Liz Hart
Founder, Talent Representation
Liz Hart’s highly successful career working with broadcast news journalists covers more than 30 years. She has a national reputation within the television news industry as one of the leading and most trusted talent agents who negotiates top contracts and salaries for her clients. Hart takes pride in navigating and developing the careers of hundreds of on-air television journalists. Liz is one who serves the slice of “reality pie” to each of her client’s in an effort to challenge them to become better and achieve their career goals. Prior to founding Hart Talent Management, Liz was Vice President of Digital News/Programming with the NWT Group. Her role was to expand the digital space of social media clients, including training and overseeing client profiles in the social media arena along with client placements in local and national news. As a top producer for 11 years with another agency, from 2004 to 2015, Hart successfully moved her clients into highly sought-after broadcasting positions including: CBS News, CBS Syndicated Television, CNN “New Day,†CNN correspondents, NBC’s Weekend Today, ABC News, NFL Network and in every Top 20 local market. She is reputed for having a keen eye for recognizing the untapped potential in emerging talent, and is a trusted representative to many hiring managers who have worked with her. Hart believes in mentoring young talent and giving advice and critiques to those who reach out to her. In 1994, Hart Talent and Management was first founded in San Francisco, California. Liz served as Vice President/General Manager for one of the leading talent recruitment firms in the country, Don Fitzpatrick Associates in San Francisco, beginning in 1988. She successfully placed news managers and countless many broadcast journalists nationwide, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations and budgets of the company. Her broadcasting career began in 1985 at KPIX Television in San Francisco. Hart holds a B.A. degree in Mass Communications from California State University East Bay and she was chapter president of The Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. Liz resides in Los Angeles, California.
You can reach Liz at: Liz@HartTalentManagement.com
Joe Hengemuehler
Vice President, Talent Representation
Joe Hengemuehler joins Hart Talent Management as a 28-year veteran in the broadcast industry. He brings to the team, a wealth of experience in identifying and hiring talent and contract negotiations. Most recently, Joe served as Vice President & General Manager at KOLD-TV in Tucson, AZ, after being promoted from News Director. He oversaw the day-to-day operations of the station and made several key hires for the station. He spent 10 years at the E.W. Scripps-owned ABC15 News (KNXV-TV) in Phoenix, serving as news director for six of those years. During his leadership, this ABC news affiliate was consistently recognized with the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter Emmy for Overall News Excellence. The station also earned two George Foster Peabody awards for two separate investigative reports. Talent he has mentored and coached over the years, now work in top markets and at national broadcast networks.
Previously, Hengemuehler served as news director at KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City, senior executive producer at WUSA9-TV in Washington, D.C., executive producer at KPNX-TV in Phoenix, and morning news producer and 10 p.m. producer at KTSP (now KSAZ-TV, Fox10) in Phoenix.
He holds membership positions with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists. He is a past president of the Arizona Chapter of The National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association. Hengemuehler studied broadcast journalism at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa. Joe currently resides in Phoenix.
You can reach Joe at: Joe@HartTalentManagement.com
Our Awesome Interns:
Hart Talent Management is committed to mentoring, teaching and growing our interns. Not only while in school but preparing them for their future jobs in television. Each intern will remain a part of our family and we will advise and follow their careers as they move forward.
Summer 2022: Madisyn Lizak
Madisyn Lizak is entering her senior year at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Phoenix. She is majoring in journalism and mass communication and recently started a minor in film and media studies. Madisyn has experience working with the Cut Network’s social media team and reporting for the Downtown Devil newspaper. She was also the recipient of the Bill Austin Memorial Scholarship in 2020 for her achievements at Arizona State University. Madisyn is passionate about video editing and media, and she’s thrilled to be interning with Hart Talent Management this summer!
Spring 2022: Maria Staubs
Since interning for Hart Talent Management, Maria Staubs graduated with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Film and Media Production from Arizona State University. A year later, she graduated with a Master’s in Mass Communication from ASU. She also interned for the Las Vegas Review Journal, PBS Newshour and ABC15 Arizona and worked for ASU media relations & strategic communications. With skills in reporting, producing and social media, and the guidance of Liz and Joe, she is excited to pursue her passion for storytelling in Tucson as a reporter at KGUN9.