“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life forever.” – Amy Poehler, actor and comedian
It will soon be time to submit entries for the WBA Awards for Excellence for 2025. There are several reasons to compete for these awards. Winners increase their company’s credibility, boost their visibility, enhance employee morale, and help attract top talent.
But have you considered how the awards process itself offers a valuable opportunity for the kind of self-reflection, team building, and morale-boosting that can give your company a tangible competitive edge?
“Honestly, it’s okay to be completely proud of yourself, because I believe that we have very tough competitors out there,” said Nancy Douglass, General Manager of CTJ Communications/WLKG in Lake Geneva.
Douglass says for her and her staff, the awards process begins immediately after the last gala is over.
“I think the biggest part of the cohesiveness, at least in my office, is really reflecting on the things that we did throughout the year. You know, sometimes we forget that we did that remote and it turned out really well, and we ask ourselves if we want to do more of that type of thing,” said Douglass.
Stations that have not been active participants in many years might do well to consider the benefits of competing for Awards for Excellence.
Civic Media is new on the Wisconsin broadcasting scene, but the company was built largely by acquiring several legacy radio stations around the state, stations that until now may have been staying on the sidelines at awards time for many years.
“From the tales I’ve heard from my colleagues is that many of them have never really been encouraged to try to be excellent and to try to get some recognition for their pursuit of excellence,” said WMDX Station Manager Kathryn Lake. “I’m pleased to say that we all win when one of us wins.”
Lake said gathering WBA awards entries is also a good opportunity for a station’s staff to take stock of themselves.
“It really is a business about today and tomorrow. They can’t be aware of the impact they’re having because they have to be in the moment,” said Lake.
The process can have benefits far beyond your own staff and build goodwill throughout a community.
“We bring clients in when we win with their commercials or a remote, and we celebrate with them as well,” said Douglass, who recalled a winning commercial for a local restaurant that featured one of the eatery’s most beloved regulars.
“He’s 28 years old, and just the nicest kid on the planet. His favorite food is the meatball sandwich there. We framed the certificate, we bought him a little gift, and he tells everybody that he got that award from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association,” said Douglass.
The 2025 Awards for Excellence online entries will be accepted starting Dec.1. The deadline is 4 p.m. on Jan. 9.
Terry Bell
WBA Awards Committee
