Two-time Interactive Emmy Award winning Erica Branch-Ridley is VP of Development and Production for HITN Learning, a division of the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network.

Prior to HITN, Erica worked at Sesame Workshop, where she led digital strategy for The Electric Company before becoming VP of Production for the Sesame Learning in- schools pilot initiative. Before, Erica worked at Viacom as Sr. Director of TV Land and Nick at Nite Digital, where she oversaw all production including the launch of their first broadband video channel. She then became the Sr. Producer at Nickelodeon Online where she created the first fully interactive experiences for Blues Clues, Dora the Explorer, and other notable kids shows.  Erica’s honors include two Interactive Emmy Awards: Best Children’s Website for PBS kids with The Electric Company, and Best Interactive TV Application for TV Land Online.

Erica’s television industry work includes positions with CBS-NEWS, WNBC, and Black Entertainment Television, where she created and produced the award winning multi-cultural children’s storytelling show STORYPORCH, with Maya Angelou. Erica was honored by Broadcasting & Cable Magazine for her role in reflecting onscreen diversity in digital media, was named one of the Top Women in Digital Media by Cynopsis Media earlier this year and was honored by Syracuse University with its highest honor awarded to alumni.

An active speaker and panelist, Erica is also a charter member of the Diversity in Apps initiative, a judge for the National STEM Video Game Challenge and member the Producer’s Guild of America (p.g.a.)

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