NATAS Southeast Chapter Announces 2016 Gold and Silver Circle Honorees

ATLANTA - July 27, 2016 - PRLog -- The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Southeast announces its 2016 inductees into the Gold and Silver Circle, the elite society of honor recognizing lifetime achievement in the television industry. In all, thirteen distinguished professionals from across the southeast will be inducted at the 27th Annual Gold and Silver Circle Gala on Friday, September 9 at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead in Atlanta. Karyn Greer of WGCL CBS46 will be master of ceremonies. Tickets for the 6:00 p.m. reception and 7:00 p.m. dinner and induction are available now at https:www.southeastemmy.com/gold-and-silver-circle.

Two Gold Circle honorees with at least 50 years of television experience and outstanding contributions to their communities will be inducted. Eleven Silver Circle honorees with at least 25 years in television and major contributions to their communities will be inducted.

"The Gold and Silver Circle is a lifetime honor recognizing professionals who have persevered and succeeded in performing, creative, technical or administrative roles in the television industry that is renowned for change," said Ioanna Dafermou, President of the Board of Governors of NATAS Southeast. "We invite family, friends, colleagues and the community to join us in celebrating these extraordinary individuals."

The 2016 inductees are:

GOLD CIRCLE

Samuel E. Smith, WALB in Albany, Georgia (Retired)

Darryl Cohen, Esq. of Cohen Cooper Estep & Allen in Atlanta

SILVER CIRCLE

Deborah Denechaud, WSB-TV in Atlanta

Jim Gandy, WLTX in Columbia, SC

Darcel Grimes, WLOS in Asheville, NC

Janet Hall, WBRC in Birmingham, AL

Leonard Mason, most recently of WXIA, WATL, CW in Atlanta

Rafael Ortiz-Guzman, Rolling Media LLC and formerly of Turner

Mark Pettit, WGCL CBS46 in Atlanta and Creaxion®

Mark Pimentel, WGCL CBS46 in Atlanta

Lisa Rayam, most recently of WAGA in Atlanta

Kevin Rowson, formerly of WXIA in Atlanta

Tina Tyus-Shaw, WSAV in Savannah

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES:
The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is a professional 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 media industry, best known for the coveted Emmy® Award. NATAS has 19 chapters throughout the United States identifying and celebrating television excellence at the local and regional level. NATAS Southeast serves members in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Asheville, N.C. For more information, visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.southeastemmy.com" www.southeastemmy.com,. Like us on Facebook at Southeast Emmys, or follow us on Twitter at @SoutheastEmmy.