WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The NAB Education Foundation (NABEF) announced today the new members of the 2013 Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) program. Now in its thirteenth year, the ten-month, MBA-style program is dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of purchasing, owning and operating radio and television stations to senior level broadcast executives who aspire to advance as group executives or station owners. To encourage diversity in broadcasting, NABEF offers fellowship opportunities to women and people of color.
Currently, a number of BLT graduates are in varying stages of station acquisition. Of the 201 graduates, 32 currently own or have owned stations and more than 80 have moved to more senior level positions or to larger markets. A number of BLT graduates are in varying stages of station acquisition. This year's student roster includes:
| Ronnie Agnew
Executive Director Mississippi Public Broadcasting Jackson, MS |
Christine Brown General Manager KNDU/KNDO-TV Kennewick, WA |
| Susan Buterbaugh General Sales Manager WPMT FOX43- Tribune Broadcasting York, PA |
Brian Green Vice President D.O.S WASK Radio Group Lafayette, IN |
| Jesus Chavez Vice President, General Manager Univision Communications Inc. Dallas, TX |
Kym Grinnage Vice Presdient/ General Manager Raycom Media WWBT Richmond, VA |
| James Cosby Jr. VP Media Sales, Dayton Region Cox Media Group Ohio Dayton, OH |
Ravi Kapur Vice President KAXT, LLC (KAXT-CD) San Jose, CA |
| Michelle Robinson Harper General Sales Manager WAXN-TGV Charlotte/Cox Media Group Charlotte, NC |
Tomas Martinez Vice President/General Manager Prisa Radio/ WSUA-AM, Miami Miami, FL |
| Jama Killingsworth
Director of Sales WBDB/ Jackson Broadcasting Jackson, MS |
Eric Palacios Managing Member Radio Active Broadcasting, LLC KXCL 94.5 FM Las Vegas, NV |
| Thea Mitchem President/Market Manager Clear Channel Media, Washington D.C. & Baltimore Rockville, MD |
Steve Scadden General Sales Manager WISC-TV/Morgan Murphy Media Madison, WI |
| Ralph Renzi Director of Federal Sales WTOP/WFED Hubbard Radio Washington, DC |
Michael Taylor General Sales Manager WQNC-FM, WPZS-FM, RADIO Charlotte, NC |
| Karen E. Slade Vice President/ General Manager Taxi Productions, Inc. KJLH Radio Inglewood, CA |
Chuck Wolfertz General Sales Manager WTAE-TV Pittsburgh, PA |
| Thomas Van Ness General Sales Managerager Quincy Newspaper Inc. Quincy, IL |
The BLT program comprises weekend sessions held once a month for ten months at NAB's headquarters. Sessions focus on the process of assessing, purchasing, owning and operating radio and television stations. Students will have the opportunity to network with session instructors, including broadcasters, FCC staff, communications attorneys and members of the banking community and academic faculty, while learning how to apply the skills taught in the program to real-world situations.
NABEF and BLT program founder Diane Sutter have tapped industry experts to serve as associate deans of the program. The 2013 associate deans are Trila Bumstead, owner, Ohana Media Group; Anita Stephens-Graham, co-founder and managing director, Graham and Associates; Marc Jaromin, president, Roundtable Broadcasting; DuJuan McCoy, president and CEO, Bayou City Broadcasting; and Jeanette Tully, CEO, Aloha Station Trust. Diane Sutter, founder, president and CEO of ShootingStar Broadcasting, will continue to serve as the program dean.
Sponsors of the BLT program include NAB, Cox Communications, Hearst Foundations, Legend Communications, Morgan Murphy Media, The Nielsen Company, Quincy, Raycom Media, Roundtable Broadcasting, Schurz Communications, TDF and Univision. For additional program information, click here.
About NABEFAbout NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.