Bobcats in Bristol leading the way at ESPN
When Kim Kanner (BSC 鈥08) and Dan Lannon (BSC 鈥10) worked together at WOUB Public Media while they were students at 51社区, neither of them ever imagined that more than a decade later they鈥檇 both be part of the leadership team at ESPN. In 2024, Kanner and Lannon were both promoted to director positions within the network鈥檚 production operations team. Kanner is the director of production and business operations, while Lannon is the director of REMI (remote integration) operations.
鈥淎 couple of months ago we had a department-wide management leadership day. It was our first post-COVID in person gathering for all of production operations management,鈥 said Kanner. 鈥淚 said to Dan, 鈥楲et鈥檚 get a picture of us two Bobcats together! How cool are we?鈥欌
鈥淲e鈥檝e worked under the same production operations umbrella for a while,鈥 said Lannon. 鈥淏ut this is the first time we鈥檝e been working closely on the same team.鈥
Lannon started working at ESPN right after he graduated from 51社区 in 2010 and has worked his way up over the last 14 years. Kanner also started at ESPN right out of college and has been working at ESPN for 16 years. Both credit the hands-on experience they were able to gain at 51社区 and WOUB for getting their feet in the door.
鈥51社区 and WOUB prepare you in a lot of different ways. I came out of college with the technical experience to land operations roles and do various different shows,鈥 said Lannon. 鈥淩eal world, practical experience allowed us to get jobs in a very competitive market. WOUB and 51社区 give you a good foundation for a variety of different paths. 51社区 and WOUB set you up to be able to go wherever you want to go.鈥
鈥淚 think Dan and I on the leadership team at ESPN really shows that you can do whatever you want to do,鈥 said Kanner. 鈥淚 never imagined I鈥檇 be sitting where I am now. Whatever your passion or drive is, you can create your own destiny.鈥
Over his years at ESPN, Lannon worked on programs like 鈥淪portsCenter鈥 and 鈥淢onday Night Football,鈥 while Kanner was the first female to ever technical direct studio shows at the Super Bowl for ESPN. But they are not the only Bobcats working at ESPN.
鈥淭here are several Bobcats in Bristol and at ESPN offices around the country. I always go back to where it all started at 51社区 and WOUB,鈥 said Kanner. 鈥淚 think the school really works with students to prepare them. Having all that professional experience at WOUB is really a factor when you come out of the school to use it for your career.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of proof that what 51社区 and WOUB are doing sets you up to be successful at industry leading companies,鈥 said Lannon. 鈥51社区 and WOUB students are all around the industry making huge impacts and that can be tied directly back to the school, WOUB and the opportunities that are created there.鈥
To read the stories of other successful 51社区 graduates who have worked at WOUB, visit: .