He served as the Chief Media Advisor to Jim Quello at the FCC during the early 1980s and in 2011 arrived in Albany, N.Y., to serve as President and Executive Director of the New York State Broadcasters Association. For a decade before that, he led the Association for Maximum Service Television and, for ten years prior, as the VP of Legal and Legislative Affairs for the Association of Local Television Stations.
Now, David Donovan, who also holds a law degree and is licensed in Massachusetts, is retiring from the role. While he’ll remain involved with NYSBA, it is welcoming a familiar face as its new President/CEO.
She’ll be taking the role with her exit as Chief Communications Officer of Beasley Media Group.
For Heidi Raphael, leading one of the nation’s leading state broadcasters association concludes a nine-year tenure at Beasley. She joined the publicly traded radio station licensee in May 2017, rising from VP of Corporate Communications to her current role two years later. Raphael joined Beasley following its merger with Greater Media, where she served as Sr. VP of Communications and spent two decades.
A leadership transition is planned for later this year, and Donovan will remain at NYSBA, continuing to direct its government relations and advocacy efforts both in the New York State legislature and in Washington, D.C.
A highly respected industry leader, Raphael has been recognized annually by Radio Ink Magazine as one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” since 2006. She was honored with the 2023 Leadership Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America and was inducted into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame in November 2021.
“We are thrilled to welcome Heidi Raphael as the next President and CEO of the New York State Broadcasters Association,” said Chris Musial, Chairman of the NYSBA Board of Directors and VP/General Manager of WBBZ-TV in Buffalo-Niagara Falls. “Heidi brings an exceptional combination of leadership experience, industry knowledge, and passion for broadcasting. We are confident she is the right leader to guide NYSBA into its next chapter while continuing the outstanding work David Donovan has led over the past decade and a half.”
Raphael said she is “incredibly honored and humbled to follow in the footsteps” of Donovan at the helm of the NYSBA, founded in 1955. “David’s leadership and tireless advocacy on behalf of New York broadcasters have left a lasting impact on our industry, and I am grateful for the opportunity to build upon the strong foundation he has created,” she said. “As someone who was born, raised, and began my broadcasting career in Western New York, the opportunity to return home, serve New York’s broadcasters, and be closer to my family is truly special. I look forward to working with the Board of Directors, David, the Association’s talented staff, and our member stations to support the broadcasters across our state. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to Caroline Beasley and the entire Beasley Media Group family for their support and the many opportunities that have helped shape my career and prepare me for this exciting next chapter.”
Ms. Beasley, the President/CEO of Beasley Media Group, offered her congratulations to Raphael. “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Heidi for nearly a decade, and she has become not only a trusted colleague, but also a valued friend,” Caroline Beasley said. “While we will miss her tremendously, I couldn’t be happier for her as she begins this exciting new chapter, and I know she will lead the New York State Broadcasters Association with the same passion, integrity, compassion, and unwavering commitment that have made her such a treasured member of the Beasley family.”
Raphael is also an Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Board of Directors and a current Executive Committee member of the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Broadcasters and as a trustee of The Media Institute, based in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Raphael is a past elected member of the NAB Board of Directors and the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) Board of Directors. She also served as spokesperson and as a past Executive Committee member of Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, the national organization focused on advancing women into senior leadership roles within the broadcasting industry.
A Buffalo native, taking the NYSBA extends Raphael’s deep commitment to her hometown community to across the Empire State. And, in addition to her many previous roles, Raphael is a former Chair and President of the Buffalo Broadcasters Association. Furthermore, she is a past member of the Board of Trustees of Medaille College, from which she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Communication.
Donovan expressed his enthusiasm for the transition and confidence in the Association’s future. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve New York’s broadcasters over the past 15 years,” he said. “Our industry continues to evolve, and I believe Heidi is uniquely qualified to lead NYSBA forward. Her experience, energy, and deep commitment to local broadcasting make her an outstanding choice. I look forward to working closely with her to ensure a smooth transition and to continuing our advocacy efforts on behalf of broadcasters across New York State.”
Streamline Publishing’s Radio + Television Business Report and Radio Ink each hold deep ties to New York State. Radio Ink Editor-in-Chief Cameron Coats is based in Troy, N.Y., while RBR+TVBR Editor-in-Chief is a native of Kingston, N.Y., and works periodically across the calendar year from the New York Metropolitan Area.
