About Us: Staff

Frank Gallagher, Executive Director

Frank Gallagher is Executive Director of Cable in the Classroom (CIC).  He is a specialist in the areas of media and information literacy, internet safety, media education, and the impact of media on children and speaks frequently on those topics. Mr. Gallagher manages CIC's staff, work, and strategic direction.  He was a consulting editor to CIC's publications, Cable in the Classroom Magazine and Threshold, and is also responsible for tracking the cable industry’s work with schools, and writing briefing materials for both the cable and education communities.

Mr. Gallagher has served on the board of directors of National PTA and is currently the secretary and a member of the executive committee of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and is on the Interim Board of the National Forum on Information Literacy.  In addition, he is on the Communications Commission of California PTA, the national advisory board for the Internet Keep Safe Coalition and on the Washington, DC, advisory board of Common Sense Media. He is a recipient of a 2011 Family Online Safety Institute Award for Outstanding Achievement for his work in media literacy and digital citizenship.

Prior to joining Cable in the Classroom in 1995, Mr. Gallagher was an educator and taught in a Maryland middle school. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona and received a master's degree in Instructional Systems Design from the University of Maryland.

Helen Dimsdale, Deputy Executive Director

As Deputy Executive Director, Cable in the Classroom (CIC), Helen Dimsdale is responsible for increasing awareness and developing CIC’s brand among its member companies, Washington policymakers and opinion leaders.  Prior to her new role, Helen was part of National Cable and Telecommunications Association's (NCTA) Communications & Public Affairs team where she championed the strategic development and implementation of NCTA’s state-of-the-art theater by producing premieres of cable’s original programming. Other responsibilities included directing public relations efforts on industry-wide initiatives, producing both external and internal industry messaging, and as a spokesperson delivering varying industry positions to diverse audiences.  From 2001 to 2006, Ms. Dimsdale produced ten TV Critics press tours held in Los Angeles while representing 22+ cable networks, negotiating all production/vendor contracts and directing media consultants on the industry’s behalf.

Ms. Dimsdale got her start in cable in 1995, by joining NCTA’s newly formed Program Network Policy department working to develop the industry’s standards and adoption of the voluntary ratings system among NCTA’s program network members. Ms. Dimsdale worked on other programmers’ regulatory proceedings including closed captioning, video description and multicast must-carry requirements.  Prior to her employment at NCTA, Ms. Dimsdale worked in the Government Relations and Public Affairs department, for the U.S. Telecomm Association (USTA), the oldest trade association representing the Bell Operating Companies and local exchange carriers.

Prior to USTA, she served in various management roles for Marriott International, Inc. which included several DC Metro area premiere properties.  In 1981, Ms. Dimsdale began her career as a congressional aide for the late-U.S. House of Representative Frank Annunzio of Illinois.

Ms. Dimsdale has filled many leadership positions within cable industry organizations including serving as the 2004 President of the Washington/Baltimore Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), the cable television industry’s leading advocacy organization for women.  More recently, she served on the 2009 board of Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR).  She received the 2005 WICT Emerging Leader Award from WICT Washington/Baltimore and has been recognized with three WICT National Pinnacle Awards for Chapter leadership.  She is a Betsy Magness Leadership Institute Fellow (Class XVI), WICT’s flagship women’s executive leadership program.

Outside the office, Ms. Dimsdale worked the weekend overnight shift as an on-air jock at Classic Rock 94.7 The Globe (CBS Radio) in Washington, DC.  A native Washingtonian, Ms. Dimsdale holds a BS, Food Science from the University of Maryland (College Park), and a MS, Information and Telecommunications Systems Management from Capitol College, Laurel, MD.

Kat Stewart, Director, Strategic Initiatives

As Director for Strategic Initiatives at Cable in the Classroom (CIC), Kat Stewart assists in the implementation of strategic planning and plays a pivotal role in achieving CIC’s strategic and tactical goals.  She leads CIC’s social media efforts, via platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, to distribute information, participate in conversations and position CIC as a thought leader in education technology.

Ms. Stewart is a graduate of the Institute for Educational Leadership's Education Policy Fellowship Program. She is also an active member in several national organizations including the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) , the National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC), Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), the Association of Cable Communicators (ACC), and Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM). She currently serves on the board of the WICT Washington/Baltimore Chapter as co-Programming Chair.

Prior to joining Cable in the Classroom, Ms. Stewart worked extensively in video production concentrating on internal communications during her tenure at EFX Media, a marketing and media communications company. She began her career at WKYU-PBS, producing educational programming for the state of Kentucky. She also worked in the Department of Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University where she created communities that enhanced student learning, development and academic success.

Ms. Stewart graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Broadcasting from Western Kentucky University.

Beverly Hicks, Assitant Director

As Assistant Director at Cable in the Classroom (CIC), Beverly Hicks assists in all aspects of CIC’s work, including contributing content to CIC website and communicating on behalf of CIC with representatives of CIC and NCTA member companies.  She manages CIC’s administrative functions, the staff’s special projects, and assists with the management of technology including management of the CIC website.  Her other responsibilities include participating in a variety of industry, education, and technology meetings, collaborating with other organizations, and serving as liaison to business sources and schools for the purpose of providing general information and enhancing public relations.

Prior to joining Cable in the Classroom, Ms. Hicks worked for National Cable & Telecommunications Association for 20 years, mostly with the Communications and Public Affairs Department.  She began her career with the government and various private organizations.  Ms. Hicks also had a successful career in insurance/financial sales.

Ms. Hicks is on the Membership Committee with the Professional Convention Management Associationand is a member of National Association of Multi-Ethnicity in Communications,  Women in Cable Telecommunications, and Alliancefor Women in Media.

Ms. Hicks attended The University of Maryland and Anne Arundel Community College and is the mother of a wonderful son.