Moderator
Rachel Grant
Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism
Dr. Rachel Grant joined CJC in 2019 as an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism.
Prior to joining the College in 2019, Rachel served as an assistant professor in Xavier University of Louisiana’s Mass Communication Department teaching classes in strategic communication, social media management and media law.
Her academic research looks at media studies of race, gender and class and she has conducted extensive research with social movements, social justice, and Black feminism.
She has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Celebrity Studies, Visual Communication Quarterly, American Journalism and Southwest Education Council for Journalism and Mass Communication Journal.
Dr. Grant has worked professionally as a news reporter for local daily newspapers and statewide magazines and has worked in corporate advertising as a digital copywriter.
Panelists
Amy Araya
Associate Principal Counsel
Disney/National Geographic
After obtaining her B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Florida in 2008 and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami, Amy Araya began her career as a fellow at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. From there, she served in an intellectual property associate role at the global law firm of DLA Piper, after which she joined HBO in Miami working in development and production legal overseeing high-risk programs including the Last Week Tonight format adapted for Latin America.
She then joined Viacom (now Paramount) handling development and production legal for original U.S. unscripted and reality programming for MTV, VH1, and Logo, tackling legal issues for programs such as The Hills: New Beginnings and Siesta Key. She then joined Amazon Studios in Los Angeles where she tackled unscripted and scripted programming, helping set up Amazon Studios’ legal structure for original productions in Latin America.
In her current position with Disney, Amy provides legal affairs oversight for certain National Geographic original series and documentary films, including Life Below Zero, Restaurants at the Edge of the World with Kristen Kish, Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory, Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the upcoming series Queens, Tucci—The Heart of Italy, and Home entailing a journey through five oceans and seven continents to reveal symbiotic relationships between all living things.
Guamay Martell
Multimedia Journalist
Telemundo 31, Orlando, Florida
Guamay Martell’s journey is a testament to resilience and dedication. Born in Cuba, Guamay immigrated to the United States at the age of 13, carrying with her a passion for education and a drive to make a positive impact. As part of her academic journey, she graduated with honors from the University of Florida, where she achieved a double major in Telecommunication and Psychology.
As the president of the UF College of Journalism and Communications Hispanic Communicators Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists during, she spearheaded initiatives focused on professional growth within the media industry. Her leadership extended to the role of lead career ambassador at the University’s Career Center, where she coached students across various academic levels, providing guidance on resume building, cover letters, and mock interviews.
Martell’s post-graduation career as a multimedia journalist for Telemundo in Orlando has continued to reflect her commitment to education advocacy. Recognizing the challenges faced by immigrant families navigating the U.S. school system, she launched the station’s first-ever education campaign. Over the span of six months, the campaign explored scholarship opportunities, FAFSA assistance and demystified concepts like Magnet School Programs, Dual Enrollment, and AP classes. It culminated in a transformative Super Saturday event, drawing nearly 100 families eager to receive invaluable information from various colleges and universities in Central Florida. The event was a beacon of empowerment, guiding attendees on how to save money on education and attain better opportunities.
Whitney Holtzman
NFL Agent
CEO, Social Victories
Whitney Holtzman, B.S. Journalism 2010, is a passionate go-getter, who is the founder and CEO of Social Victories, a social media and marketing consulting company for the leaders in the sports world. Whitney is also an NFL Agent – one of about 80 female NFL agents in the world out of 1,050 Agents total.
She currently represents clients across pro sports as their Chief Marketing Officer, including many pro athletes, teams, leagues, an Olympic gold medalist and a Peloton instructor. Whitney is also the author of “You Are the First You,” which is an Amazon bestseller.
As a certified NFL marketing agent, Whitney has attended the Super Bowl with a number of her athletes and was named to University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 list in April of 2023.
Her passion has always been at the intersection of sports and giving back. Not only did she assist Brandon Marshall, an NFL wide receiver for 13 years, with his marketing opportunities, Whitney also ran the digital and marketing strategies for his mental health non-profit and his line of fitness training centers.
Prior to her role representing players, she oversaw the digital and social media platforms for RISE (Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality), which uses the power of sports to promote racial equality. RISE was founded by Stephen Ross, the owner of the Miami Dolphins. The organization has the commissioners of every major sports league and head of every major TV network on the board. RISE is unprecedented in that it’s the first time all of the sports leagues have come together for one cause.
Whitney’s sports career began right out of college, as she helped launched espnW, ESPN’s women’s initiative, where she had the opportunity to cover some of the best athletes and most riveting stories in the world of sports. She then moved on to operate the social media channels for Major League Baseball and all 30 teams. Her pivot into the marketing world came when she met Gary Vaynerchuk and landed at his marketing agency, where she ran the social and digital strategy for a variety of brands, including the Miami Dolphins. At VaynerMedia, she also consulted startups, Fortune 100 companies and sports franchises on digital brand strategy, with a focus on social media and emerging technology.
Whitney grew up in Tampa, Florida (a city she loves)! She’s an avid sports fan, thanks to her dad, who made Monday Night Football a staple in the Holtzman household. She attended the University of Florida during the Tebow era and experienced two football championships and a basketball title during her time as a Gator. In college, Whitney interned for the Tampa Bay Rays, Turner Sports and ESPN. She is an avid traveler, who hopes to visit every state and continent. Whitney is also the only non-lawyer in her family, but is excited she’s found her passion at the intersection of sports and making the world a better place.