The Society of Broadcast Engineers has named the recipients of its 2025 SBE National Awards, which recognize outstanding achievements by individual members, local chapters and sustaining member companies.
This year, the organization’s most prestigious awards — the Robert W. Flanders SBE Engineer of the Year award and the James C. Wulliman SBE Educator of the Year award — are presented to Doug Irwin and David Bialik, both of whom are no stranger to Radio World readers.
Irwin, the recipient of the SBE Engineer of the Year award, is a member of SBE Chapter 47 Los Angeles. In the awards announcement, the SBE wrote: “With nearly four decades of experience on both coasts, Irwin manages one of the most complex and influential radio operations in the country. His career has navigated the challenges of industry consolidation and evolving technologies, yet he remains deeply committed to advancing engineering standards and mentoring the next generation of professionals.”
In addition to serving as the regional engineering lead for iHeartMedia Los Angeles, Irwin is also a longtime consultant and contributor to Radio World.
Bialik, a member of SBE Chapter 15 New York City, is the recipient of the SBE Educator of the Year award. According to the SBE, he played a key role in organizing the 2024 and 2025 Ennes Workshops covering Media Over IP, held during the NAB Show. Bialik is also part of the SBE Education Committee and is co-chair of the AES Technical Committee for Broadcast and Online Delivery.
Currently serving as the director of engineering for MediaCo NY, Bialik is a frequent contributor to Radio World. You can read some of his columns here.
Other award recipients of note include Blackmagic Design, which received the SBE Technology Award for its DeckLink IP 100G — a PCIe Gen 4 card capable of capturing and playing back up to eight channels of HD and Ultra HD video simultaneously within SMPTE 2110 IP systems.
Also, Mark Lee of Compass Media, based in the Cayman Islands, has been awarded the Facility Innovation of the Year award. “In a groundbreaking effort, Compass Media extended its WheatNet-IP audio network across 85 miles of underwater fiber to link its four radio stations with the two smaller Cayman Islands,” the SBE wrote. (You can read a story about a related RF project by Compass Media here.)
Additionally, for the fourth consecutive year, SBE Chapter 15 New York City has been recognized with the Best Chapter Communication Award.
Finally, the Wisconsin SBE Chapters, in partnership with the 2024 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Media Technology Institute, have been honored with the award for Best Chapter or Regional Educational Event.
