While the SBE has spent 2014 celebrating its first 50 years, it’s also looking to the future.
That’s why its board has created two new committees — for mentoring and social media, to be chaired by Eric Schecter, director of engineering for CBS Radio/Phoenix and Kim Sacks, an engineer for CBS Radio/Washington respectively.
The SBE has revamped its website and made it more conducive with social media outlets like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, SBE President Joe Snelson said during the society’s national membership meeting in Verona, N.Y., on Wednesday. The society has added a tagline to its logo to better explain what the group does at a glance: The Association for Broadcast and Multimedia Technology Professionals. “The tagline further details in a short message who we are,” said Snelson.
Currently the SBE has 4,946 members as of Sept. 30. That’s compared to 5,488 at the same time in 2013, according to National SBE Secretary Jim Leifer, director of engineering and IT for Clear Channel South Florida.
The membership committee has suggested the society reach out beyond traditional broadcast outlets for new members at such places as high school and college career fairs, and also including include outreach to various industries: Web, cable TV, Internet service providers, telcos, satellite TV and corporate AV departments.
Financially, the society is holding its own. Total revenue was $580,991, total expenses were $490,747 for a net income of $90,244 as of Aug. 31, according to National Treasurer Andrea Cummis. She’s a broadcast consultant and owner of AC Video Solutions.
The new and returning board members have officially begun their next terms. Of note, Scot Mason, regional director of engineering at CBS Radio, Los Angeles, steps down from the board after six years. Ben Brinitzer, regional vice president of engineering, Clear Channel Media & Entertainment, Charlotte, N.C., replaces Mason as head of the SBE EAS Education Committee.
