A Message from Michelle Duke

As we reflect on another abundant year of people, programs and purpose, there are so many highlights from 2023 to share.

The NAB Leadership Foundation continues to be a driving force in attracting diverse students and young professionals to the world of broadcast media sales, programming, technology and engineering. Program class sizes grew by 20%, and thanks to our partnership with Amazon Web Services, a new online program option is being developed. In collaboration with NAB, we are laser focused on industry recruitment and cultivating the next generation of leaders. An in-person career fair in the fall highlighted the industry's demand for candidates, as well as the enthusiasm of job seekers for opportunities in television and radio. And thanks to a grant from the Knight Foundation, we will be able to increase the number of fully funded internships next year to better prepare those applicants. In June, we honored the community service of local broadcasters with the Celebration of Service to America Awards and the nationally televised special is now in its fourth year.

We are so grateful to our generous sponsors and partners who make our work possible. We also appreciate all the speakers, mentors and faculty members who help craft our program curriculum throughout the year. Furthermore, we want to express the greatest esteem for Darrell Brown, who chaired our volunteer board of directors for four years and recently retired as president of Bonneville International Corporation. We are excited to welcome DuJuan McCoy, owner, president and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, who was appointed to chair in November.

And lastly, the foundation is turning 30 years old in 2024, and we are looking forward to commemorating it with everyone. Anniversaries indulge us to look back at our accomplishments, but we are thrilled about the path forward and all the projects on the horizon to fulfill our mission of a vibrant community of broadcasters.

Michelle Duke

President, NAB Leadership Foundation
Chief Diversity Officer, NAB