American Cable Association President and CEO Matthew M. Polka announced the results of ACA's 2010 leadership elections for Chairman, Vice Chairman and six Board of Directors seats held during the trade group's annual membership meeting July 26 in Baltimore.

Polka also announced the names of the individuals who will serve on the ACA Board Executive Committee for the next year.

At the meeting, ACA members voted to re-elect Steve Friedman as ACA Chairman and James Bruder as ACA Vice Chairman to new two-year terms, following successful tenures for both that began in 2008.
Friedman is Chief Operating Officer of Wave Broadband in Kirkland, Wash., and Bruder is CEO of Harron Communications in Frazer, Pa.

"From working closely with Steve and Jim for many years, I have a deep appreciation for their tremendous leadership skills, but they also have an incredible commitment and ability to guide this great ACA organization at a time when so much is at stake for the independent cable operator community," Polka said.

ACA's leadership elections were staged at the 5th Annual Independent Cable Show, co-hosted and jointly organized by ACA and the National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), a Lenexa, Kansas-based group that purchases programming and equipment for U.S. cable operators.

Polka also announced that the following individuals were each elected to the ACA Board for the next three years.

* Colleen Abdoulah, Chairwoman & CEO of WOW! Internet, Cable and Phone, Englewood, Co.
* Patricia Jo Boyers, President of Boycom, Poplar Bluff, Mo.
* Martin Brophy, President and CEO, Shen-Heights TV, Shenandoah, Pa.
* Robert Gessner, President of Massillon Cable TV, Massillon, Oh.

In a related matter, Polka announced that Felix L. Boccucci, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Knology, Inc., and Thomas J. Larsen, Group Vice President of Legal and Public Affairs for Mediacom Communications Corp., were appointed by the Board on July 25 to open Board seats with terms ending in 2011.

Larsen was named to fill the Board seat previously occupied by Calvin G. Craib, Mediacom's Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Business Development, "who will be greatly missed by our ACA Board," Polka said. Knology joined ACA as a member earlier this year.

"Felix and Tom bring enormous talent and diversity of experience to ACA's Board," Polka said. "I know both are committed to providing thoughtful advice and careful judgment that will enable the independent cable community to prosper in a challenging business and regulatory environment."

At the July 25 meeting, the Board concluded its daylong meeting by nominating and electing officers to serve on the Board Executive Committee.

Elected were:

*Chairman, Steve Friedman
*Vice Chairman, James Bruder
*Treasurer, Martin Brophy
*Immediate Past Chairman, Patrick Knorr, COO, The World Company/Sunflower Broadband (Non-Voting)
* #At-Large, Colleen Abdoulah
* #At-Large, Terry Nidiffer, Vice President of Product Management, GCI

*Standing Position
#Through October 2011

"ACA's strength as an organization derives from the personal commitment that company leaders make to ensure that our voice is heard in the corridors of power. I salute all of our leaders on their elections, and I know each one is prepared to take on the many tough challenges we face in the regulatory arena," Polka said.

As Treasurer, Brophy replaces ACA Board member and Treasurer, Dave Baum, of JetBroadband, who stepped down from ACA's Board to pursue other business opportunities.

"Our entire Board, staff and membership thank Dave for his service, and we wish him the very best," Polka said.