Registration deadline is May 28 and the hotel deadline is May 25. No registration refunds after deadline.

Pricing:

SEPARATE REGISTRATIONS

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Wednesday, June 17

Agenda subject to change

8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Registration

Conference Sessions

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Time Management: Doing More with Less

In today’s fast-paced broadcasting world, many professionals are wearing multiple hats, juggling overlapping roles, and facing tighter deadlines than ever before. As stations downsize or shift responsibilities, the challenge isn’t just getting it all done—it’s getting the right things done, with less time and fewer resources.

This interactive workshop will help you rethink how you manage your time, prioritize your tasks, and stay focused under pressure. Whether you’re producing content, managing a team, handling sales, or all of the above, you’ll leave with practical tools and strategies to maximize your productivity, protect your energy, and reduce burnout.

This session is designed for anyone in broadcasting who feels stretched thin—and is ready to take back control of their time.

11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Lunch on your own 

1 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

EEO Session – Come back soon to learn about the speaker

3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Legislative Update

and the WBA Legislative Committee

5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Reception

7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Dinner

Sam Ness Returns!

Sam Ness is returning to the 2026 WBA Summer Conference. This time leading the Sam Ness Trio. He was honored as the Wisconsin Area Music Industry Folk Performer of the Year this last year. In 2024 Sam became the youngest person to enter the Madison Music Hall of Fame, after winning Male Vocalist of the Year four times.

The Sam Ness Trio will entertain during the reception with a few songs. Following dinner, the Trio will perform a concert featuring songs from Sam’s new album “Of Heart and Home.”

Mixing Traditional Folk/Americana roots with an Alternative-Indie feel, with a vault of international busking adventures and more than 1,300 shows under his belt, Sam’s catalog is steeped in authenticity. His songs trace the roads he’s walked — from city streets to quiet cabins — always searching for something true. If you’re looking for grit, melody and a voice that moves, Sam’s already on the road.

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Thursday, June 18

7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Registration

8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Business Breakfast and WBA Update

10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Economic Update – U.S. Bank

Noon – 2:30 p.m.
Keynote Lunch and Local Broadcast Legends Presentation

Keynote Address: Curtis LeGeyt, President and CEO, NAB

Come back soon to see the Local Broadcast Legends inductees!

2:45 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Be a Coach, Not a “Fixer”

In this interactive session with WBA Hall of Famer Jill Geisler, you’ll learn how to coach people and improve work, rather than being a “fixer.” This session isn’t just for managers, because anyone benefit from becoming a coach. You’ll learn specific skills, a step-by-step process, and we’ll practice in real time.

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Hall of Fame Reception

6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Hall of Fame Dinner

7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Hall of Fame presentations

Come back soon to see the WBA Hall of Fame inductees!

Masters of Ceremonies:

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UPDATE YOUR HEADSHOT

EVENT SPONSORS

Brian Allers
TVB

Brian Allers is Executive Vice President, Business Development at TVB, the national trade association representing America’s local broadcast television industry. In his role with TVB, Brian works with local broadcast stations and ownership groups by traveling the country and presenting to advertisers on how to grow their business through the right allocation of their media dollar. Brian also spearheads TVBU, TVB’s dedicated online sales training program. Brian’s presentations blend storytelling, engagement, and data-driven research – an approach that helps local TV stations across the country generate millions in revenue and strengthen their position in the marketplace. Brian has a deep passion for the broadcast industry and is on the road for as many as 40 weeks each year serving and supporting local stations. Brian’s background includes more than 20 years in marketing and advertising. Prior to joining TVB, Brian had successful stints at a number of local television stations owned by leading broadcast organizations including Meredith and Scripps. Brian is a graduate of the University of Kansas and lives in Naples, Florida with his two children.

Zach Blumenfeld
CultureCon

Zach Blumenfeld is a seasoned entrepreneur with a proven track record of launching and exiting multiple businesses. Passionate about growth and innovation, Zach’s expertise spans sales strategy, business scaling, and workplace culture, where he is widely recognized as a thought leader. He has scaled companies across multiple industries, including company culture, pet insurance, InsurTech, FinTech, SaaS, and HR Tech. His motto, “Make What You Do Matter,” reflects his commitment to building organizations that positively impact people’s lives—an ethos that inspired the founding of CultureCon. Outside of work, Zach enjoys travel, sports (Go Badgers!), collecting sports cards, and lunch buffets. You might also spot him as an extra on your favorite TV show or movie.

Juan Galdamez
Xperi

Juan Galdamez is a passionate advocate for the future of radio, leveraging 14 years of experience in technology adoption and advancing radio’s presence in vehicles. He has a strong background spanning digital radio, broadcast, automotive, connected platforms, and computer vision technologies. Throughout his tenure at Xperi, Juan has championed the use of technology to enhance the listener experience. His work has been instrumental in helping stations globally improve their in-vehicle, mobile, connected device, and metadata delivery, ensuring a competitive listening experience in challenging ecosystems. Juan’s dedication to radio began with roles at WXTU-FM, and continued at WIHT-FM, WMZQ-FM, and WASH-FM in Washington, DC.

Jill Geisler
Loyola University Chicago
WBA Hall of Fame

Veteran journalist Jill Geisler is the person media organizations turn to for healthier leadership, culture, and journalism. Her reach is worldwide. As a groundbreaking Wisconsin news director, author, columnist, educator, and WBA Hall of Fame inductee, she serves as Clinical Professor of Journalism, Leadership and Ethics at Loyola University Chicago, where she teaches a very popular Master Class for Media Managers. Jill is known for her commitment to ethics and inclusion. It shines through her practical, high-impact teaching and coaching, which is always delivered with humanity, humor, and heart.

Curtis LeGeyt
NAB

Curtis LeGeyt is the president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters. In this role, he serves as the chief advocate for America’s free, local television and radio stations and their network partners. He previously served as the chief operating officer of the association before assuming his current role in January 2022. LeGeyt also served as the executive vice president, Government Relations, from 2015-2020.

As president and CEO, LeGeyt is leading NAB’s charge for policies and innovations that enable the availability of high-quality local broadcast programming to all consumers. He and his team successfully advocate for policies that level the playing field between local stations and Big Tech companies, prevent harmful new regulations that hinder broadcasters’ ability to serve their communities, and promote the vital and trusted local journalism broadcasters provide.

LeGeyt has been featured in Washingtonian magazine as one of Washington, D.C.’s 500 most influential people, named “Radio Executive of the Year” by Radio Ink magazine and as a top lobbyist by The Hill newspaper. LeGeyt is also a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Association Committee of 100, which brings together trade association CEOs to build partnerships and discuss issues facing their industries.

Prior to joining NAB in 2011, LeGeyt served as the senior counsel to then-Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (VT), advising the chairman and committee on intellectual property, antitrust and First Amendment issues. Previously, LeGeyt practiced law at Howrey LLP, where he focused on antitrust litigation and merger reviews. LeGeyt began his career as a management consultant for Putnam Associates and worked on the staff of the 2008 Obama for America presidential campaign.

LeGeyt serves on the boards of directors of the NAB Leadership Foundation, the Broadcasters Foundation of America and Tracy’s Kids, a nonprofit helping children with cancer.

He also serves on the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Executive Committee, and is an alumnus of Leadership Music, a Nashville-based program that fosters community and collaboration among music industry leaders.

LeGeyt received his J.D. from Cornell University Law School, and his B.A. from Providence College in quantitative economics where he serves on its National Board of Advisors. He resides in Washington, D.C., with his wife Kacey and their three children.

Nick Lombardino
CultureCon
Born and raised in Madison, Nick Lombardino is an imaginative social entrepreneur and community builder with extensive experience scaling organizations that drive positive change for individuals, companies, and communities. With broad professional services experience, Nick has held leadership roles spanning marketing, business development, operations, human resources, and finance. In addition to his work at CultureCon, Nick is a faculty member at Edgewood University, where he teaches social entrepreneurship and small business management. Prior to joining CultureCon full-time, Nick was part of the leadership team at FarWell, where he led the development and execution of the organization’s employee experience strategies. Outside of work (or sometimes during work), Nick is passionate about cribbage, soul music, lunch buffets, and just about anything you’d find in a senior living community.

David Oxenford
Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP

David Oxenford is a partner with the law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP and serves as the WBA’s Washington regulatory counsel. He has represented broadcasters for 40 years on a wide array of matters from the negotiation and structuring of station purchase and sale agreements to regulatory matters. His regulatory expertise includes all areas of broadcast law including the FCC’s multiple ownership limitations, the political broadcasting rules, EEO policy, advertising issues, and other programming matters and FCC technical rules.

David’s clients range from family-owned broadcasters to active mid-market venture-backed companies to one of the largest noncommercial radio licensees in the country. In addition to representing station groups, David represents a number of state broadcast associations, the trade association for media brokers, program and service providers to the broadcast and digital media industry and banks and others providing financing to media companies. He is also the principal author of the Broadcast Law Blog, read by thousands of broadcasters each week.

 

The Grand Geneva Resort

Click here for online reservations

Rooms start at $229/night. The booking deadline is May 25.