Kevin O’Dea
Springfield Market President/GM Kevin O’Dea named IBA’s 2024 “Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year”
To Be Honored at IBA2024 Luncheon, October 8, in Normal, IL
IBA’s Board of Directors has selected long-time Springfield, Illinois market manager Kevin O’Dea as IBA’s 2024 “Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year.”
Named in honor of Athens, Illinois native and 18th president of the National Association of Broadcaster President/CEO Vincent T. Wasilewski, IBA’s most coveted 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.
O’Dea, President/GM of Neuhoff Media’s Springfield radio cluster, clearly possesses the credentials for selection. He began his radio career in 1978 as an Account Executive with Midwest Family Broadcasting’s WMAY-AM in Springfield. His career then took him to St. Louis, MO, where he worked for Doubleday Broadcasting’s KWK-FM in 1980. In May of 1982, he returned to Springfield, joining Eastern Broadcasting’s WCVS-AM/WFMB-FM, where he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Sales Manager in 1985 and General Manager in December 1990.
O’Dea’s leadership and vision helped shape the media landscape of Springfield, where he completed 42 years of service in May 2024 that included five Illinois Broadcasters Association Station of the Year Awards and creation of an exclusive video focused website serving the local high school sports community, Channel1450.com. His contributions to radio have been recognized nationally, receiving the 2004 Clear Channel Executive of the Year Award and being named General Manager of the Year by Radio Ink Magazine’s prestigious Radio Wayne Awards in 2014.
His dedication to the broadcasting industry and the Springfield community extends beyond the airwaves. He has served as President of the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame and is a past Board Member of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
“One need only spend a few minutes with Kevin to see what the IBA board saw in selecting Kevin,” remarked Dennis Lyle, president and CEO of the IBA. “His enthusiasm for the industry, and his dedication to his community, his staff, and clients is truly admirable.”
Mike Hulvey, former Neuhoff Media CEO, now president/CEO of the Radio Advertising Bureau said, “At a time when the industry needs more locally committed content, we are lucky to have a broadcaster such as Kevin O’Dea still fully engaged in his craft in Illinois.”
Outside of his professional achievements, Kevin is a proud father to two children, Kelsey and Jesse. He enjoys playing golf and is an avid fan of high school, college, and professional sports.
O’Dea becomes the third Neuhoff Media Illinois Broadcasters Association’s “Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year Award.” The late Geoff Neuhoff, Founder of Neuhoff Media, received the award in 2010, Neuhoff’s widow Beth Neuhoff received the award in 2016, and now O’Dea in 2024 making a fitting tribute to his lifelong commitment to excellence in broadcasting and community service.
O’Dea will accept the award during IBA’s IBA2024 conference luncheon, October 8, 2024 at Illinois State University’s Bone Center. More details available here.
