Nine years ago, your WBA Foundation initiated a pilot project aimed at identifying and training new sales personnel for Wisconsin radio and television stations.
The WBA Foundation’s RMP Training Program is a two-day intensive broadcast sales training program conducted by Ken Beno, WBA Education Committee Chair, in cooperation with the Radio Advertising Bureau. In essence, Ken conducts two days of training based on RAB training materials and then administers a test which, if passed, results in a student/trainee receiving his or her certification as a Radio Marketing Professional from the RAB. Ken conducts the courses on University, College and Technical College campuses around the state. The students in these classes are mainly students from the hosting School. And, although RMP is aimed at Radio, Ken talks about TV sales, as well.
During the 2015-2016 school year, Ken conducted four such sessions:
- UW-Oshkosh, October 6 & 8, 2015 (24 participants – 22 certified as RMP’s)
- Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, November 3 & 6, 2015 (8 participants – all certified as RMP’s)
- UW-Madison, November 10 & 12, 2015 (10 participants – all certified as RMP’s)
- UW-Stevens Point, April 5 & 8, 2016 (11 participants – all certified at RMP’s)
In 2012, Ken added a new questionnaire aimed at gauging the interest of the students in pursuing a career in broadcast sales as well as their desire to do an internship or job shadow. Ken has compiled the names and contact information for all the students along with answers to Ken’s survey. This information was emailed to general managers and sales managers on April 11; just contact the WBA if you’d like this information and did not receive it.
Since the beginning of the seminars in February 2007, 780 students have been certified as Radio Marketing Professionals. A total of 49 seminars have been offered through October 2017. Eleven have been presented at Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, nine at UW-Stevens Point and UW-Oshkosh, eight at UW-Madison, and seven at UW-River Falls. UW-Green Bay has hosted two and UW-La Crosse and Nicolet Area Technical College in Rhinelander one.
As always, we’re open to suggestions or comments on the WBA Foundation’s RMP program.