NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES
MICHIGAN CHAPTER
About Us
Michigan Chapter
Founded in 1947, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and the Emmy® Award stand for the best in the television industry. The National Academy is the only non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievement, raising industry standards, and improving the quality of television. Its dedication to excellence is pursued every day by members of its 19 chapters across the country.
The Michigan Chapter was charted by the National Academy in 1978 as the Detroit chapter and Peter Kiezer was the first President. In 1989 the chapter was expanded to include the entire state of Michigan.
Contact Us
Board of Governors
Each year the membership of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Michigan Chapter elects new professionals on a rotating Board of Governors to represent the Michigan community. While best known for The Emmy® Awards and Silver Circle, which recognize outstanding achievements in our industry, NATAS Michigan represents an array of other exciting events available to our membership.
The Michigan Chapter is in search of people who are as passionate about media as they are about giving back to the professional community. The Board of Governors is a working board, which simply put, means we work together collaboratively to ensure we are providing for the best interests of the membership.
Qualifications and Requirements of a Board of Governor
1. Must be a NATAS Michigan Member for a minimum of one year prior to election.
2. Active committee participation prior to nomination is recommended.
3. Attend a minimum of one board meeting per month.
4. Board term lasts for two years.
5. Lead and/or judge at least one Emmy® Award category twice yearly.
Executive Board
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Board of Governors
Anchor/Reporter
Meteorologist
Producer
News Director
Chief Photographer
Journalist
Investigative Reporter
Journalist
News Anchor
Executive Director
Manager
Neille Giffune
President
Neille is an Emmy Awarding winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience in the broadcast news industry. She has served on the MI-NATAS Board of Governors since 2019. Neille began her career as a sports anchor before transitioning to management in 2012. She is currently the PR & Internal Communication Manager for Freudenberg e-Power Systems, a global manufacturer of batteries and fuel cells for heavy-duty applications. Prior to moving into corporate communications, Neille held multiple management roles at TV stations in Lansing and Flint, including serving as news director at Mid-Michigan NOW (WEYI/WSHM). She is also the recipient of two Regional National Edward R. Murrow Awards. Neille is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and has lived in several states, but has called Michigan home for the last 13 years.
Kit Kuhne
Vice President
Kit Kuhne is an award-winning journalist with a love of breaking news, politics, and storytelling. In 2016, she started her career at ABC 12 in Flint, MI, as a News Producer. In 2021, she moved across the state to join FOX 17 in Grand Rapids as an Executive Producer. Kit is also a proud Michigan State University alumna — Go Green!
Treasurer
Brian Efrusy, Chief Financial Officer, is a highly respected executive with over 30 years of experience in finance and administration. Brian has been responsible for Cutters Studios Detroit’s financial and human resource matters since 2008. Brian’s planning helped the Company to strategically navigate its way through the Covid pandemic and continue to be one of the top media studios in greater Detroit. Brian manages all aspects of financial reporting and budgeting as well as human resource matters. He is also responsible for the banking relationships and tax compliance matters.
Carlota Almanza-Lumpkin
CEO
Carlota is a Silver Circle® MI-NATAS Member, Past Chapter President, V.P.s, Board Secretary, and Alt. National Trustee. She's a 36-year broadcast (public) media veteran. Her positions include Production Manager/Producer and Part-Time Video production instructor. Scholarship Chairman; Internship Supervisor and Detroit Public Schools Advisory. Tuskegee Airmen/Detroit Chapter, and member of Friends of Detroit City Airport.
Courtney Bennett
Anchor/Reporter
Courtney Bennett is an anchor and reporter for Mid-Michigan NOW. She joined NBC 25 and Fox 66 as a Multimedia Journalist and Digital Content Producer in March 2020. Prior to joining the team in Flint, she was the news director and anchor for Shelby TV, in Shelby Township. Courtney began her career at CW 50 Detroit as a Street Team member, covering events across the metro-Detroit area. Proud to call Michigan home, Courtney grew-up in Garden City and is a graduate of Western Michigan University.
Colton Cichoracki
Meteorologist
Colton Cichoracki is an award winning meteorologist at WILX-TV 10 in Lansing, Michigan. He has years of television experience in Michigan previously working as a meteorologist and multimedia journalist at WJRT in Flint. He also interned at 9&10 News in northern Michigan and at WJBK in Detroit while in college. Colton also teaches a course called Broadcast Meteorology at his alma mater Central Michigan University. He began his professional career in St. Joseph, Missouri in 2018 and moved back to Michigan for the job in Flint in 2019.
News Director
Jayne has been working in Michigan television news for more than 30 years. She is currently the News Director for WNEM TV5 in the Flint/Saginaw/Bay City market. Jaynes career has taken her all over Michigan. She started as a producer/reporter at TV 7&4 in Traverse City. From there she moved to WLNS, and then in to Detroit where she produced at WKND before moving to WXYZ. Jayne has been in the Saginaw/Flint market for 20 years, previously as News Director for ABC12. Jayne is a Detroit native. She graduated from Central Michigan University and currently sits on the BCA Alumni Advisory Board. Jayne is the recipient of three Michigan Emmy® awards and several Regional Edward R Murrow awards. She lives in Flushing, MI with her husband Mike and their two sons.
Chief Photographer
Jim Kiertzner
Journalist
Jim Kiertzner is a veteran broadcast journalist with more than 50 years in television news. He began in Sioux City in 1973 and went on to report and anchor in Kansas and Michigan, breaking major stories and producing award-winning investigative work. Kiertzner has earned 8 Emmys, a Regional Murrow, and induction into the Michigan Emmy Silver Circle. He continues to appear as a panelist on Off the Record and advises on news projects.
Paula Tutman
Journalist
Paula L. Tutman is a multi-Emmy Award-winning journalist and 2024 Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee. For more than four decades, she has reported on crime, politics, human interest, and social justice, earning seven Emmys, 28 nominations, and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards. Beyond the newsroom, Paula mentors young journalists, teaches corporate communication strategy, and serves on boards devoted to social justice, the arts, children, and the disabled.
Sheila Williams
Manager
Sheila Williams is an accomplished television professional whose career spans both on-camera and behind-the-scenes roles. She has served as a host, reporter, and producer, always bringing a strong foundation in storytelling to her work. Today, Sheila leads internal communications for a global company, applying her passion for storytelling to create strategies that connect and engage employees worldwide.
Mike Woolfolk
Anchor
Mike is an award-winning broadcast journalist with more than 30 years of experience, is a news anchor and managing editor for Mid-Michigan NOW at WEYI-TV (NBC 25), WSMH-TV (FOX 66) and WBSF (The CW 46) in Flint, Michigan. Prior to joining Mid-Michigan NOW, Mike worked at WXYZ-TV in Detroit as a general assignment and breaking news reporter for 7 Action News. He has also anchored and reported for stations in Louisiana, Nevada, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
Stacia Mottley
Executive Director
History
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences was founded in 1955. It is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy® Award for News, Sports, Daytime, Public Service and Technology.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational and technical achievements within the television industry. It recognizes excellence in television with the coveted Emmy® Award for News & Documentary, Sports, Daytime Entertainment, Daytime Creative Arts & Entertainment, Public & Community Service, Technology & Engineering, and Business & Financial Reporting. Regional Emmy® Awards are given in 19 regions across the United States. NATAS also presents the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Global Media Awards™ which recognizes excellence in the world-wide intersection of digital entertainment and technology. Emmy® Awards given out for primetime programming are presented by our sister organization, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). Beyond awards, NATAS has extensive educational programs including Regional Student Television Awards for outstanding journalistic work by high school students, as well as scholarships, publications, and major activities for both industry professionals and the viewing public.
Copyright and Trademark
EMMY® NAME AND EMMY® STATUETTE POLICIES
The Emmy® name and the Emmy® statuette are the trademarked property of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“NATAS”) and The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“ATAS”). Additionally, the Emmy® name, logo and statuette are licensed to the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (“International Academy”) for International Emmys®.
- Emmy® honorees or those congratulating them may at any time refer in advertising and publicity to the fact that the honoree has received an Emmy® award and may for one (1) year after an award is made, use a replica of the statuette in advertising and publicity which appears in print, by broadcast or over the Internet.
- During each year Emmy® nominees or those congratulating them may refer in advertising and publicity to the fact that the nominee has been nominated and, provided that such nominees are clearly identified as such, may during the period from the announcement of nominations until the following awards presentation use a replica of the statuette subject to the requirements set forth below.
- Broadcasters, cable services and Internet sites may use the Emmy® name and statuette in connection with promotional announcements for programs or broadcasters (or the like) which in fact have been awarded an Emmy® as long as it is done within one (1) year after the awarded has been awarded and not thereafter.
- Subject to obtaining specific authorization from the chief operating officer of the appropriate Academy (i.e. the NATAS for Daytime Emmy®, Sports, News & Documentary, and Technology & Engineering Emmy® presentations and other regional Emmy® presentations and ATAS for Prime Time Emmy® and Los Angeles Area Emmy® presentations), sponsors of Emmy® Awards presentation may use a copy of the Emmy® statuette and the Emmy® name in advertising provided that (i) the advertising occurs at or near the time of the presentation of the Awards show and (ii) advertising makes specific reference to such sponsorship of the show. No other commercial use of the Emmy® name or statuette is permitted.
- In the case of DVDs, videos and electronic productions, Emmy® honorees and/or producers of Emmy®-honored programs may reference the fact of their receiving an Emmy®; however the statuette may not be used unless it is capable of being removed from all copies or transmissions within one year after the award is granted.
- Whenever the statuette is used it should appear facing left and must be accompanied by ® at its base (denoting trademark protection). The word “Emmy” is also trademarked and whenever possible its use should appear as follows: “Emmy®“. Any deviation from these instructions must be pre-approved. A copyright notice for the statuette is no longer mandatory, but when used should read “©ATAS/NATAS”.
The Academies have adopted the following rules concerning use of clips from their respective Emmy® awards presentations:
- Use of Excerpts from Emmy® Award Presentations in News Programming and Similar Programming:
Audio and audiovisual excerpts from Emmy® Award presentations may be used in news broadcasts (Including Internet transmissions) about these events which occur within two (2) days from the time the presentations are initially presented, except that excerpts may be used in week-end-type news shows during the weekend following the initial presentation. Exceptions to the two (2) day limit must be approved in writing by the chief operating officers of the applicable Academy. In the case of news reports in foreign countries, excerpts may be used during a reasonable period (to be approved by the chief operating officer of the Academy involved) following the presentation or the first broadcast of the event in the foreign territory, if later. In addition to uses described above, and, subject to clearance as outlined below, the policies governing use of excerpts for other news purposes are as follows:
- Excerpts may be used in current news stories which relate to a recipient of an award, e.g. a current news story regarding a recipient (such as a death or marriage);
- Excerpts may be used in retrospectives and similar programs and documentaries dealing with the career or history of recipients;
- Excerpts may be used in another awards show.
- Use of Excerpts in Entertainment and Other Programming:
Excerpts of the presentation of an award may be used in a promotional announcement for a period of one (1) year following the granting of the award, provided that the primary purpose of the promotional announcement is to congratulate the program or individual so honored:
- Excerpts of Emmy® Award presentations may be used in DVDs, videos and Internet uses of both pre-existing productions and of new productions provided that the primary purpose of the use is to honor the awardee (e.g. a DVD containing a year’s series of a show that received an Emmy®). Additionally, with authorization from the appropriate Academy, excerpts may be shown at non-broadcast public events (e.g. a dinner) provided the primary purpose of use of the excerpt is to honor the individual or program honoree who/that is the subject of the excerpt.
- Excerpts may be made available to individual and program Emmy® honorees for personal and Internet use. In the case of Internet use, excerpts may be furnished digitally, or when possible, from a hosted site whereby the excerpt may be embedded. In any case, the digital excerpts shall be non-broadcast and not capable of redistribution or download. Internet license is limited to one hosted source, embedding can be enabled, but all other forms of redistribution including downloading are not allowed.
- In all cases, the user of the excerpt must assume (and will be deemed to have assumed) all clearance obligations, i.e. clearance of individuals (other than uses in current news shows), union clearances and music clearances.
- Use of Excerpts in Commercials.Except as provided above for promotional announcements, excerpts from an Emmy® awards presentation may not be used in commercial advertising.
Although the Academies will permit certain uses of the Emmy® name and statuette in other contexts, the unrestricted use of the same violates both the value and stature of the Emmy® and may serve to dilute the marks. Therefore the following uses, although permitted under some circumstances, always require prior express written authorization from the chief operating officer of the Academy from which authorization is sought:
- Use of Emmy® Statuette or Certificate as a Prop in a Production. If authorized, the Emmy® statuette or a replica of a nomination certificate may be used as a prop in a production provided that (i) the use is in no way derogatory to the Emmy®, (ii) the use is incidental to the primary story of the production, and (iii) the script and other detail regarding the use has been submitted as a precondition to the Academy’s consideration of its authorization.
- Use of Emmy® Replicas; Re-Creations of Emmy® Awards Presentations. Requests for use of replicas of the Emmy® and requests to recreate or simulate an Emmy® Awards presentation must be submitted to the Academy from whom authorization is sought; each request will be considered by the chief operating officer (in consultation with counsel); in cases where authorization is denied, the applicant may request re-consideration by the Executive Committee of the Academy from which authorization is sought.
- Use of Emmy® Name or Statuette in Published Works, Websites, and the Like.
- If approved, the Emmy® name and/or statuette may be used in connection with printed works, websites and the like, provided that the work is of an educational or informational nature and the reference to the Emmy® name or statuette is non-derogatory and is reasonably related to the purpose of the work.
- With prior approval, Emmy® honorees may from time to time use pictures of themselves receiving the Emmy® statuette or otherwise holding the Emmy® statuette in personal resumes and the like. Pictures of Emmy® winners receiving their Emmy<®sup></s statuettes or otherwise holding the Emmy<su®p> statuette may also be used in printed materials and websites and the like featuring biographical material about such honorees, provided that the use is reasonably related to the biographical material.
- With prior approval, the Emmy® name, logo and/or statuette may be used on DVDs or similar productions that include programs that have received a program category Emmy® award, indicating that the program has been so honored. Except in unusual cases, as determined by the appropriate Academy, approval for such uses for programs for which individual achievements (but not program category awards) were given will not be allowed.
- Uses on Stationery, Business Cards, and the like: Nothing shall preclude an individual or entity from stating the fact that such individual or entity is an Emmy® honoree on their/its stationery or business card, provided that neither the Emmy® logo nor the statuette is used in connection with such factual statement, it being understood that any such use of the logo or the statuette is specifically prohibited.
- Use of Emmy® Name or Statuette in Merchandising Prohibited: The Emmy® name and/or statuette may not be used on commercial products or in connection with any merchandising items except with prior approval of the Boards of the Academies. This restriction does not apply to branded merchandising given away at an event with an Academy’s approval, e.g. an Emmy® name or logo on a give-away gift.
These provisions apply to NATAS; readers should contact each of the other Academies to determine their applicable rules as to sponsor identification and Emmy® show activities
- Consistent with the Trademark policy prohibiting use of the Emmy® name and logo for advertising and merchandising, the following applies to corporate sponsorship partners of NATAS:
- Sponsorship partners may, clearly, identify themselves as associated with NATAS; however they may not use the Emmy® name and logo on their products or in advertising material unless specified in the sponsorship contract with NATAS. NATAS’ marketing department or chief operating officer must approve all graphics.
- Sponsorship partners that get tickets for a show/dinner may use them for employees and clients, but may not offer to re-sell them. Use of tickets for contests must be specifically approved by NATAS.
- The same rule applies to broadcasters of the shows or their affiliates.