It gives me great pleasure today to officially welcome Shawn Tylka into the Cable TV Pioneers Class of 2018. I've known Shawn for over 20 years -since before either of us had a real job, as we like to joke! -and for that reason, I can say that this recognition couldn't be more deserved.

Shawn started her career at Scientific-Atlanta, now Cisco, in 1994, and has been forging a progressive path for her career, the company and the cable industry ever since. These days, Shawn is the Principal Lead for Cisco's Cable and Media, where she expertly manages our Cisco marketing campaigns -although she's one of those people who does more behind the scenes to keep positive momentum across the industry than I could ever realistically articulate. Suffice it to say that Shawn does a lot more than manage our marketing campaigns. She possesses an industrial memory and creative spirit that has moved more than a few mountains over the years.

The Cable TV Pioneers are chosen for the demonstrated leadership and extensive contributions that they have made, not only to the cable industry, but in their communities as well. In addition to her leadership at Cisco, Shawn is also an unsung leader in multiple industry-related groups, including SCTE, NCTA and CTAM.

She's also joining the Cable TV Pioneers as one of only a handful father-daughter Pioneer pairs -her dad, the esteemed Pat Tylka, was inducted in 2010. And, from the Department of Diversity, she is also among the few honorees co-nominated by two female Pioneers: Leslie Ellis, President of Ellis Edits Inc. and Vibha Rustagi, CEO at itaas, a Cognizant Company.

Most everyone who knows Shawn knows her as a genuine life force. As an indicator of her "above and beyond" mentality, she's a gigantic contributor to philanthropic activities outside the industry -most notably her organization and execution of Women Orthopaedist Global Outreach (WOGO), a group of five female orthopaedic surgeons who travel around the world replacing joints (hips, knees, etc.) for people in third-world countries who could not otherwise afford the surgery. Shawn runs the strategy, logistics and tactics for the group, and has organized and participated in missions so far in The Congo, Guatemala, Nepal, Peru, Tanzania and Cuba. Many of us live vicariously through her social media posts, every time she embarks on another WOGO journey!

Shawn finds time to do all that and be our cable superstar as well!

Here's what one of her cable colleagues had to say, during the nomination process: "Have you ever thought about how a company is viewed by the market? Well, if you have, and if you have good things to say either about Scientific-Atlanta or Cisco, it could be in part because of the fantastic and tireless marketing efforts of Shawn Tylka. Shawn has been a machine behind much of the customer interactions, trade shows, special functions, all designed to properly position the messaging from the company to the market. Shawn is an ambassador for her companies and the industry around the globe."

Last night, Shawn joined 24 colleagues in this prestigious honor at the 52nd Annual Banquet. Thanks to Shawn and all the new Pioneers inducted into the Cable TV Pioneers Class of 2018 in Atlanta. And please join me in offering Shawn your deepest congratulations when you see her at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo!