MARCH/APRIL 2016 CHAIR’S COLUMN Who’d have thought...? No matter what your political we blanketed lawmakers with solid and persuasive arguments on a number of issues vital to both radio and television. It was rewarding to persuasion, few of us would have witness first-hand the attention our Association and our issues received predicted at the start of this year’s when dozens of local broadcasters met with nearly every state presidential campaign that Donald legislator on the same day in January. And when we headed to Washington in February, the Wisconsin delegation was the largest of Trump and Bernie Sanders would still any state association in attendance. Many thanks to all of the Wisconsin Tom Allen be in the headlines (much less broadcast professionals who joined us in those efforts. WBA Chair winning primaries), at While our collective voice is impressive, our It was rewarding to witness first- individual voices as local broadcasters are also this point in the 2016 campaign. hand the attention our Association essential. That’s why it’s so important that each of Whatever you think about the race so far, one and our issues received when us make an effort to have regular contact with our thing is clear. This certainly isn’t politics as usual. dozens of local broadcasters met local, state and federal officials. Let’s make sure that And given the current atmosphere of political in this unpredictable election year one thing is uncertainty, our efforts to make broadcaster’s with nearly every state legislator on certain: That anyone in elected office will clearly voices heard at the state and national level are the same day in January. understand the important role that local more important than ever. broadcasting plays in American life. They will know WBA members from across Wisconsin converged on the state capitol in it because we will continue to effectively tell our January, and then headed to Washington DC in February for calls with story. They’ll also know it because, as local broadcasters, we prove it Wisconsin’s Congressional and Senate delegations. In both instances, every day. CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Chair’s Column . Front page President’s Column . Front page form (attached), let me give you a bit of an In Remembrance: Les Leonard . 2 Are YOU a graduate of Awards Committee: the Walker Broadcast insider’s perspective on what a terrific offering Here are the Winning #’s/Gala Save The Date . 3 this is (as I just so happen to be a graduate of Malcolm Brett: Pillar of Public Service Award . 5 Management Institute? the Class of 2003). Where else can you get three From the Trenches V2 . 5 WBA’s DC Trip . 6 & 7 I’d like to take this opportunity to days of top-notch instructors, the most timely Jacobs Media/WBA Digital Partnership tell you about one of the greatest session topics, a fabulous venue (it doesn’t get The Great Disruptor: The Connected Car . 8 offerings we provide, the Walker much better than the UW-Madison campus in Allen Elected Board Chair . 9 Broadcast Management Institute! the spring), and memorable camaraderie (it’s Young Professionals’ Column . 10 Michelle WBA Saves the Day! . 10 Vetterkind, The Institute—the first of its kind fun to watch how everyone seems to bond with Live Code Tests – April 14 . 11 CAE to be sponsored by a state other members of their “class” after spending Job/Career Fair & Winter Conference . 12 WBA President broadcasters association—is now three full days together each year, for a three- Joint Board Reception . 13 and CEO in its 19th year, having completed year period), at an all-inclusive, amazingly low Winter Conference . 14 State Legislative Day . 15 its first six, three-year price? Oh, and did I mention that’s without ever Educator’s Column: management education cycles in 2015. It is held having to leave the state of Wisconsin? Sign up WBA Student Seminar Highlights . 16 on the campus of the University of Wisconsin- prior to April 1st to get the discounted rate. Student Awards for Excellence . 17 Madison in conjunction with the UW School of Webinars for WBA Members . 18 The highly interactive sessions take place Mid-West Family Broadcasting Gifts Radio Business. The Institute started out in 1997 as the during the day (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Station to UW-Eau Claire Foundation . 19 WBA Foundation Broadcast Management Institute. Thursday) in the state-of-the art Grainger Hall, 2016 Roster of WBA Members . 20 Then, in 2006, the estate of William R. Walker WBA Foundation Scholarship Recipients . 22 which houses UW-Madison’s School of Business. WBA Foundation Educational Support graciously donated funds to endow the Institute Tuesday night features a reception and casual Grant Program Taking Applications . 25 and it has since been the Walker Broadcast dinner at one of the local restaurants within 2015 WBA Foundation Contributors/Legacy Club . 25 Management Institute. walking distance of State Street and the UW 2016 Walker Broadcast Management Institute . 26 Calendar of Events . Back page This year’s event takes place April 26-28. While Campus. It also seems to be a bit of a tradition Conclave – July 14 & 15. Back page you can see this year’s full agenda and registration that after dinner, several will wander over to Continued on page 2 > PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Continued from page 1 nearby Memorial Union and sit out on the that the majority, by far, do attend the full three- lakefront terrace eating Babcock Hall ice cream year cycle (trust me, you’ll want to), we’ve had a (or perhaps indulging in a favorite Wisconsin few who have been unable to and have still libation). Wednesday night features a reception, benefitted greatly from the year(s) they have Wisconsin Broadcasters Association dinner, and speaker on the top floor of the been able to attend. Officers & Board of Directors beautiful UW-Madison Fluno Center. This year’s Many of you know Joan Gillman. Joan has been speaker will be Darcy Luoma, certified profes- and continues to be an integral part of the OFFICERS 2015-2016 sional life coach, who will speak on “The Myth of Institute as she’s worked with us since the Chair of the Board Multitasking: How to Increase your Productivity program’s inception when she was the Director Tom Allen by Doing Less” (I think we can all benefit from of the Small Business Development Center at Quincy Broadcast Group, Madison that session). A Wednesday night highlight also UW-Madison. While Joan has since “retired” (she Vice Chair - Television/Chair Elect involves the “graduation ceremony” (with the is now Director of Industry Relations, Emeritus, Dick Record rest of the attendees belting out an enthusiastic School of Business, UW-Madison), fortunately Family Radio, La Crosse rendition of Pomp and Circumstance, as each for us—she likes us (she really likes us)—and is Vice Chair - Radio graduate steps up to the podium to receive the willing to continue to work with us on the Steve Wexler highly coveted leather briefcase, which one can program, securing top-notch programs and E. W. Scripps Company, Milwaukee only receive as a graduate of the Institute). speakers each year. Treasurer The program is designed in three, three-year Nancy Douglass If I still haven’t convinced you to sign up for the WLKG-FM, Lake Geneva modules for maximum effectiveness. For the Walker Broadcast Management Institute, take a most part, topics will repeat every three years look at this list of our 111 esteemed graduates Secretary (with many of the same instructors coming Steve Lavin (and…we’re looking to add more graduates to WBAY-TV, Green Bay back, due to popular demand). However, if the list after this year’s event). Wouldn’t YOU like you’re worried about committing to the full Immediate Past Chair to see your name on this list? > continued on page 4> three years initially, please don’t. While it’s true Scott Chorski WKBT-TV, La Crosse President & CEO IN REMEMBRANCE Michelle Vetterkind, CAE [email protected] Les Leonard In 1976, Leonard returned to his native Vice President - Administration Marshfield to serve as a farm director for six Ninety-two-year-old Linda Baun radio stations owned by the former Goetz [email protected] Les Leonard died Broadcasting Corporation, and his March 2, 2016 at a programming later aired on more than 40 BOARD OF DIRECTORS hospice home. stations in the Goetz Farm Radio Network. Chris Bernier Radio Plus, Marinette/Fond du Lac He began his career in He started an auction of the champion animals Lynn Bieritz Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Eau Claire 1953 broadcasting at Marshfield's annual fair, raising thousands of market reports for the Milwaukee Stockyards— Brad Heinkel WAOW-TV, Wausau dollars for Marshfield Clinic's National Farm and two decades later, he became the farm JT Koser Koser Radio Group, Rice Lake/Hayward Medicine Center—and in 1992, Leonard was director for WISC-TV in Madison, hosting a Lupita Montoto La Movida WLMV Radio, Madison inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters’ Hall noon show while creating a statewide radio of Fame. Gene Purcell Wisconsin ECB, Madison network of market reports for Equity Co-op Chuck Steinmetz WITI-TV, Milwaukee Livestock Sales. (Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service) Don Vesely WMTV-TV, Madison Jan Wade WISN-TV, Milwaukee Richard Wood Resonant Results, Cottage Grove • Pronunciation guide for Wisconsin cities, You never have to guess. Michael Wright Midwest Communications, Wausau towns, villages, and elected officials Ex Officio - NAB Board d Tom Walker Mid-West Family Broadcasting, Madison • Concise summaries regarding Wisconsin Know yourrights as a laws including open meetings/records WBA Board minutes are d reporter/ photographer.