Your WBA is turning 75 in 2026 and we’re most definitely ready to celebrate. We hope you are too!
Here are some of the highlights of what we have planned so far:
–Our WBA Summer Conference will be June 17-18 at the beautiful Grand Geneva Resort. Your WBA Conference Committee has been meeting early and often to plan some special elements to make this an extra special event, on top of being at a special venue. Watch for more information soon!
–Your WBA Hall of Fame is moving to a new location within our long-time home, the Hilton Milwaukee. To celebrate – we plan to hold a reception there to showcase this wonderful new space. Stay tuned for info on that.
–We will kick off the year with our WBA State Legislative Day in Madison on Jan. 21. We’re thrilled to announce that our featured guest that morning will be Charles Franklin, the Director of the nationally recognized Marquette Law School Poll. Charles is always a WBA favorite and he’s sure to have insightful observations about the 2026 political calendar. We hope you can join us for his presentation AND to make calls at the State Capitol.
–Our WBA Awards Gala on May 2 at the Madison Marriott West will be yet another opportunity to celebrate. The theme for 2026 will be Diamond Jubilee (highly appropriate for our 75th). We’re planning to pack some surprises in for this event as well.
–To mark 75 years, we’re also providing members with some additional benefits. Adding to the already popular Insight Weekly from Local Broadcast Sales, we’re adding access to the LBS platform for all WBA members. We’ve also partnered with Media Financial Management to bring you a series of timely online events to further enhance your training opportunities. Watch the events section of the WBA website for the latest on these new events and the 2026 Third Thursday of the month events. We’ll be adding content there often.
Your WBA celebrated 50 years at The Pfister in Milwaukee in 2001, complete with an event at Miller Park to celebrate its debut. We marked our 60th year at Grand Geneva. Apart from Marcus Hotels hosting these landmark events for your WBA, as mentioned above, Marcus’ Hilton Milwaukee also plays permanent host to our WBA Hall of Fame. We thank you, Marcus, for this wonderful long-term partnership!
Michelle Vetterkind
WBA President and CEO
