On Thursday, August 3, 2006 the DGA and its Ethnic Minority Steering Committee hosted a Diversity Networking Mixer in the boardroom of Guild Headquarters in New York. The event was designed to give women and ethnic minority directors an opportunity to meet with showrunners for New York area episodic programs regarding possible employment for the 2006-2007 television season.

The mixer brought several women and ethnic minority director members together with CBS and NBC directors, producers and executives in a position to make hiring decisions. The members participated in one-on-one sessions with showrunners including: Directors Norberto Barba of NBC’s returning crime drama, Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Adam Bernstein of NBC’s highly anticipated new comedy 30 Rock; Producer Barry Berg of CBS’ new medical drama 3 lbs; and Josie Thomas, CBS Senior Vice President, Diversity.

“Given the current statistics regarding employment opportunities for women and people of color in the industry it was very important for our Guild to send the message that we believe in diversity,” said EDSC Co-Chair Rolando Hudson. “This wasn’t so much about some of us getting a job as a direct result of this event, but about building business relationships. I look forward to more of these events in the future.”