Video: Bermudian Praised By Michelle Obama

November 6, 2013

Bermudian Mel Ming, the president and CEO of the Sesame Workshop, has received praise from American First Lady Michelle Obama for his work on the popular children’s show Sesame Street.

In an address made late last month in the White House’s State Dining Room, Mrs. Obama outlined the role that Sesame Workshop has long played in promoting good eating habits, culminating in the success of the program that she has championed over the past few years.

“I want to take a moment to express my appreciation to Mel Ming and everyone from Sesame Workshop for everything they are doing for our children,” the First Lady said, singling out the Bermudian.

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Under the licensing agreement made between Mr. Ming’s Sesame Workshop and Mrs. Obama’s campaign, all fees for use of the image of popular Sesame Street characters are officially waived for two years, opening the door for use by not only official campaign media, but also by American produce companies in promoting their fruits and vegetables.

Mr. Ming was appointed to his position with Sesame Workshop in October 2011, after working within the company for 12 years. Prior to joining the Workshop’s management team in 1999 as executive vice president and Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Ming was the Chief Financial Officer of the Museum of Television and Radio in New York from 1997 to 1999, Chief Operating Officer at WQED Pittsburgh from 1994 to 1996, and from 1984 to 1994, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at PBS’ Channel Thirteen/WNET New York.

From 1983 to 1984, Mr. Ming served as vice-president with responsibility for finance and administration at National Public Radio in Washington, DC. Mr. Ming became a director of Westwood, Inc., the largest independent producer and distributor of programming for commercial radio in the US, in 2006.

Mr. Ming, a CPA, spent his early business career with Coopers and Lybrand in Philadelphia and Washington DC, after graduating from Philadelphia’s Temple University.

Video of Mrs Obama’s remarks:

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Comments (8)

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  1. swing voter says:

    Impressive….I love it when we leave here on good terms and don’t come back because we don’t have to nor want to. Perhaps the UK dependents will read Mel’s story and get off the DOLE

  2. Whistling Frog says:

    Great job Mr. Ming. Can you please get in touch with David Dodwell, the Chairman of the Bermuda Tourism Authority and the both you find a way to get your Sesame Street crew to visit Bermuda and have a workshop here just for a week or so to educate the world about where Bermuda is located… I am sure with the millions of dollars allocated to the Tourism Authority that they can pay to accommodate your whole workshop while on the Island.
    There are plenty of Historic places here that your little audiences would be amazed to learn including the deep blue waters of the Sargasso Sea to the North of Bermuda… See, One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to get things going.

    • of course off course says:

      A rocket scientist however would have noted that it is retarded to blow the majority or entirety of a multimillion dollar budget solely on one group of people coming here, especially when the man is already Bermudian and the workshop is not even tourist related. If people in Government blew money on things like that we would have a government like the PLP again

      • Whistling Frog says:

        @ off course: I can read that Mr. Ming is from Bermuda. That is the whole point of him bringing the muppet workshop to Bermuda, DUHHH!!! And it don’t have to be tourism related, we’re talking marketing. It would be to educate the world that watches Sesame Street muppets, which are parents, educators, hospitals, which are in the millions, if you don’t know this already…
        It would be far less $$$ than what the Bermuda Tourism Authority would be spending to pay 50 visites attending the World Travel Market in London UK… Its looks to me that the OBA is trying very hard to out do the PLP with their spending.

    • Gopher says:

      That’s a lovely idea!

  3. Sheena n Zariyah Daniels says:

    Well Done Uncle Mel! Keep doing what you always do best! Yes you have worked very hard over the years and it shows day by day. Seasme Workshop is a great learning tool for young children. My daughter can attest to that. I’m sure many children are being inspired and maybe one day one of them will be doing exactly what you have done . :)

  4. Just my .08 cents says:

    The Production did visit Bermuda approx 30 years ago and they were here for approximately a week visiting various places throughout Bermuda.

    Honestly Folks! thats why we can’t get anything accomplished.. Can we all work together for the betterment of the country instead of complaining all the time….

    Seems to me that politics as usual is “THE ORDER OF THE DAY”. So business just went to the otherside of the table…

  5. Ya got me Rollin says:

    This Bermudian does something great and just look at the negative comments that have nothing to do with his accomplishment. Which shows all that not only does his work mean nothing to them, Mrs. Obama recognition means nothing as well.

    Great job Mr. Ming continue to shine for Bermuda.