Kay Koplovitz

Every year, the Hauppauge Industrial Association, which consists of over 1,100 companies throughout Long Island, hosts the HIA Trade Show with the goal maximizing the economic health and well being of all companies involved. At this years event, the HIA Trade Show was privileged to have Kay Koplovitz as their guest speaker. Ms. Koplovitz is a phenomenal and immensely successful businesswomen credited for founding the first advertising supported basic cable network and the creation of broadcasting networks such as USA and Sci-Fi channel.

Kay Koplovitz is best described as a pioneer in cable television networks. She became the first women network president in television history when she founded the USA Networks (originally known as the all sports Madison Square Garden network) in 1977. During her time at USA Networks, Ms. Koplovitz negotiated the first-ever cable television contracts for major league sports rights with Major League Baseball, The National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League. Her influence on the company was unparalleled to anyone during her time, selling USA Networks which started with an initial capitalization of $600,000 for $4.5 billion twenty-one years later.

In 1998, Ms. Koplovitz was appointed by President Clinton to chair the National Women’s Business Council, which is the advisory board for women-owned businesses. While on the Council, she helped to create Springboard, a non-profit forum with the purpose to connect women with venture capital. During the first three years, Springboard raised over one billion dollars. Most recently, Ms. Koplovitz wrote a book entitled Bold Women, Big Ideas: Learning to Play the High-Risk Entrepreneurial Game, which describes her personal experience of wealth creation through equity while also providing important business insights.

Currently, Ms. Koplovitz serves as a corporate board member on the Boards of Liz Claiborne, Instinet and Sun New Media. Along with being an avid public speaker, she also servers on non-profit boards such as the New York City Partnership, The Museum of Television and Radio, and The Central Park Conservancy.