The NAB Leadership Foundation’s 2025 Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) program has concluded, with a graduation held in June for the executive MBA-style educational learning opportunity.
BLT curriculum has helped senior-level broadcasters acquire the critical knowledge and skills needed to lead effective teams and operate successful radio and television stations for 25 years. With this year’s class, there are now 432 alumni.
Over the past several months, the foundation has commemorated the program’s silver anniversary by hosting several gatherings, including a leadership symposium and alumni receptions in Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas. They also created the “Shooting Star Award” in honor of founder and Dean, Diane Sutter. The award recognizes a BLT graduate or faculty for their work as a mentor, advisor and public servant within the broadcast industry. The first recipient of the award was S. Jenell Trigg, a former broadcast television sales and marketing executive whose career spanned 16 years in the Chicago and Baltimore markets, a retired member of Lerman Senter PLLC, and the founder and chair emeritus of the firm’s Privacy, Data Protection and Cybersecurity Practice Group.
“Over the past 25 years, we’ve created long-term value for the industry by adhering to a core philosophy – helping people reach their full potential prepares them to lead broadcasting into the next generation,” Sutter said. “I am honored to have been entrusted to shape and guide the Broadcast Leadership Training program to what it is today – an opportunity for professionals to grow and strengthen their talent and skills to take broadcasting to new frontiers. I’m excited about what we’re going to see in the next quarter century and how we’ll continue to innovate, inform and inspire the communities we serve.”
Sutter was also presented with an eagle at the Celebration of Service to America Awards ceremony for her lifelong dedication to the broadcast industry.
The 2025 BLT Class graduates are:
- Dana Bojcic, SVP of Talent Development and Human Resources, Futuri Media
- Blake Bridges, GM, WYFF-TV in Greenville-Spartanburg, Hearst Television
- JC Campese, VP/Market Manager, Cox Media Group/Orlando
- Rebecca Cantu, President/GM, KIII-3 in Corpus Christi, Tex., TEGNA
- Sean Franklin, VP/GM, WLEX-18 in Lexington, Ky., The E.W. Scripps Co.
- Nikki Gahan, Regional Digital Sales Manager — Detroit and Minneapolis, FOX Television Stations
- Sean Garcia, Director of Creative Services, WSB-TV in Atlanta, Cox Media Group
- Cherish Geter, GSM, WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Graham Media Group
- Maurice Gibson, VP of Human Resources, Gray Media
- LeAnne Markins, Station Manager, WKBW-7 in Buffalo, The E.W. Scripps Co.
- Brian McGhee, Director of Sales, Urban One/Washignton, D.C.
- Chris Palmer, VP/GM, WKBT-8 in LaCrosse, Wisc.; Morgan Murphy Media
- Ivy Savoy-Smith, SVP/Market Manager, Audacy/Washington, D.C.
- Kristine Strain, VP/News Director and Station Manager, KCNC-TV “CBS Colorado” in Denver
- Jason Strongin, SVP of Audio Sales and Client Solutions, TelevisaUnivision
- Jennifer Williams, Director of Digital Media and Strategic Initiatives, Bonneville International
The 2025 program sponsors are Beasley Media Group, Bonneville International, Cox Media Group, Fox TV Stations, Futuri, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television, Legend Communications, Morgan Murphy Media, NAB, Nielsen Foundation, Scripps, TEGNA and TelevisaUnivision.
