NABOB's 37th Fall Conference Happening In D.C.

Fall Conference

NABOB's 37th annual FALL Broadcast Management Conference kicked off at the WESTIN CITY CENTER HOTEL in WASHINGTON, D.C., WEDNESDAY (10/2).

The conference opened with a session called "Serving The Black Community -- Programming For Today’s Audience." The panel was moderated by KJLH/LOS ANGELES VP/GM KAREN SLADE. Participating panelists included WHUR/WASHINGTON, D.C. OM MAXX MYRRICK, WBLS/NEW YORK OM SKIP DILLARD, consultant TONY GRAY and ALL ACCESS Urban Editor JERRY BOULDING.

It was followed by a session entitled, "Before The FCC, White House And Congress." Moderated by NABOB Exec/Dir JIM WINSTON, the panel focus centered on senior government officials and industry experts discussing current issues being addressed by the federal government. Panelists included TIMOTHY ROBINSON, Senior Policy Counsel/Legislative Director from the office of Congressman BOBBY RUSH, RADIO ONE Chief Administrative Officer LINDA VILLARADO, NEWS CORP. EVP/Government Relations ANTOINETTE COOK BUSH, NAB General Counsel JANE MAGO and HOLLAND & KNIGHT Partner CHARLES NAFTLAN.

The honorable MAXINE WATERS from the 43rd Congressional District of CALIFORNIA was the special guest speaker for NABOB’s Annual Opening Reception. She addressed the continuing struggle of African-Americans and other minorities in 2013.

THURSDAY started with an early panel entitled "Advice From The FCC Bureaus And Offices." Moderated by NABOB’s JIM WINSTON, the panel focus centered on updates on the critical issues being examined by their senior FCC staff and the new opportunities being developed. Panelists included FCC Chief Media Bureau WILLIAM LAKE, FCC Chair incentive Action Task Force GARY EPSTEIN, FCC Director of Communications Business Opportunities THOMAS REED and FCC Chief Enforcement Bureau ROBERT RATCLIFF.

INNER CITY BROADCASTING EVP Corporate Counsel LOIS WRIGHT moderated a panel called "What Financing Is Available For Station Purchases." She was joined by panelists FAIRVIEW CAPITOL PARTNERS Managing Director EDWIN SHIRLEY, RLJ EQUITY PARTNERS VP JERRY JOHNSON and ACCESS.1 COMMUNICATIONS CEO CHESLEY MADDOX DORSEY.

The highlight of this year’s NABOB conference followed at noon with SHERMAN  KIZART’s "The Power Of Urban Radio Forum." The Forum included a special presentation to the acting Chairwoman of the FCC MIGNON CLYBURN, who reminded attendees that she continues to fight for the issues she knows are important to NABOB and minority broadcasters. The keynote speaker was AT&T VP/Diverse Segments JENNIFER JONES.

The first THURSDAY afternoon session, "Global Media Agency Panel," was moderated by RAB VP ANNE MALEVE. Panelists included HORIZON MEDIA SVP/Director of Audio LAUREN RUSSO, LOWE CAMPBELL EWALD Dir/National Broadcast & Video Placement HELEN GILES, OPTIMEDIA SVP/Broadcast Buying LISA SODERMAN, GROUP M Partner/Broadcast Advertising Manager TORRAN CHESNUT and OMD Dir/National Radio Buying NATALAIE SWEDSTONE.

The next session "National Marketers Panel," was led by NIELSEN AUDIO VP/Multicultural Marketing CLARA CARNEIRO. She was joined by panelists CHOICE HOTELS INTERNATIONAL Dir/Consumer Marketing KARLA SWINTON, TOYOTA USA VP/Product Communications JAMES COLON, COCA-COLA Dir/African American & Asian Marketing MELISSA MITCHELL and BMW/STEP NORTH AMERICAN VP CHARLES KLASMAN.

The final session of the afternoon was the "Radio CEO Session." The discussion leader was RADIO INK EVP DEBORAH PARENTI. Panelists included COX MEDIA GROUP EVP KIM GUTHRIE, EMMIS COMMUNICATIONS CEO JEFF SMULYAN, YMF MEDIA COO CHARLES WARFIELD, PERRY BROADCASTING COO KEVIN PERRY and SUMMIT MEDIA COO DAVID DUBOSE.

The Conference wrapped up TODAY with a morning session entitled "Localized Revenue through Digital Technology."  The panel focused on presenting new methods of growing local revenue by embracing new technology.  

The discussion leader was JEFFREY MYERS, Principal for Personal Selling Principles based in BELTSVILLE. MD. Panelists included NEILSEN AUDIO VP/Measurement & Innovation DR. ED COHEN, WHERE2GO411.COM VP/COO KATHY Y. TIMES and CCM&E/PHILADELPHIA Sales Manager SAM TATUM.

The session with the FFC that was scheduled to follow was canceled, due to the Federal government shutdown.

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