The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 WBA Hall of Fame inductees:
Dave Magnum has turned a network of radio stations into a second generation legacy in Wisconsin.
Kelly Radandt’s broadcasting career reflects a rare blend of strategic leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to people and community.
Jeff Tyler’s career stands as a testament to integrity, strategic leadership, and a deep belief in the enduring value of local broadcasting.
Steve Wexler has a distinguished career spanning on-air performance, executive leadership, and industry mentorship.
The 2026 Hall of Fame honorees will be celebrated the night of June 18 at the 2026 Summer Conference at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva.
The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame was created in 1989 to honor broadcasters that have devoted a minimum of 25 years to the broadcasting industry. Nominees are evaluated based on their “integrity, leadership, and impact on their station(s), communities served, and the state of Wisconsin broadcast industry.”
The first 12 members of the Hall of Fame were inducted during the 1989 WBA Summer Conference. Since 1989, 164 outstanding broadcasters have been honored with Hall of Fame inductions.
Inductees are chosen each year from nominations by WBA members, family members and friends. Broadcasters who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame include managers, personalities, engineers, reporters, educators and those broadcasting pioneers who were all of the above.
In October 1989, Alfred C. Sykes, then Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, came to Wisconsin to formally dedicate a Hall of Fame display, including plaques honoring the inductees, at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library in Madison. In 2010, due to remodeling of the SHSW facility, the display was removed and put in storage.
The display now resides in a newly renovated space at the Hilton Milwaukee. The Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame also has a permanent, virtual display at the online Wisconsin Museum of Broadcasting which debuted in 2009 at www.wisconsinbroadcastingmuseum.org, where the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame Gallery is one of our major attractions.
Join us June 18 at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva to honor these WBA Hall of Famers.
Meet the Hall of Famers
Dave Magnum
Dave Magnum’s first time on the air was in 1976 at age 13 on WNNO in his hometown of Wisconsin Dells helping his church raise funds for Camp Wawbeek through a radio auction. At 15, WNNO hired him as a deejay. At 19, he was on WIBA-FM in Madison. Radio jobs then took him to Kansas and Texas. Dave met his future wife, Lynn, in 1987 when he became Program Director of a Michigan station where she worked in the office. In 1989, the newlyweds moved to Albuquerque, where Dave joined Drake-Chenault as a Regional Manager.
The couple returned to Wisconsin in 1991 to build their first radio station from scratch, a Construction Permit licensed to Tomah they called WBOG to locally brand with the area’s cranberry bogs. In 1994, they consolidated two more stations. Their plan was to build an all-Wisconsin group with the goal of overlapping I-90/94 signals from La Crosse through Madison to Milwaukee. In 2002, at age 33, Lynn died of breast cancer. Her legacy lives on through their sons, Reid and Ty, plus Reid’s wife, Chelsey, who are taking Magnum Media into its second generation.
As of 2026, Magnum has owned 27 AM and FM stations, 25 FM translators, and three LP-TV stations. Dave credits the growth to talented and loyal coworkers. He has also served on the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Board of Directors and as a Rotarian.
Kelly Radandt
Kelly Radandt’s broadcasting career reflects a rare blend of strategic leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to people and community. Beginning her career in sales, she joined Woodward Community Media in 1989 and quickly distinguished herself through hard work, persistence, and an instinctive understanding of radio’s role in local life. Over time, she advanced into senior leadership positions, including General Manager and Director of Broadcast, guiding teams through periods of rapid technological and industry change.
Radandt became known for her empathetic, people-first leadership style. She fosters workplace cultures that valued collaboration, professional development, and work-life balance—often ahead of industry trends. Her ability to navigate difficult decisions with fairness and transparency earned her the respect of colleagues across departments and markets. She was also a passionate mentor, helping develop countless broadcasters and managers throughout her career.
Her service to the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association has been extensive and impactful. Radandt served on the WBA Board of Directors, became Board Chair in 2014, and continues her involvement through the WBA Foundation. She championed professional education, industry advocacy, and initiatives addressing the future workforce of broadcasting, including engineering development.
Through decades of leadership, mentorship, and advocacy, Kelly Radandt has left an enduring mark on Woodward Community Media and the Wisconsin broadcast industry as a whole.
Jeff Tyler
Jeff Tyler’s nearly 50-year broadcasting career is marked by versatility, vision, and a lasting impact on local radio. Beginning as an on-air personality in Wisconsin, Tyler quickly developed a reputation for understanding both the creative and business sides of broadcasting. That rare combination propelled him into leadership roles that would shape major radio markets across Wisconsin and the country.
Over the decades, Tyler guided stations through transformative industry shifts, including ownership consolidation, digital expansion, and multi-platform integration. As a senior executive with iHeartMedia, he served as Market Manager, Regional President, Division President, and ultimately Area President, earning national recognition for his steady leadership and people-first management style. Throughout his career, he mentored countless broadcasters, many of whom now lead stations and markets of their own.
Tyler also played a pivotal role in sports broadcasting, overseeing landmark partnerships with the Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Gophers. These relationships strengthened local radio’s connection to fans and reinforced radio’s relevance in an evolving media landscape.
A longtime supporter of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Tyler served on its Board of Directors and actively participated in advocacy and professional development efforts. His career stands as a testament to integrity, strategic leadership, and a deep belief in the enduring value of local broadcasting.
Steve Wexler
Steve Wexler’s broadcasting journey began with a childhood passion for radio, making recordings in his homemade “WEXL Studios” in his bedroom, and evolved into a distinguished career spanning on-air performance, executive leadership, and industry mentorship. Wexler worked on-air at WTMJ, WKTI, and WISN before transitioning into management roles that expanded his influence across radio and television.
Wexler held senior leadership positions with major broadcast organizations including Hearst, King Broadcasting, Journal Communications, E.W. Scripps, and Good Karma Brands. His career took him to markets across the country, where he oversaw television and radio operations, guided teams through ownership transitions, and built strong station cultures. As head of Journal Radio Group, he led a multi-market operation through significant industry change and later oversaw its successful sale.
A respected thought leader in broadcasting, Wexler has served as Chair of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, and on the boards of the National Association of Broadcasters, and the Radio Advertising Bureau, and currently serves on the Wisconsin Broadcasters Foundation Board. Today, through his leadership coaching and consulting work, he continues to mentor broadcasters nationwide, extending a legacy defined by vision, service, and a lifelong commitment to excellence in broadcasting.
The WBA Local Broadcast Legends will also be honored at the Summer Conference. You can read more about them here.
