Craig Watson
Craig Watson is the newly appointed Executive Director of the Arts Council for Long Beach.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, Long Beach, CA 2003- 2008
Vice President, Communications, West Division

Responsible for all internal and external communications for Charter’s five-state West Division, serving approximately 1.2 million customers. Included responsibility for the company’s press and community relations, public affairs, employee communications and local television production activities.
Highlights from this role include:

  • Upon arrival helped to quickly turnaround sagging Company image in key markets through improved communications with heightened government, press, community and employee engagement and awareness
  • Created highly successful media plans for the launch of new telephone and high speed internet products
    Developed several high-profile public affairs initiatives to improve brand and reputation, including:
    • Charter All Digital Aquatic Center (during Olympic Swim Trials in Long Beach)
    • Charter Communications Sea Festival (massive City-wide and summer-long festival of events)
    • Enough is Enough (Youth and gang violence education/prevention initiative)
    • Anti-Meth Town Hall, media campaign and PSA contest (multi-platform initiative)
    • Museum of Latin American Art (Charter Latino Film Series and other Museum branding)
    • Interactive HIV/AIDS awareness campaign (using latest interactive NAVIC technology)
    • Armenian Genocide specials in partnership with U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff
  • Winner of seven Beacon Awards in last four years (exceeded total by entire Company in last five years) recognizing superior public affairs and communications efforts
  • Trusted board member of the California Cable and Telecommunications Association and Executive Committee.
  • Highly collaborative project development with Marketing, Government Relations and Operations.Spearheaded Emergency Communications response efforts during several So Cal wildfires (resulted in being named “System of the Year” by industry trade publication)

MASTEC, INC., Chino, CA 2002-2003
Vice President, New Business Development
Handled West Coast operations for Miami-based telecommunications network installation and construction contracting company. Provided liaison to the cable industry and related industries.

CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Bethpage, NY 1997 - 2001
Senior Vice President, Consumer Telecommunications Services Fulfillment (2000-2001)
Responsible for all day-to-day consumer fulfillment and customer contact services for 2.9 million cable television customers, 300,000 high speed data users and 12,000 telephony customers within the New York Metropolitan Area. Managed largest unit of the telecommunications group with 4,500 employees and an operating budget of $318 million. Scope of responsibilities included all field operations, all inbound call centers, billing operations, as well as dispatch centers and walk-in facilities. Credited with key role in one of the most dramatic success stories in the industry…growing the cable modem customer base from 50k to 300k within 16 months.

Senior Vice President, Consumer Telecommunications Services (1997 - 1999)
Connecticut/Westchester/NYC Area
Recruited for high-profile regional executive role as company was expanding aggressively through acquisition of cable systems serving over 800k customers. Provided key leadership expertise in designing and executing transition strategy and integration plan for new operations and employees. Within 16 months given responsibility for field customer-contact operations serving one million customers. During the period, chosen to rebuild and lead new management team in Connecticut systems. Credited for major turnaround and Connecticut systems enjoyed the highest overall rating by the State of Connecticut for a MSO and higher than company average employee satisfaction.

COX COMMUNICATIONS, Providence, Rhode Island 1993 –1997
TIMES MIRROR CABLE, Providence, Rhode Island
Vice President and State Manager
Managed all day-to-day aspects of a 304,000 customer cluster of systems serving eighteen communities in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts with a workforce of 460 and revenues of $140 million.

  • Led consolidation efforts to integrate Times Mirror cable systems, then TCI and Colony operations into centrally managed, regional facilities.
  • Challenges included employee relocations, facility, phone switch and system upgrades. All occurred against a backdrop of excellent employee, government and community relations with cash flow budgets met or exceeded each year.
  • Recognized for leadership upon the integration of Times Mirror and Cox with the national “A+” award given to one individual each year by the Cable Television Human Resources Association.

CROWN CABLE TELEVISION, Alhambra, California 1992 - 1993
Regional Manager
Managed Crown’s California properties serving 151,000 customers in 19 communities. Executed consolidation strategy begun with Cencom to bring further operational efficiencies.

CENCOM CABLE TELEVISION, Alhambra, California 1989 -1992
General Manager
Responsible for all operational aspects of a region serving 105,000 customers in 16 communities. During this period consolidated five separate facilities, bringing 290 employees together under one roof to greatly improve productivity and morale. Maintained excellent customer and government relations during a period of high growth.