Broadcaster of the Year
The Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year Award, was named in honor of Athens, Illinois native Vincent T. Wasilewski after his induction to the IBA Hall of Fame in 1976. The award was created to honor those Illinois broadcasters who exhibit the same passion and dedication to the broadcast industry as Wasilewski did. Honorees are recognized for broadcast excellence with their Illinois station(s) and within the broadcast industry as a whole, and for the respect they receive from their peers both on a local market and national level, in addition for their work to achieve a favorable legislative climate for the broadcast industry.
The Illinois Broadcasters Association has named Midway Broadcasting Corporation Chairman and CEO Melody Spann Cooper its 2023 “IBA/Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year.” The prestigious award recognizes Illinois broadcasters for their excellence, dedication, and contributions to the industry. Midway Broadcasting is Chicago’s sole Black and female-owned broadcasting company, owning assets such as WVON Radio, […]
Induction October 24, 2022 (Carterville/Springfield, IL) The IBA (Illinois Broadcasters Association) has selected Neal Sabin, Vice-Chairman of Weigel Broadcasting, as its 2022 “IBA/Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year.” A lifelong Chicago and native of Skokie, IL., a Chicago Tribune article once proclaimed Sabin as “the programming mastermind behind Weigel’s Me-TV,” turning a “burgeoning television […]
Sarah Shellhammer is the 2020 (to be awarded in 2021) Vincent T. Wasilewski “IBA Broadcaster of the Year” and was recognized December 7th as part of the Chairman’s Dinner. Sarah, owner and general manager of Morgan County Media in Jacksonville, Illinois, purchased her stations a few years ago after starting at the station as Sales […]
Steve Wheeler was recognized by the IBA Board of Directors as the 2019 Vincent T. Wasilewski “Broadcaster of the Year” during IBA2019. Having recently sold his station to Quincy Media, Wheeler along with his wife and business partner Bonnie, were celebrated by dozens of WSIL employees for this honor. Steve Wheeler began his broadcast career […]
Dana Withers, president of Illinois-based Withers Broadcasting and Dana Communications was named Illinois Broadcasters Association’s 2018 “IBA/Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year.” Withers, a past Chairman (and current trustee) of the Illinois Broadcasters Association, began her career in broadcasting upon graduation from Colorado Mesa University. Soon after she founded Dana Communications Corporation. In addition […]
Wert Receives Vincent T. Wasilewski “Broadcaster of the Year” Award Larry Wert, President of Broadcast Media for Tribune Media, was named the 32nd recipient of the Broadcaster of the Year Award on June 8, 2017. Wert is shown in photo with Elizabeth (Beth) Neuhoff, President & CEO, Neuhoff Communications, and the 2016 IBA Broadcaster of […]
The Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) honored Elizabeth (Beth) Russell Neuhoff, CEO of Neuhoff Communications, as its 2016 “Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year.” Well known in both Illinois and national broadcast circles, Ms. Neuhoff, is CEO of Neuhoff Communications, a privately held broadcast and digital media company with a focus on Midwestern markets including Bloomington-Normal, […]
