Episode 15. Wide Angle Lens: Images of Empathy, Education and Encouragement

Subscribe here:

Filemon Lopez is the former Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations for Comcast.

Recognized as the first Hispanic executive in the organization, Mr. Lopez held a leading role in the company’s Hispanic diversity efforts, where he focused on building and strengthening relationships and promoting and growing critical community based projects within those communities. In addition, he served as a key advisor and strategist to David Cohen, Comcast’s Chief Diversity Officer, and worked intimately with the new Corporate Diversity Organization. Mr. Lopez also worked with NBCU/Telemundo to explore synergies between Telemundo and Comcast as a member of the Hispanic Action Team. Mr. Lopez was also involved in several employee engagement initiatives.

Prior to his last role, Mr. Lopez was the Regional Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Florida East Coast with over 4,000 employees serving an estimated 1.5 million customers from south of Orlando to Key West. Prior to joining the South Florida region in 2002, Mr. Lopez was President of Comcast University, the center for performance improvement, learning and development, as well as employee communications, for Comcast Cable Communications. Mr. Lopez was instrumental in the development of Comcast’s signature leadership programs including the Executive Leadership Forum, Fundamentals of Leadership and the Spirit of Comcast to name a few. He also oversaw the launch of Team Comcast and Comcast Live! the company’s primary employee communication vehicles.

He became the Director of Advertising Sales for the company’s Southeast Region in 1990 and a year later, was asked to formally launch the advertising sales business company-wide relocating to Philadelphia. In 1996 he was promoted to Senior Vice President for Comcast’s Advertising Sales operation and served in that capacity until 2000. Mr. Lopez worked for Comcast and its predecessor companies for over 30 years. Prior to joining Comcast, Mr. Lopez held sales leadership positions with Cox Cable and Storer Cable Communications.

In 2013 Hispanic Business Magazine recognized Mr. Lopez as one of the top 25 Hispanic business executives in the United States and in 2017 Mr. Lopez was honored with The Distinguished Alumnus Award at Valdosta State University.

He is a role model leader and community partner having served on several boards including the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) National Board of Directors, Take Stock In Children and The Everglades Foundation. He is currently on the Board of Governors for the Wayne Huizenga School of Business at NOVA Southeastern University, and The Zoological Society of Florida. He also was member of Comcast’s Diversity Council whose mission is to implement, promote, and sustain diversity throughout the organization.

Mr. Lopez is an accomplished wildlife and travel photographer and enjoys traveling to some of the world’s most beautiful locations to capture his images.

Favorite Quote:

“What is success? To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote from Interview:

“….. create a culture of people who are more engaged, who are deeply committed to help you accomplish the goals of your business, of your organization and in the end that culture of generosity says here we are delivering on the promise to the customers, the promise to the company and the promise to the shareholder.”

Resources: