RAYMOND, ME. — She joined Dielectric in March 1986 and holds the title of Regional Sales Manager. On July 1, she’ll be retiring from the role, ending a 38-year tenure at the company and concluding a 49-year career.
For Christine Zuba, her role as Regional Sales Manager was one that broke gender barriers.
Following her graduation from Penn State University as an electrical engineer, having already served as an intern at PBS Member station WVIA in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Zuba joined RCA, taking a post in its antenna division.
Dielectric acquired RCA in 1986; she’s been there ever since, gaining roles of increased responsibility in engineering and product management. She took the role of Director of Sales and Marketing role in 1989; in 1994 she became National Sales Manager — a role that she has held since. Her advanced technical knowledge of complex RF systems have been recognized across the industry.
“I never really wanted to be in sales,” shares Zuba, “Yet, it is one of the best decisions I have made. I always enjoyed the challenge of listening to customers, learning the unique parameters of their projects, and with our engineers, developing concepts that solve problems and address their needs. The triple-stack antenna we produced for installation atop the Sears Tower in Chicago during the US DTV conversion is a prime example.”
Michael Sharpstene is succeeding Zuba; he joined Dielectric in January 2024.
Dielectric President and General Manager Keith Pelletier commented, “We have had the luxury of calling many industry leaders and influencers longtime employees at Dielectric, and we are grateful that a true broadcast lifer such as Christine elected to spend nearly her entire broadcast career with us. Our customers are grateful too. We will all miss her contributions and her dynamic presence at our NAB booth, industry events, in-person business meetings and conference calls. She may be signing off the air, but her station isn’t going dark; it’s just being repacked to a new channel assignment in the retirement spectrum. We wish her the best.”
— Reporting by Brian Galante
