by Carl Lam
The Buffalo Broadcasters Association commemorated their 20th Anniversary with an incredibly active year, including many social and networking events for our members. The signature event of the year was held in September 2016 with the induction of 6 broadcasters into the Hall of Fame. Don Paul, Tom McCray, Susan Hunt, Larry Norton, Nolan Johannes, and Steve Zappia were honored for their achievements in the field of broadcasting.
In this past year, we've launched the first ever Mentoring Program run by the organization. Three students were selected to be paired up with six broadcast professionals for advice and guidance as they navigate the field. The success of the program was evident as our mentees have landed internships and job opportunities. The organization is planning to continue this program in 2017.
We also continued our "Peer 2 Peer" program, which is a unique opportunity for students to connect with the rising stars of the industry in Radio and Television. This past semester, we had 18 broadcasters from five different stations in the area making 14 visits to students in six different colleges and high schools. Since the program began in the Fall of 2015, over 600 students have benefited from these visits at educational institutions across Western New York on time that is generously donated by the broadcasters who are visiting their respective classes.