A morning producer at WTMJ-AM in Milwaukee is the recipient of the first ever Results Broadcasting Education Grant.

Rachel Frye graduated from Western Illinois University in 2013 and began her career with a six-radio station cluster in Macomb, Illinois before taking a job at WTMJ-AM in June 2014. She started part time as a reporter and board operator and in February 2016 was hired full time as producer of Wisconsin’s Morning News. Her duties have since expanded to include producing digital content and leading station events.

Vice President and Market Manager Steve Wexler said Frye is the kind of employee every employer would covet. “She’s hard-working, sets a very high bar of expectations for herself and our team, and sweats the details.”

Frye said her goal was to pay off her student loans by the end of the year, and the grant will be a huge help toward making that goal.

“This grant money is so much appreciated, especially during these unstable times,” Frye wrote. “I encourage anyone who is considering applying in the future to do so. It’s a truly great program targeted at helping Wisconsin broadcasters.”

Steve Wexler and Rachel Frye

The Results Broadcasting Education Grant was established to provide student debt relief to broadcasters working in Wisconsin. It was created from what used to be the Results Broadcasting scholarship. Recipients get $1,000 to put toward relief of student debt.

“Results Broadcasting is so proud of the dedicated men and women in the Wisconsin over the air radio and TV industry working in all phases of the business,” wrote Results Broadcasting owner and WBA Hall of Famer Bruce Grassman. “It is an opportunity to help people with some of their student debt and to let them know they are part of the greatest state of broadcasters…Wisconsin. Results Broadcasting is proud to continue this award for many years to come.”

More than a dozen broadcasters applied for the grant. The recipient was chosen by a sub-committee of the WBA Foundation Board.

Applications for the next grant will be accepted starting Jan. 1, 2021 and the deadline will be Feb. 28, 2021. Find more details on the WBA Foundation website.

Five Wisconsin Broadcasters have been chosen as 2020 WBA Local Broadcast Legends.

The Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Local Broadcast Legends Award was established in 2015 under the direction of Bruce Grassman, owner/president of Results Radio. The Local Broadcast Legends Award is a great honor and recognition for individuals that work behind the scenes and within their communities fulfilling the commitment broadcasters have made to serve their local communities. They are individuals who exemplify localism. This award is a means to extend recognition of these individuals beyond their local communities.

Individuals with 15 years or more service in Wisconsin broadcasting may be nominated by their company, co-workers, community leaders, family members, and friends. The station or organization which the nominee is associated with submits the nomination on behalf of the nominating individual(s).

The WBA is grateful to Bruce Grassman for his vision to establish a means for dedicated local broadcast employees to be recognized for their contributions to Wisconsin broadcasting. This award is for those who unconditionally support their stations and community.

Profiles of these and past Local Broadcast Legends can be found at the Wisconsin Broadcasting Museum website.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s honorees will be recognized during the 2021 WBA Summer Conference at the Blue Harbor Resort in Sheboygan.

The 2020 WBA Hall of Fame inductees will be announced Wednesday.

Our 2020 Local Broadcast Legends honorees are as follows:

Karen Dalessandro

Karen Dalessandro is among the most recognizable voices in Milwaukee radio touching generations of listeners with her energy, passion, and love of people.

Karen started her career in 1981 at a small station in Michigan while still attending radio school. She moved to Milwaukee in 1998 when she was offered the opportunity to become morning host on country station WMIL-FM. She was, at the time, the host of one of only a handful of female-led morning shows in the nation. Awarded Broadcasting Personality of the Year by the Country Music Association in 2001 and 2015, Karen was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2017 she moved to afternoons on WKTI-FM and in 2019 joined WKLH-FM as afternoon host.

Karen’s community efforts are countless. She co-hosted the annual Child Abuse Prevention radiothon that has raised an average of $300,000 a year. She raised thousands more for the same cause when her show took over the new Miller Park, and later the Fiserv Forum, to sit in every seat in the new stadiums. As founder of Karen’s Check Up for Chicks, she provided hundreds of breast cancer screenings for women in need.

In her more than three decades on the air, Karen has lived up to her reputation from her peers as the “gold standard of excellence in the broadcasting industry.”

Erin Davisson

Erin Davisson inspired television viewers in the Green Bay market with her persistence and professionalism in the face of a health crisis that nearly took her life.

Erin started her career in 1982 as a radio news announcer at WSPT-FM and WXYQ-AM in Stevens Point. She also worked at WSAW-TV in Wausau as a news anchor and reporter before joining WFRV-TV in 1988.

It was after that move that Erin staged a public battle with Wilson’s Disease, a rare and potentially fatal genetic disorder that prevents blood from clotting. She suffered three life-threatening episodes of internal bleeding. After medications failed to reverse or control the illness, a successful 13-hour liver transplant operation in 1990 saved her life.

Erin shared every step of her journey with her television audience in the hopes of promoting awareness of organ donation and transplants. She remains an advocate for the organ donation program.

Erin has won numerous awards for her excellent journalism and is a mentor to young journalists just starting their careers.

Erin’s peers say, “Her kindness, professionalism, and love for our business continues to be an inspiration to us and to others in the community to strive to follow their dreams even when things go wrong in our lives.”

She will retire in fall 2020 after 37 years in broadcasting and 32 years at WFRV-TV.

Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy (1935-2015) had a long career in radio highlighted by his distinction of hosting the first live radio talk show by telephone in the nation and a reputation for vigor and success.

In 1957 Peter met a farmer in Hartford who had pulled over to help with a flat tire. After hearing Peter’s voice, the farmer asked him if he wanted to be the voice of his basement radio show and Peter accepted.

Peter started at WKTL in Sheboygan and stayed for a year before moving to Eau Claire in 1958 as program manager at WEAQ. In 1960 he took over as the host of a morning talk show named The Party Line, later referred to as The Peter Murphy show by his listeners. He hosted this show for 30 years. He interviewed people from all walks of life including numerous celebrities, politicians, athletes, astronauts, and from his local community. More than 7,000 interviews took place from Peter’s booth. He was the voice of his people.

Peter’s greatest achievement was his five minute live, in-air, radio show from a Blue Angels fighter jet in 1976. In radio history, no other broadcaster can claim this same accomplishment.

A mentee to Peter once said, “Peter expected much of himself, inspiring the rest of us to match or at least catch the daily routine of success, self-confidence, and loving enthusiasm for the job that lay ahead of him.” 

Bill McCollum and John Moser

Bill McCollum and John Moser are institutions in Beaver Dam whose decades-long work has exemplified how committed radio personalities and leaders can have an immeasurable impact on a community.

“Uncle Bill” has been with WBEV and WXRO for 57 years with 43 years hosting The Morning Show, connecting with listeners on a personal level. Over the years he has accepted all opportunities to volunteer and he continues working at the station in retirement. He was the top biller in the sales department for 50 years. In 2017, the road on which the stations are located was renamed Bill McCollum Way.

John has been with the stations for 47 years. Over the years he served as news director, program director, sales manager, and finally as general manager. He is semi-retired but still co-hosts The Morning Show and continues to lead by coaching teammates across Good Karma Brands. John was named Beaver Dam’s Citizen of the Year in 2016 and continues his involvement in the community in a number of leadership roles.

Both Bill and John were involved in numerous station initiatives to help raise money and awareness in the community, including the annual Children’s Radiothon which has raised $1.9 million over the years.

WBEV/WXRO General Manager Ryan Gabel wrote of Bill and John that, “Their localism and impact are felt by everyone who works at the station, our listeners, and those in the Beaver Dam community.”

“It was a great seminar and helpful information.”

“I had a very eye opening experience and learned there are a lot of opportunities.”

“I enjoyed the variety of sessions.”
“I have been inspired.”

“The seminar was overall very beneficial.”

Those were just a few of the comments from more than 140 students who attended the 2020 WBA Student Seminar on March 7 at the Madison Marriott.

Another successful event can be attributed to the hard work of the WBA Education Committee in putting together an outstanding program, which featured, director, voice actor, film producer, and screenwriter, Phil Johnston. Phil was unable to appear in person. He presented a very interesting keynote via the internet.

I have the pleasure of being the chair of this active and hard working group of educators and commercial broadcast professionals. Another contribution to the seminar’s success is financial support from the WBA and the WBA Foundation. 

Students chose to attend three of nine panels in the morning. Topics included: Campus Radio and TV Stations, Individual Feedback, Women in Broadcasting, Live Reporting for News and Sports – Advancing the Story and Understanding the Technology, Expanding The Reach Of Your Newscast or Radio Show, Marketing and Money, Podcasting,  and Hiring managers ….What They Actually Want To See From You.

At noon, students participated in a session titled Putting Together a Resume or Speed Networking, which was patterned after the speed dating concept. Thirty-two broadcast professionals met individually in six minute intervals with students who could ask questions about any topic.

The afternoon luncheon concluded the seminar and was highlighted by Phil’s outstanding keynote address, the presentation of the WBA Foundation Scholarships to four recipients, and the 17th annual Student Awards for Excellence, which had 219 entries in 27 categories. View the list of winners here. Students from Union Grove, DePere, Lakeland Union, Minocqua, and Bay Port, Green Bay won awards in the third year of the high school competition. Future broadcasters from UW-Madison, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, Whitewater, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Marquette took home honors in the college competition. In addition, this year’s Leadership Award was presented to Andrew Haese from the UW-Oshkosh. The award is given to a broadcasting or broadcast journalism student of junior standing or above who attends a Wisconsin college or university and who has most noticeably developed and exercised effective and creative skills in leadership.

Thanks to our many sponsors and the panel moderators: Nancy Stillwell, Madison College, Brian Lucas, UW-Whitewater, and Pat Hastings, UW-Madison.

On behalf of the Education Committee, I would also like to thank Linda, Kyle, Michelle, and Liz for helping to ensure the seminar’s success.   

We look forward to March 6, 2021 and another outstanding student seminar!

-Ken Beno, Chair, WBA Education Committee

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR MAKING THE WBA’S 2020 STUDENT SEMINAR A SUCCESS…

Ken Beno, Chair Education Committee
Phil Johnston
David Sanks
Michelle Vetterkind, President and CEO WBA and WBA Foundation

Speed Networkers, Speakers, and Moderators

Erik Bilstad, Good Karma Brands
Dave Black, WSUM
Evans Chronis, Good Karma Brands
Jared Clark, Mid-West Family
Herb Cody, QueenB Radio
Cutter, Woodward Radio
Randall Davidson, UW-Oshkosh
Sean Dwyer, WXOW TV
Dave Edwards, Dave Edwards Media
Brittney Ermon, WMTV-TV
Aleese Fielder, NRG Media
Sarah Gray, Morgan Murphy Media
Pat Hastings, UW-Madison
Andrew Haese, UW-Oshkosh
Shar Hermanson, Mid-West Family
Bill Hubbard
Nate Imig, Radio Milwaukee
Dayton Kane, Cumulus Radio Station Group
Kaytie Kelly, Woodward Radio
Mike Kemmeter, Woodward Radio Group
JT Koser, Koser Radio Group
Jessica Laszewski, WMTV-TV
David Lee III, WFRV-TV
Brian Lucas, UW-Whitewater
Luis Montoto, La Movida Radio
Lupita Montoto, La Movida Radio
Anne Paape, WKBT-TV
Patrick Pendergast, Milwaukee Radio Alliance
Kenny Perez, Radio Milwaukee
Gene Purcell, PBS Wisconsin/WPR
Ed Reams, WKOW-TV
Andy Riggs, Entercom Milwaukee
Joshua Rose, WFRV-TV
John Rowe, Cumulus Radio Station Group
Kevin Ruppert, WISC-TV
Greg Scalzo, Good Karma Brands
Chris Shofner, UW-Stevens Point
Michael Spaulding, Good Karma Brands
Nancy Stillwell, Madison College
Chuck Steinmetz, WITI-TV
Heather Storm, Woodward Radio
Colleen Valkoun, iHeartMedia
Don Vesely, WMTV-TV

WBA Education Committee
Ken Beno, Committee Chair
Dave Black, WSUM Radio
Randall Davidson, UW-Oshkosh
Sandy Ellis, UW-River Falls
Pat Hastings, UW-Madison
Terry Havel, UW-Parkside
Erik Johnson, UW-River Falls
Jack Kapfer, UW-Eau Claire
Brian Lucas, UW-Whitewater
Dean Maytag, WBA Foundation Committee
Jim Mead, UW-Whitewater
Mike O’Brien, WCLO/WJVL
Amy Pflugshaupt, WMTV-TV
Mike Schmitt, UW-Green Bay
Chris Shofner, UW-Stevens Point
Dr. Robert Snyder, UW-Platteville
Nancy Stillwell, Madison Media Institute
Justine Stokes, UW-Oshkosh
Don Vesely, WMTV-TV

Sponsors
Big Radio
Entercom Madison
Good Karma Brands
Heartland Communications
Hometown Broadcasting
iHeartMedia
Koser Radio Group
Magnum Media
Mid-West Family Broadcasting
Midwest Communications
Milwaukee Radio Alliance
Morgan Murphy Media
NRG Media
Quincy Media
Radio Plus
WBAY-TV
WDJT-TV
WISN-TV
WITI-TV
WLAX-TV/WEUX-TV
WMTV-TV
WSAW-TV
WTMJ-TV

Special Thanks
American Awards & Promotions
Linda Baun, WBA Vice President
Liz Boyd, WBA NCSA/PEP Coordinator
Kyle Geissler, Director of Operations and Public Affairs
Madison Marriott West Hotel Staff
Greg Powers, Lake Land College
Joe Thomas
John McDonald, Studio Gear
Student award judges in Illinois

Congratulations to all educators, leadership award recipient, student award winners, and scholarship recipients

AND TO THE STUDENTS OF WISCONSIN FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE STUDENT SEMINAR!