Zach Iscol** serves as New York City’s commissioner of emergency management. (*Iscol is speaking at this MVJ event in his personal capacity as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran*.) A crisis tested leader, he has led in settings ranging from combat operations in Iraq to the frontlines of COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Sandy here in New York. His experience includes building a pioneering nonprofit mental healthcare provider, leading one of the premiere military journalism outlets, and serving as a strong advocate for immigrants and underserved communities. Two of his former commanding officers cited him as the officer they would personally select to lead their sons into combat.
As a Marine, he served two tours in Iraq and on other assignments throughout Africa and the Middle East. During his second tour of duty, he led a combined unit of US Marines and Iraq soldiers in some of the heaviest fighting of the Iraq War during the Second Battle of Fallujah, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for valor. He later helped build many of the components of the Marine Corps' first special operations command and deployed on one of the first MARSOC teams to deploy overseas.
Over the past decade, Iscol has built and led businesses and a nonprofit mental healthcare provider, the Headstrong Project. The Headstrong Project now cares for over 1,000 veterans a week in 30+ cities and counting to provide world-class, cost, and bureaucracy free mental healthcare veterans and service members need to recover from hidden wounds and get back to the best versions of themselves.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, Iscol led over 40 federal, state, and city agencies as the deputy director of Joint New York Medical Station, one of the largest and only successful COVID field hospitals in the country.
A 2001 graduate of Cornell University, he was the youngest recipient of Phillips Exeter Academy's John Phillips Award, a member of the 2013 Team USA for USA Triathlon, and a grand marshal of the 2019 New York City Veterans Day Parade. In 2007, while still on active duty, he testified before the United States Senate about the need to protect Iraqi refugees, especially translators and others who put their lives in danger to help US forces.

**Lucy Bustamante** is a 4-time Emmy-winning morning news anchor and journalist. Fluent in Spanish, Lucy is the daughter of Cuban refugees who migrated to the U.S. in 1969. She was born and raised in New Orleans in a home that only spoke Spanish. The skills she learned as a child, of translating between Spanish and English as a first generation American, formed the foundation for her role as a bilingual news anchor.
While at NBC10 in Philadelphia, Lucy was a pivotal member of the team that created NBC’s “American Vets” reporting series, in which she and other journalists around the country covered issues impacting veterans in the states and abroad. In November 2022, she co-hosted and co-produced American Vets: Beyond the Battlefield, an NBCNewsNow Veterans Day streaming special that highlighted the issues veterans with PTSD face.

Fri 9:15 am - 10:00 am

10:00 am

Getting Started in Journalism: Mentorships & Fellowships

Alexa Mills, Carla Correa, Drew Lawrence, Kevin Hayes, Rachel Nostrant, Moderator: Devon LanciaBrooklyn Brewery: Tasting Room

How useful can mentorships and fellowship opportunities be in igniting your career as a veteran or military spouse? Join us for this discussion to discover valuable strategies for finding and fostering impactful relationships and opportunities in the industry. Panelists will explore the unique challenges veterans face when transitioning to civilian journalism roles, and how taking advantage of mentorship and fellowship opportunities can provide guidance, support, and pathways to gain experience and build a portfolio.

**Alexa Mills** manages The New York Times’s Editing Residency. She is part of the Careers Team, which runs several programs for early career journalists. She joined The Times in 2020 as the writing coach for members of the Times Fellowship. Before coming to The Times, she was the editor of Washington City Paper in D.C., and freelanced for The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and other outlets. She got her start in media by running a small online publication about cities within the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She earned degrees from Northeastern University, MIT, and Cornell University.

**Carla Correa** is The New York Times’s deputy director of Career Programs. Her team runs the Times Fellowship and other programs for early career journalists. Since joining the newsroom in 2015, she has held several roles, including Metro day editor and social strategy editor. She has also edited at ESPN, The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun, and reported on gymnastics for The Times and elsewhere. She is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she studied political science, and the University of Maryland, where she earned her master’s in journalism.

**Kevin Hayes** joined Spectrum News 1 Syracuse in June 2021. He is now a proud member of the Buffalo team.
Originally from New York, Kevin spent a few years in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area in Pennsylvania as well, but is thrilled to be back in his home state. Prior to joining the Spectrum team, he has received recognition for his breaking-news journalism with a regional Murrow award, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Kevin enjoys bringing a unique energy and creativity to reporting, and aims for the opportunity for community stories to yield community solutions through his storytelling. He specifically recalls working with a forming branch of the NAACP in Lackawanna County during the aftermath of the George Floyd shooting. He was humbled to see the effort and collaboration that went behind organizing, and the eventual accreditation, of the local civil rights group.
When not reporting, you may find Kevin hiking or exploring local breweries and wineries. He is an avid lacrosse fan, and very excited to be reporting closer to family in Western New York! Go Bills!

**Drew F. Lawrence** is a reporter for Military.com, specializing in covering the Marine Corps while hosting, writing and producing the publication's flagship podcast, Fire Watch. An Army veteran who served as a cavalry officer, he joined Military.com from a Military Veterans in Journalism (MVJ) fellowship at CNN, where he covered defense stories.
Drew won MVJ’s Top 10 Veterans in Journalism award in 2022 and -- along with a team of Military.com reporters -- received the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation award for distinguished reporting on national defense.
He is a graduate of George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs, where he studied journalism. He hails from Massachusetts and is a proud New England sports fan.

**Rachel Nostrant** covers national news as a reporter for The New York Times as a member of the 2024-25 Times Fellowship class. She is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and has experience reporting on an array of stories including the war in Ukraine, water contamination in the U.S., cultural impacts of the Maui wildfires and the migrant housing crisis in NYC. Her work has been published in New York Magazine, Reuters, the AP, Insider, Military Times and more.

**Devon Lancia** is an Army brat from Savannah, Georgia and MVJ's Partnerships Director. She has spent much of her life volunteering with veterans' organizations to make a difference in veterans' lives.

Fri 10:00 am - 11:00 am

11:00 am

Voices of Valor: Amplifying Women Veterans’ Stories in the Media

Constance Cotton, Elizabeth DePompei, Jennifer Alvarado, Moderator: Noelle WieheBrooklyn Brewery: Tasting Room

Join us for a deep dive into the findings of DAV's third landmark report on the factors contributing to the high rate of suicide among women veterans. Panelists will explore the challenges and systemic issues faced by women veterans when seeking mental healthcare. Attendees will gain insights into the comprehensive assessments presented in the report and learn about actionable strategies to improve mental health services for women veterans - and how journalists can help amplify their stories.

**Constance Cotton** served in the U. S. Army Reserves and active duty for 17 years. She served as a medical logistics sergeant, training soldiers to meet the supply needs for different military commands. In 1991, she fought in the Gulf War and in 2004, she was medically retired. Constance is an author, a DAV member and active in the veteran community, including her role as Veteran Affairs Chairwoman for Camden County East NAACP. She is particularly passionate about helping veterans receive their benefits and educating the community about moral injury. Constance, who resides in New Jersey, is married and has two sons.

**Elizabeth DePompei** is a communications associate for DAV (Disabled American Veterans), producing everything from magazine features to press releases in support of DAV’s mission. She focuses on issues related to women veterans and entrepreneurship, and supports the organization’s legislative projects, including DAV’s special report, Women Veterans: The Journey to Mental Wellness. Elizabeth is a graduate of Hunter College and the University of Cincinnati and previously worked as a crime and public safety reporter, most recently for the Indianapolis Star.

**Jennifer Alvarado** is a proud Navy veteran, a DAV member and a veterans advocate. Jennifer enlisted at 19 years old as a hospital corpsman, third class, and served from 2001 to 2006. The New Jersey native and mother of four served at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois, where she quietly endured repeated sexual harassment and domestic abuse. Jennifer has made it her life’s mission to speak up for herself and use her voice to uplift other women. Through her own commitment to healing, Alvarado has found help through the support of DAV and shares her story in hopes of inspiring positive change.

**Noelle Wiehe** is an Army veteran with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Cincinnati and more than 10 years of reporting experience. You can find her work in two separate Keith L. Ware Awarded publications, a tiny town's local newspaper in Texas, throughout Army.mil and on the former Coffee or Die Magazine by Black Rifle Coffee Company's website. She hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, but currently resides in Lafayette, Louisiana, where she prioritizes being an aunt to her Wiehe niece and nephew.

Fri 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

12:00 pm

Answering The Call: Leadership Lessons with José Cancela

José CancelaBrooklyn Brewery: Tasting Room

Hear from the president of Telemundo Station Group about his journey from U.S. Air Force mechanic to local news sales trainee to top media executive. How did his training in the military help pave the way to his current leadership role overseeing Telemundo stations in 31 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico? Learn why taking on a leadership mindset from day one is critical to success.

Brought to you by the NBCU Academy.

**José Cancela** serves as President of Telemundo Station Group, NBCUniversal Local’s Spanish-language media portfolio that’s highlighted by Telemundo-owned stations in 31 markets across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, including in each of the Top 20 U.S. Hispanic TV markets.
In this role, which he’s held since January 2024, Cancela provides strategic and operational leadership across all areas of the business and oversees its executive team and station general managers. He also works closely with NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises.
Cancela is a media-industry veteran more than 35 years of leadership experience, and more than four decades in the Spanish-language marketplace. Prior to his current position, Cancela spent nearly 12 years as President & General Manager of Telemundo Puerto Rico / WKAQ.
During his tenure with WKAQ, which began in 2012, Cancela oversaw continual advancement. His leadership led to significant growth in the station’s news and entertainment content, expanding local programming from 15 hours a week in 2012 to more than 70 hours today.
Cancela’s impact elevated WKAQ’s relevance with audiences, value with advertisers, and overall competitive position, which greatly expanded its reach and profitability. Cancela also guided the station’s community programs that support and serve residents across Puerto Rico.
Cancela joined WKAQ from KVEA / Telemundo 52 Los Angeles, where he was President & General Manager. Previously, he served as President of Radio Unica and Hispanic USA Inc., a marketing firm. He was also President & COO of Telemundo Station Group from 1992 to 1998.
Cancela began his career as a sales trainee for Miami’s WLTV – eventually rising to lead the Univision station – after serving in the U.S. Air Force. He’s the author of ‘The Power of Business en Espanol: 7 Fundamental Keys to Unlocking the Potential of the Spanish-Language Market.’

Fri 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

2:00 pm

Reporting From The Home Front: Military Families As Storytellers and Advocates

AnneClaire Stapleton, Marla Bautista, Lucy Bustamante, Moderator: Brianna KeilarBrooklyn Brewery: Tasting Room

This panel will explore how veterans and military spouses can leverage their unique experiences in journalism. Panelists will discuss the challenges of balancing a journalism career with military life, the ethics of covering sensitive topics, and how to turn personal stories into powerful journalism.

Brought to you by CNN and TNT Sports.

Fri 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

3:00 pm

Beyond the Uniform: Addressing the Challenges Faced by Veterans of Color

Clyde Gunter, Caron LeNoir KellyBrooklyn Brewery: Tasting Room

Learn more about the unique challenges faced by veterans of color and how to cover them for maximum impact through this panel! Panelists will delve into the complexities of representing the experiences of veterans from marginalized communities. They will address gaps in current coverage, share strategies for amplifying these voices, and discuss the impact of inclusive storytelling on public perception and policy. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of how to tell these powerful stories with authenticity and respect, ensuring that all veterans receive the recognition they deserve.

Fri 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

7:30 pm

Comedy Hour & Evening Reception

Bushwick Comedy Club

Join us for an hour of laughs and some more networking time at the Bushwick Comedy Club! This event requires a separate RSVP.

RSVP Here

Fri 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

55 max