Tom Ray, director of engineering at Buckley Radio/WOR(AM), New York, has decided to step down from the chairman post at SBE Chapter 15 in New York City.
After being in that post since 2002, Ray told chapter members recently it was time to step down and create some more “free” time.
“It’s been a lot of fun and, while there isn’t a lot of ‘heavy lifting,’ I’m just finding I can’t quite meet deadlines for the chapter due to my schedule with Buckley/WOR.
Ray told Radio World his decision has nothing to do with the chapter; he’s tired and needs a break and now’s the time. The chapter has grown considerably while he’s been chair, he said, and “it’s been an honor and a privilege to head up the largest SBE chapter in the U.S. The chapter has a lot of momentum and needs to keep moving ahead. Right now, I think it’s time for ‘new management.’”
While he’s been chapter chair, Ray’s been on the SBE board, several SBE committees as well as the NAB’s Broadcast Engineering Conference Committee (and will be again this year.) He intends to remain available to the chapter for advice, if needed, and would still chair the NYC Local Emergency Communications Committee.
SBE Chapter 15 has had some great meetings over the years, he recalled, such as a meeting with a manufacturer who was looking for ideas for a new product, touring AT&T’s Global Network Operations Center in New Jersey as well as the satellite control offices of SES-Americom in Vernon, N.J. Chapter 15 has been host to two successful Ennes Workshops in NYC and to several RF safety seminars.
Other current SBE Chapter 15 officers are Assistant Chair Chris Tobin of CBS Radio, Treasurer Conrad Trautmann of Dial Global and Secretary Jeff Smith of Clear Channel’s NYC cluster. The chapter would put out a solicitation to members around Sept. 1 for nominations and hold elections in October. New officers would take their posts in January.
Look for chapter election information at: www.sbe15.com.
— Leslie Stimson
