Who are the recipients of the Diane Sutter Shooting Star Award and the Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) Champion Award? We now know that this year’s honors went to KOAT-TV’s VP/GM and the recently retired FCC Video Division chief, respectively.
This year’s Diane Sutter Shooting Star Award honor went to Lori Waldon for her outstanding leadership and contributions to the broadcast industry. Waldon leads Hearst Television-owned KOAT-7 in Albuquerque and graduated from the BLT class of 2016. “She has been a trailblazer, advancing through the ranks of television news with an intuitive knowledge of programming and how to best serve local audiences,” the NAB Leadership Foundation (NABLF) said.
The BLT Champion Award was presented to former Media Bureau TV industry specialist Barbara Kreisman, in recognition of her long-term support of the BLT program and overall impact on the broadcast industry. “She has played a central role with BLT since its earliest days, serving on the faculty and encouraging other FCC staff and commissioners to take part over the past 25 years,” the NABLF said.
NABLF President Michelle Duke commented, “Throughout their careers, both Lori and Barbara demonstrated exemplary leadership in their respective positions. Both women have been positive and powerful role models for the up-and-coming generation of pathfinders and innovators in our industry. We are so proud to honor them with these prestigious awards.”
