George Bodenheimer, former president and executive chairman of ESPN, will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Economic Conference of Tunxis Community College Foundation on November 12, from 7:30-10 a.m. at the Hartford Marriott Farmington.

The event, which commemorates the Foundation’s 45^th anniversary, will raise funds to support student scholarships and special projects at Tunxis Community College in Farmington. The program will also include breakfast,  student veteran and Foundation scholarship recipient Nelson Algarin, networking opportunities, and music by saxophonist and Tunxis alumnus Gregory B. Sneed.

George Bodenheimer will share his experiences and insights gained as a cable industry pioneer during a successful 33-year career. He is also co-author of the recently released business leadership memoir “Every Town is a Sports Town: Business Leadership at ESPN, from the Mailroom to the Boardroom,” and is a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Bodenheimer was ESPN’s longest-tenured president, a position he held from 1998 to 2011, overseeing all multimedia sports assets of The Walt Disney Company from 2003-2011 and serving as co-chairman, Disney Media Networks from 2004-2011. He served as executive chairman of ESPN, Inc. from 2012 to 2014.

His leadership has been recognized throughout the industry. Bodenheimer received a Vanguard Award, the industry’s highest honor, from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association, and was later inducted into the Cable Hall of Fame among other awards.

During his career at ESPN, he was strategically involved in the development and distribution of the ESPN domestic networks including ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes and ESPNU, as well as ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com and ESPN Radio. He led the most successful launch of a new network in the modern era of cable when ESPN2, the nation’s second largest sports network, debuted in 10 million homes in 1993.

Prior to becoming president, Bodenheimer was responsible for affiliate sales, advertising sales, marketing and research for all of ESPN’s domestic networks.

Bodenheimer graduated from Denison University with a bachelor of arts degree in economics. He serves on the boards of SiriusXM Satellite, Inc., The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Under Armour, Inc., and Denison University Board of Trustees.

Sponsorship levels and program book ads are still available for companies and small businesses. Individual admission is $75 and is tax-deductible. Tickets must be purchased by Nov. 8. Reservations can be made online at www.tunxisfoundation.org. For more information, please contact Helen G. Sneed, TCC Foundation executive director, at 860.773.1358; or email [email protected].  

Tunxis Community College Foundation, established in 1970, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization managed by a board of directors composed of business and community leaders. Its mission is to raise funds for Tunxis Community College to support scholarships, special learning projects, the arts and student veterans. Visit the Tunxis Foundation website at www.tunxisfoundation.org.