Jennifer Altarriba

Jennifer Altarriba

Age: 39

Company: ESPN, The Walt Disney Co.

Title: Sr. Director, Remote Operations

No. of years with current company: 16

Town where I live: Avon

Town where I work: Bristol

College: Harvard University

Highest degree: Bachelor’s degree in Spanish & American literature

Jennifer Altarriba joined ESPN in 2004 as their first international assignment editor. By 2005, Altarriba was traveling the world, spearheading the news coverage for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Euros 2008, Beijing Olympics, and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

In 2011, Altarriba joined ESPN’s remote operations, where she is now the senior director of crewing and resources. Altarriba is responsible for the personnel strategy of 8,000 operators across ESPN’s 4,400-plus live events, touching properties from Monday Night Football and NCAA Basketball, to NBA and College Football.

What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career?

The professional accomplishment I am most proud of is reactivating a remote workforce during a global pandemic — whereby every sport, league and conference is figuring out a new way to serve their fans. My team at ESPN was not only responsible for safely getting 1,000 employees home in March, but we are now finding innovative and creative ways to bring back ‘live’ sports.

How are you involved in the community?

As co-chair for SOMOS ESPN, the company’s Hispanic employee resource group, we are proud to partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Bristol, as well as a number of nonprofit organizations in Greater Hartford. Being a mom of three young children, it is important to me that they see an example of ‘giving back’ to the community that ‘builds you up.’

What do you like to do outside of work?

When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my family. My husband is a football coach for the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils. We love going to games in the fall, tailgating with friends, and supporting the team.

What part of work life did you miss most during the pandemic?

What I missed most about work life during the pandemic was the routine and my ESPN family — getting my coffee from my favorite bakery in the morning, saying ‘hi’ to ‘Grady’ as I entered the gates at work, and collaborating with my team in a conference room on our plan for March Madness.

Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:

• Youngest member on division’s senior staff.

• Manage a population of 8,000 personnel across 4,400 events.

• Co-lead SOMOS ESPN, the company’s Hispanic Employee Resource Group.

• Named Women in Cable Telecommunications Leader of Change 2015.