[SatNews] Another gathering of rising stars ...

The Promise Awards recognize the potential of young satellite professionals to play a leadership role in the industry. The 2013 winners are:

• Brian Mengwasser, Engineer, Innovation Projects, SES, for his ability, dramatically demonstrated during response to the Galaxy 15 incident, to analyze complex problems and implement innovative solutions supporting both the engineering and business sides of the company.

• Nicole Robinson, Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications, SES Government Solutions, the youngest vice president in the history of her company, for a successful campaign to shift how the U.S. Government approaches procurement of satellite capacity.
• Karen Yasumura, Government Affairs Manager, Intelsat General Corporation, for advancing the common agenda of the industry by helping governmental users better understand and appreciate the commercial industry.

Richard Wolf, Vice President, Telecommunications & Affiliate Support, ABC Television Network, was selected as SSPI’s Mentor of the Year, for more than three decades of unwavering support for the professional advancement of his colleagues in broadcasting and satellite.

"Open a phone book of the satellite or broadcast industry, and it would be hard to find a person whose career he hasn’t touched.” That is how one person described the influence of Richard Wolf of ABC Television.

He is described as a quiet leader and a man who combines humility, professionalism and deep caring about the industry and the people who make it up. "He showed me what a real broadcaster is,” said a friend who started his career at the same time. "Attention to detail and commitment, never looking for a quick exit but making sure all the T’s were crossed. It taught me the proper mindset in a way that inspired me to work hard and better because of the example he set.”

"Each year I’m newly impressed with the talent and level of professionalism in the satellite industry at both ends of the age spectrum. The Promise Award winners have all exemplified what makes not just leaders but also visionaries. I’m particularly thrilled this year that SSPI is able to recognize Rich Wolf with the Mentor Award,” said SSPI Executive Director Robert Bell. "The Society is an association of his vendors and yet he has served on SSPI’s Board and twice as its chairman and president. That devotion to fostering person-to-person connections among our 3,600 members tells you everything you need to know about him.”