The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), founded in 1947, is a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievement, raising industry standards, and improving television and advanced media quality.
Nic Dugger, founder of TNDV: Television, has been appointed as the Executive Director for the Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), succeeding Geneva Brignolo. Dugger’s appointment was announced at the 38th Annual Midsouth Emmy Awards in Nashville.
Nic Dugger has nearly three decades of experience, including leadership roles and technical production for national Emmy broadcasts, Dugger is well-equipped to lead the chapter’s mission of recognizing achievements in television arts and sciences.
TNDV Founder Nic Dugger has accepted the role of Executive Director for the Midsouth Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) effective immediately, following a nearly five-year run leading the Board of Directors. The announcement was made Saturday, February 17 at the 38th Annual Midsouth Emmy Awards in Nashville.
Dugger takes the reins following the recent passage of longtime executive director Geneva Brignolo, whom he interned with as a college freshman in 1996. “Geneva was a force in television, and a respected producer that shaped the world of televised motorsports among other brilliant achievements,” said Dugger. “Her leadership of the Midsouth chapter over nearly 30 years has given our chapter a strong reputation that I look forward to carrying into the future.”
“Nic Dugger has dedicated himself to service of our Academy and our industry every day of his professional career,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “His rise over the past three decades from the student ranks to president of the Chapter parallels his achievements building one of the most successful production services companies in the country — a capacity in which he has personally overseen the technical execution of numerous national Emmy® telecasts for NATAS. Nic bleeds gold and is uniquely well-suited to inherit the mantle of Chapter leadership from the iconic Geneva Brignolo.”
In his new role, which is a full-time position, Dugger will report to the Board of Directors—of which he was previously president—and evolve the chapter’s mission of recognizing artistic, educational and technical achievements of professionals and students in the region. The Midsouth Chapter encompasses Tennessee, North Carolina and the TV market of Huntsville, Alabama.
Primary among the chapter’s missions is its annual Midsouth Emmy Awards ceremony and broadcast, which televises the presentation of 73 Emmy categories to chapter members. The February 17 ceremony was the first in-person ceremony in four years, which presents Dugger with an opportunity to breathe new life into the chapter and its mission moving forward. That includes evolving the Midsouth Regional Student Production Awards, which recognizes the achievement of high school students (an initiative close to Dugger’s heart), and bringing more visibility to the Silver and Gold Awards, which recognizes long-term industry achievements.
“To date we have inducted many members into the Silver Circle, which requires 25 years of significant industry contributions in the region,” said Dugger. “We have not yet inducted anyone into the Gold Circle, which requires 50 years of notable service. We will be working to identify our first eligible members of the Gold Circle in the coming years.”
Dugger formed TNDV: Television in 2004 and led the company through substantial growth over nearly two decades. The TNDV business today is part of Live Mobile Group which includes 35 HD and 4K mobile production trucks and audio facilities, as well as production and secondary services for broadcast TV, live entertainment, and AV-related productions. He has served the Midsouth Chapter for 26 years, including time as Student Awards Chairman that brought new perspective to the Midsouth Regional Student Production Awards.
“The Nashville Midsouth Chapter of the National Television Academy has been tightly woven into Nic’s life for three decades,” said Ellen Pryor, former President of the Midsouth Chapter & former Trustee of the National Television Academy. “His entire career has been shaped and defined by his many contributions to the profession and by the tremendous generosity of time, spirit, leadership, and talent for which he is equally well-known and respected. We are elated to welcome him into his new position as he leads the Midsouth region into an exciting new chapter.”
Dugger also oversees the technical production of many ceremonies and broadcasts for the national NATAS organization, including the Daytime Emmys and News and Documentary Emmy and the Technical Emmys.
