A name Radio World readers will know, Bob Shotwell, will be recognized with the Vermont Association of Broadcasters “Friend of Broadcasters” award.
The VAB has also revealed the three inductees who will enter its Hall of Fame this year.
Engineer and WXXX(FM) co-founder Howard Ginsberg, along with Bob Kinzel and Kia Winchell Nealy, will be recognized at the VAB celebration held on Nov. 14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Burlington, Vt. You can see the full list of winners here.
Also, the Vermont Public network earned the “Broadcaster of the Year” award.
A friend to broadcasters
As Radio World’s Susan Ashworth wrote of Shotwell’s career following his 2023 retirement, it was in 1971 that he was hired by then-WRYT in Boston. “I’m convinced the events which seem the least critical or important in your life have the possibilities to be life-changing,” he said of meeting colleague Ken Carberry and beginning his career at the station.
In 2003, Shotwell began working with Larry Hardy, the founder of Spectrum Investigative Services. Hardy founded the company to investigate and resolve RF interference issues and to propose to the FCC and broadcast associations in New England a voluntary radio and TV inspection process.
Shotwell would then spend several decades supporting Vermont broadcasting through his technical expertise, dedication and willingness to go “above and beyond” to help stations stay compliant with FCC regulations.
The Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program, thanks to Shotwell’s efforts, grew to more than 120 inspections annually.
“I have done announcing, engineering, tower climbing, IT, traffic, production, accounting and even court collections,” Shotwell told Radio World in 2023.
Triple-X Sound
Ginsberg is credited with designing a unique “loud” broadcast sound as co-founder and chief engineer for WXXX(FM) in South Burlington.
His Green Mountain State radio career began as a contract engineer and consultant before serving as chief engineer and afternoon announcer at WCVR(AM) in Randolph and then WVMT(AM) in Burlington.
In the early 1980s, he provided engineering services to around a dozen Vermont stations, including WLFE(FM) in St. Albans, WSNO(AM) and WORK(FM) in Barre, WNCS(FM) in Montpelier, WEQX(FM) in Manchester, WIZN(FM) in Vergennes and WDOT(AM) and WRUV(FM) in Burlington.
Following WXXX’s sale, he partnered with fellow Vermont broadcasters John and David Kimel to purchase WKAJ/WQQY in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Ginsberg served as the pair’s general manager and chief engineer.
He would later move on to CNN in Atlanta and New York, where he was chief engineer of production systems until he retired in 2019.
Distinguished service
Jamie Dennis of Vox AM/FM/Digital will receive the VAB “Distinguished Service” award.
Dennis serves as chief engineer, program director and afternoon drive host for WVTK(FM) in Middlebury. He began his broadcast career while attending Lyndon State College, working on air and in the field at WSTJ(AM) and WKXH(FM) in St. Johnsbury.
Dennis frequently assists fellow broadcasters with engineering challenges and helps VAB with EAS projects.
Snyder-Teffner award
Laura Lareau will receive the Snyder-Teffner award, named for radio engineer Dennis Snyder and television engineer Ted Teffner.
Lareau began her broadcast career in 1987 at age 17 through a job training program at PBS, where she handled traffic, editing, camera operations and development. In 2000, she joined WPTZ(TV) and WNNE(TV) as ad operations assistant, spending 26 years behind the scenes for daily station operations.
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