Convention Speakers

Aaron Davis is a dynamic keynote speaker, author, and proud cancer survivor who has inspired over a million people with his message on the power of attitude. A member of the 1994 National Championship Nebraska Football Team, Aaron knows that attitude determines altitude.

From janitor’s son to trusted speaker for brands like Walmart and ConAgra, Aaron’s story proves it’s not what you do—it’s how you do it. With real-life experience as a business owner, former corporate leader, and morning radio host, Aaron brings authenticity and humor to every audience he serves.

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.

With more than 30 years of experience in the field of engineering, Mike Pappas currently works as a field engineer and VP of Business Development for Orban.  In this role, he has installed all beta sites for Orban’s new XPN-AM audio processor and developed field testing methodology to determine coverage impact when running MDCL on AM Transmitters. He was the past chair of the Colorado Chapter of the Audio Engineering Society and has held a number of memberships in a number of professional engineering groups.

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.

Amanda Fontaine brings over 20 years of fundraising experience, having served as Executive Director of a nonprofit. Her influence extends beyond that, as she has contributed her expertise to numerous other nonprofits, serving on the board of directors and holding key roles in over 30 organizations. Amanda has also developed leadership training programs for three different chambers of commerce, serving as President for two of them, and served as a mentor for Leadership Mississippi, further demonstrating her commitment to cultivating future leaders.

Amanda is a trainer for the Ten Minute Trainer Network and is a certified Excellence in Action trainer for the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, where she has led numerous workshops. Additionally, she developed and administered the Nonprofit Professionals Fundraising Executive Program for the organization.

Lauded as a news media trailblazer and innovator – Kevin Benz is well-known as an inspiring, engaging speaker, and America’s most sought-out immersive newsroom coach for journalists. He began his 35-year career as a TV news photog and worked that job in one of America’s largest markets. That’s where he did some of the earliest MMJ coverage, then 24-hour local news and then online publishing. All of that experience informs his newsroom and leadership coaching today.

Kevin’s newsroom experience sets him apart because he lives the real world issues facing news leaders and staff and he speaks their language. Kevin launched two of the most innovative media organizations in the country — News 8 Austin, Time Warner Cable’s fifth 24-hour local news channel; and CultureMap Austin, the most read lifestyle magazine of the city that also happens to be online.

Zeb Campbell is the Director of Promotions for Audacy Wichita and the owner of ZebTheDJ, where he has emceed and DJed for national organizations, stadiums, and large-scale events. With more than a decade in broadcasting, he has built a reputation for creating engaging promotions, dynamic on-air content, and fresh, creative energy for radio, live events, and brand activations.

Claire Magee Ferguson is VP, Asst General Counsel, and Senior Technology Counsel at Gray Media, which owns TV stations in 114 markets all over the United States.  She started in television over twenty-five years ago as a runner for NBC News and a master control intern at News 12 Long Island, and now leads Gray’s AI Policy Committee and serves on its Innovation Lab.  After graduating from Boston College and Georgetown University Law Center, she has guided broadcast operations at NPR, Allbritton Communications, POLITICO, Raycom Media, and now Gray.  She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.