Wilt J. Hildenbrand Jr. Rising Leader Award

Purpose

Identify a rising star in the cable industry, 40 years old or younger, who has made the most significant contributions to the innovations of the cable industry. This award is managed by the SCTE Foundation in Wilt J. Hildenbrand Jr.'s memory. Wilt Hildenbrand was a technology pioneer and industry legend who unexpectedly passed away in 2018 at the age of 70 after a lengthy career that included four decades in the Cablevision organization. In addition to the award, the SCTE Foundation also oversees a scholarship in his memory. For more information about the scholarship see the SCTE Foundation website.

Nominations: Nominations for the 2024 award are due by June 7, 2024. To nominate an SCTE member, please use the nomination form. In addition to the online form, submit the nominee’s resume and photograph, and any supporting documentation, to awards@scte.org.

2023 Recipient

Serge Kasongo, Director of National Field Connectivity & Operations at Comcast

Serge Kasongo started his career in telecommunications with Comcast as a technician in Philadelphia around June 2007. Over the past 10 years, he has been a mentor and leader- leading teams across Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Maryland. In his spare time Serge is a very active father to an intelligent 8-year-old daughter. Congratulations, Serge, on this well-deserved honor and thank you for representing the legacy of Wilt J. Hildenbrand Jr.

Past Recipients

2022: Andrii Vladyka, Harmonic
2021: Rama Assaf-Smith, Comcast Cable Communications
2020: Kerry Zinger, Charter Communications
2019: Chris Zydel, Altice USA
2018: Mariela Anabel Fiorenzo, Telecom Argentina SA*
2017: Lisa Leaunvankham, Comcast Cable Communications*

* In 2019, the award was renamed to honor the legacy of Wilt J. Hildenbrand Jr., with the nomination process to be managed by the SCTE Foundation.