Your WBA turns 75 in 2026, and planning is already in full swing for the celebrations!
By now you’ll have noticed that the theme for the 2026 WBA Awards Gala is Diamond Jubilee, in honor of our 75th Anniversary. We also plan to celebrate the anniversary at our WBA Summer Conference at the Grand Geneva Resort.
Your WBA likes to celebrate these milestones in some special places. The 50th Anniversary conference was held at the historic Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, where we also toured the brand-new Miller Park.
We’re thrilled to announce that NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt will be joining us at the Summer Conference. Sue Keenom, Senior Vice President of State, International and Board Relations for NAB will also be joining us and there are other potential surprises in the works, so please make plans to join us June 17-18 in Lake Geneva.
Campus ambassadors
Your WBA knows a good idea when we see it! Our friends at the Kansas Association of Broadcasters started a successful student ambassador program on their college campuses. The student ambassadors represent the association and its broadcast members on campus, promoting events, scholarships, and professional networking.
Our friends at UW-Oshkosh were kind enough to serve as a pilot program for a similar program here in Wisconsin.
We recently met with UW-Oshkosh students Jacob Link and Dylan Przybylski who will be our pilot ambassadors on campus. We’re excited to try this out and hopefully bring the program to other campuses in future years. Thank you so much, Jacobs, Dylan, and UW-Oshkosh!
Broadcasting sculpture
Your WBA recently checked in on our special wood-carved display featuring Wisconsin broadcasters which is housed at the Alliant Energy Center exhibition hall. It’s in wonderful shape and the Alliant Energy Center is enthusiastic about continuing to house it.
The sculpture, titled “Broadcasting” was created by Richard Pinney and Patrick Hamer and gifted to the WBA Foundation in 1997.
Clinic success
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic. Our partnership with the Minnesota Broadcasters Association on this regional event is going strong. As always, look for the Clinic and the Clinic Committee to step up its game next year. We’re always looking to make this event the best educational and networking opportunity for broadcast engineers.
As you get busy with fall activities, take a moment to congratulate your teams and yourself on the tremendous service to do for your local communities. Your fellow Wisconsinites are so very fortunate to have you at their service!
Michelle Vetterkind
WBA President and CEO
