Convention
Convention Speakers
Jeff Schmidt
Keynote
Jeff Schmidt is Senior Vice President of Professional Development for the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB), where he leads the organization’s training and professional development initiatives for broadcasters across North America. A dynamic keynote speaker, sales strategist, and leadership coach, Jeff helps media professionals develop the confidence, mindset, and skills needed to thrive in an evolving industry.
With more than three decades of experience in radio sales and management, Jeff has served as a salesperson, sales manager, market manager, and regional vice president, giving him firsthand insight into the challenges facing today’s media organizations. He is widely recognized for helping sales professionals shift from product-focused selling to becoming trusted advisors who deliver meaningful business solutions.
Known for his engaging, interactive presentations, Jeff combines practical strategies, real-world experience, and forward-thinking insights on leadership, sales, and emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence—to inspire audiences to think differently and perform at a higher level. His personal philosophy, “Think Big. Make Big Things Happen,” is reflected in every presentation as he challenges attendees to grow personally and professionally while achieving greater success.
John George
FCC Complaince, Engineering
John George has worked in the broadcasting industry for over 50 years during which he provided technical services to many southeastern US radio stations. He has over 25 years sales experience with Harris Corporation, Dielectric Communications and RF Specialties. He serves as Chairman of the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and the Georgia Association of Broadcasters Engineering Committee and spearheaded the development of the SCBA’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program. He is a member of the SBE and IEEE and is former President of the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers.
Jeff Welton
Broadcast Technology, Engineering
Kirk Anders Harnack
Broadcast Technology, Engineering
Kirk Anders Harnack, CBNE, CBRE, brings over 45 years of hands-on experience in broadcast engineering and education to the radio and television audio industries. He has been instrumental in advancing the use of Audio over IP, VoIP for broadcast, audio processing, and virtualized technologies, helping broadcasters implement cutting-edge solutions in real-world environments.
After a 25-year career at Telos Alliance, Kirk is now a Strategic Consultant at MaxxKonnect. Kirk remains actively engaged in broadcast operations as Partner and Vice President of Engineering for Oxford Media Group, South Seas Broadcasting, Delta Radio, Akamai Broadcasting, and Kaua‘i Broadcast Partners. He also serves on the Board of Directors at the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame.
Kirk’s broad technical background is complemented by his credentials as a Broadcast TV Meteorologist, fixed-wing private pilot, FAA Part 107 SUAS (drone) pilot, and licensed General Class Amateur Radio operator (KD5FYD). He also serves as Program Chair of SBE Chapter 103 in Nashville.
Kirk is the founder and host of the long-running weekly video netcast, “This Week in Radio Tech” (TWiRT). Now in its 17th year with over 800 episodes, TWiRT features in-depth discussions with experts and innovators in radio engineering and broadcast technology.
David Oxenford
FCC Regulatory & Legal Issues, Engineering
David Oxenford is a partner in Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP’s Washington, DC office. David has represented broadcasters for over 25 years on a wide array of matters from purchases and sales of broadcast properties and the negotiation of programming agreements to regulatory matters. His regulatory expertise includes all areas of broadcast law including the FCC’s multiple ownership limitations, the political broadcasting rules, EEO policy, advertising issues, and other programming matters. He also represents webcasters and other digital media companies, including serving as counsel to a webcast trade association, and representing internet radio companies on copyright, music licensing and other issues.
Nicole Gustafson
Industry Advocacy & Policy, Engineering
Nicole Gustafson is the senior vice president of Government Relations and senior legislative counsel at NAB. She joined NAB in February 2017. Gustafson previously spent 11 years on Capitol Hill and two years at the National Football League. She now advocates for the nation’s broadcasters to federal government officials.
In Congress, Gustafson served as a senior advisor on judiciary, homeland security, intelligence and education issues and also worked with external coalitions. She served as coalitions director and counsel to Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01); senior policy advisor and chief counsel to former Majority Leader/Minority Whip Eric Cantor (VA-07); policy director and counsel for then-Republican Conference Vice Chair Sen. John Cornyn (TX); Senate Judiciary Committee counsel to Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA); and director of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and legislative counsel to Rep. Steve King (IA-04). Before working in Congress, she practiced constitutional law with Bopp, Coleson & Bostrom.
Gustafson serves on the boards of the Federalist Society, Capital Area Iowa Club and the William Penn University Alumni Association. She has bachelor’s degrees in American history/government and communications from William Penn University and received her Juris Doctor from the University of Iowa College of Law. An Iowa native and proud Hawkeye, she now resides in Arlington, Va.
Info coming soon
Ryan Dohrn
Sales
Ryan Dohrn is an Emmy Award-winning media revenue consultant, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and founder of Brain Swell Media and the 360 Ad Sales Training System. Since 2008, he has advised more than 500 media companies and trained over 30,000 advertising sales professionals worldwide.
A 30-year media veteran, Ryan has held leadership roles with organizations including The New York Times Company, Disney, Cumulus, Citadel Communications, and Morris Publishing. He also holds a Psychology of Leadership Certification from Cornell University.
Unlike many sales trainers, Ryan continues to sell advertising every day, bringing real-world strategies and current industry experience to every presentation. A featured expert in USA Today and Forbes.com, Ryan speaks at more than 60 conferences annually and has helped generate more than $1 billion in advertising sales and sponsorship revenue. His practical, high-energy sessions provide immediately actionable ideas for media sales professionals.
Kevin Benz
News
A self-described “recovering” news director, Kevin Benz is well-known as an inspiring, engaging speaker. He coaches thousands of journalists and hundreds of newsrooms around the country with his own style of pragmatic, ethical craft. His 30 years in TV newsrooms and reporting on the streets provide a unique understanding of what journalists need.
Known as a media trailblazer and innovator, Kevin launched two of the most innovative media organizations in the country — News 8 Austin, a 24-hour local news channel; and CultureMap Austin, the most read digital lifestyle magazine of the city.
He began his career in broadcast journalism as an award-winning news photographer and followed a path to becoming a nationally recognized journalism leader — serving 14 years as news director and editor-in-chief in Austin.
His teams received national recognition from the most prestigious organizations including the Sigma Delta Chi awards, the National Edward R. Murrow awards, three National Walter Cronkite awards for excellence in Political Journalism and the DuPont-Columbia awards. Kevin’s personal honors also include the Western Heritage award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Kevin is former Chairman of both the RTDNA (Radio, Television, Digital News Association) and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters where he co-founded the Southwest Broadcast Journalism Conference. He served as visiting faculty for the Poynter Institute and currently serves as senior faculty for the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism.
JR Ammons
Programming
JR Ammons is Vice President of Operations and Programming for Audacy Kansas City, St. Louis and Houston, where he helps lead programming strategy, station operations and audience engagement across three major radio markets. A veteran programmer and operations leader, JR has built his career creating compelling content, developing strong on-air brands and finding new ways for stations to connect with listeners and advertisers.
With more than 15 years of radio leadership experience at Audacy, Cumulus Media and Entercom, JR understands what it takes to build successful radio brands, from developing talent and creating memorable promotions to strengthening listener loyalty and generating meaningful opportunities for clients.
Combining creative programming instincts with a strategic approach to growth, JR brings a practical perspective on how programming, promotions, sales and digital engagement can work together to strengthen stations and deliver greater value to listeners, advertisers and the communities they serve.
Carrie Huke Hibbeler
Programming