MABPAC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Office Manager / MAPB Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director
- Vice - President / General Manager, WWJ - TV / WKBD - TV ( Detroit )
Job Titles:
- Director
- Regional Vice President / Market Manager, Cumulus Media ( Saginaw )
Chris Monk began his career in January 1979 after graduating from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Broadcast Management. On January 01st, 1979 he headed west for his first job in radio.
He began his career in Reno, Nevada (Lotus Communications). For the better part of twenty years he worked various West Coast markets. Las Vegas, NV (Western Cities Broadcasting), Sacramento, CA (Nationwide Communications), and Tucson, AZ (Journal Broadcast Group) before he returning to Traverse City/Petoskey to work with Palmer Pyle to manage Northern Star Broadcasting.
For ten years Northern Star Broadcasting grew from nine stations "below to bridge" to a total of twenty-one stations serving the additional markets of Iron Mountain, Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie.
In 2007, he joined Citadel Broadcasting to manage their stations in Saginaw and Flint. He left for five years to do consulting work and manage stations in Fort Wayne, IN for Adams Radio Group. In January 2017, he returned to Saginaw to re-join Cumulus as a Regional Vice President overseeing their stations in Saginaw, Flint and Ann Arbor.
Job Titles:
- Events and Member Relations Manager
Claire Corr has made a career coordinating events for businesses and non-profits in the state and helping those organizations' fundraising and public relations efforts.
Job Titles:
- Director of Technical Services / Digital Communications Director / Engineering for the MAB
Dan Kelley is the Director of Technical Services/Digital Communications Director/Engineering for the MAB. He serves as the main contact at the MAB regarding EAS and Emergency Warnings. He joined the association in 2007, following a 30+ year career in radio that started during high school in suburban Chicago. He has been a station Program Director, Operations Director, Station Manager, Chief Engineer and on-air talent. His background includes stops at CBS Radio, Clear Channel and Citadel Communications. In addition to his work at the MAB, Dan also operates a nationally-recognized online radio station. He attended Columbia College and William Rainey Harper College in Chicago. Dan has two sons and resides in Lansing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Vice President / General Manager of WILX Media
Debbie Petersmark serves as Vice President/General Manager of WILX Media, a Gray Television station which operates WILX-TV 10 (NBC), WILX.com, and WILX Digital. Debbie joined the station in 2000 as an Account Executive and served as General Sales Manager from 2014-2018. Prior to joining WILX, she spent 10 years with Sparrow Foundation as the manager of the Children's Miracle Network, where she led the fundraising efforts for the Regional Children's Center and produced an annual telethon. She serves as a board member for the American Red Cross, Mid-Michigan Chapter and on the Sparrow Foundation Board of Directors. Debbie grew up in an entrepreneurial family, working from a young age at Holden Reid Clothiers, a long-standing Lansing business founded by her grandfather. A lifelong resident of East Lansing, she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University. She and her husband Mike live in East Lansing with their three children, Andrew, Megan and Owen.
Job Titles:
- Director of Membership and Services
Job Titles:
- Director
- General Manager, WWMT - TV ( Kalamazoo )
- Vice President / General Manager of WWMT
Fred Corbus is Vice President/General Manager of WWMT - TV CBS/CW7 in Kalamazoo. He began his career at WWMT-TV in the early 90's as an account executive in sales. After several promotions, and more than a decade later, Corbus left the station to serve as Director of Sales at WOOD/WOTV/WXSP-TV in Grand Rapids and then at WXYZ-TV in Detroit. He returned to WWMT-TV in 2015.
Job Titles:
- Director
- General Manager, WJBK - TV ( Detroit )
- SVP / General Manager of WJBK Fox2
Greg Easterly is SVP/General Manager of WJBK Fox2, a market ratings leader in Detroit, Michigan. As a longtime broadcast executive, Easterly has experience as a major market general manager and also corporate experience as SVP of Group Operations for Tribune Media, where he was responsible for the strategic leadership of 15 television markets.
He has served as General Manager at WPIX in New York, WGN in Chicago and WJW in Cleveland responsible for all aspects of station operations. Prior to that, Easterly was Vice-President of News at WJW, one of the top performing Fox affiliates in the country. During his tenure the station was recognized with numerous awards for community service, news coverage and investigative journalism, including an Alfred I. duPont Columbia University award, IRE Medal for Investigative reporting, National Headliner Award and multiple Emmy awards.
Easterly's career began in various small market television stations in Texas and Oklahoma. A graduate of Abilene Christian University, Easterly earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
Jennifer Clark is a veteran of finance having served as Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer at the Michigan United Conservation Clubs and most recently as Deputy Director and Chief Operations Officer for the Michigan Oil and Gas Association. Clark joined the MAB in December, 2021.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Vice - President / General Manager, WOOD - TV ( Grand Rapids )
Brinks has accumulated over 30 years of experience in local and national sales management, local programming and content, new business development, operations and strategic planning across multiple media platforms. Prior to joining Nexstar, Brinks served as General Manager of KOHD-TV (ABC) and KBNZ-LD (CBS) in Bend, Oregon, where she focused on brand development, local content leadership and excellence in viewer and client experience. During her tenure, she oversaw the launch of the stations' news programming, managing all aspects of local branding, creative development, news set construction and talent recruitment.
Brinks has also held a position as Principal Consultant for Vici Media where she provided strategic direction, digital marketing and revenue development services to broadcast groups and individual stations as well as VP / General Manager of KGUN-TV (ABC), KWBA-TV (CW) and four radio properties in Tucson-Sierra Vista, Arizona. Additionally, she served as VP / General Manager of WPBN-TV (NBC) and WTOM-TV (NBC) in Traverse City- Cadillac, Michigan, where she developed and led highly effective teams and implemented sales, marketing and digital media initiatives.
Brinks earned her Bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and Cinematic Arts from Central Michigan University and is also a graduate of the National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation's Broadcast Leadership Training (BLT) program. She has been a member of Rotary International and served on numerous community boards including the American Red Cross, Junior Achievement and City Club of Bend. She also worked as Chair of American Heart Association's "Go Red" for Women and was a founding member of Haven Totes, Inc., a Tucson-based organization that provides life essentials for children and families in need.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Retired President / CEO, MAB / Executive Director, MAPB
When Karole L. White arrived at the MAB more than 25 years ago, the organization had a part time executive director, a few boxes of files, about $150,000 dollars in the bank and membership was only at about 50 percent of its potential. With the help of very positive board members, Ms. White grew the MAB to become one of the most respected trade associations in the state and among the best state broadcaster associations in the nation. MAB now has a membership penetration of 89 percent.
Prior to joining the MAB, Ms. White was the Executive Vice President Director for the Michigan Floral Association, the Executive Director of the MFA Health Insurance Trust, the managing director of MFA Federal Credit Union and President, Executive Director MAB Floral Service Inc. She has been in Association Management in the Greater Lansing area for over 30 years. She has served in executive positions with the Michigan Funeral Directors Association, United States Cheerleaders Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association and was a partner in BKM Advertising and Display Company.
Ms. White received her broadcasting back ground through advertising as Marketing Director for Forbes Cohen Properties in Lansing and as Telethon Manager for MDA. She has been honored with numerous awards, including most recently induction into the Michigan Society of Association Executives Hall of Fame and the Citizen's Medal of Honor from the National Guard. A life time learner, Ms. White attended Lansing Business University, Lansing Community College and Michigan State University. Ms. White announced her retirement effective January, 2022.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Vice President & General Manager, WNEM - TV ( Saginaw )
- Visionary Leader
Kenneth H. Frierson, Jr. is a visionary leader in the broadcast industry with over 30 years of sales and managerial experience and currently serves as the Vice President & General Manager Manager at WNEM TV5 in Saginaw. Under Frierson's leadership, the station has consistently exceeded revenue goals and is the market leader in broadcast revenue.
Frierson, who is a Dale Carnegie graduate, has trained and developed numerous account executives during his tenure. He has received many professional awards, including New Business Sales and Salesperson of the Year, and he was named among the 2006 Who's Who in Black Detroit. Frierson is an advocate for fairness and equality in broadcasting.
A native of Saginaw, Frierson received a bachelor of science degree in speech communications from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He has led broadcast sales team both locally and nationally across the nation, including Detroit, Peoria, Ill., and Syracuse, N.Y.
Frierson resides in Grand Blanc with his wife Alicia and has three sons.
Job Titles:
- Director
- General Manager, WXMI - TV Fox 17 ( Grand Rapids )
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan
- VP / General Manager of WXMI
Kim Krause is currently the VP/General Manager of WXMI, a FOX affiliate and E.W. Scripps property in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Kim was named VP/General Manager of WXMI, in January 2017.
Before taking over the GM position, Kim worked as VP of Sales and Marketing for WZZM, the ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids. Prior to her position as VP Sales/Marketing, Kim was their Local Sales Manager starting June of 1998.
Before joining WZZM 13, Kim worked for one year as Local Sales Manager at WLAJ ABC 53, in Lansing, Michigan.
Kim graduated from Hope College in 1986 with a double major in Political Science and Psychology. Upon graduation, Kim spent six years as an Account Executive at WWMT Ch 3 in the West Michigan market and then was promoted to Special Projects Manager.
Kim currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan. She has also served on numerous other community boards including The Humane Society of Western Michigan and Camp Newaygo for Girls.
Kim and her husband Gary reside in East Grand Rapids along with their daughter Elle.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Large Director
- Vice President / Market Manager for Beasley Media Group
With more than 40 years of professional experience in radio, Mac "Edwards" McTindal is Vice President/Market Manager for Beasley Media Group (Detroit), a company he has served for 30 years, 18 as General Manager or Market Manager. Mac began his career as on-air talent before adding program director responsibilities. He worked in Spartanburg, S.C., Charlotte, N.C., Coastal, N.C. and Astin, Texas before he settled in as PD at Beasley's WKML in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1991. He then became GM of WFLB-FM & WAZZ-AM when Beasley acquired those stations in 1996. He was named Fayetteville Market Manager in 2007 and Detroit Market Manager in 2017. Mac has earned honors as Beasley Market Manager of the Yearin 2017, Radio Ink Top GM/Small Market in 2007, Beasley General Manager of the Year in 1999 and Beasley Program Director of the Year in 1994. He is married to Angela McTindal and has three grown daughters Emery, Chatham, and Lauren.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Market Manager, Alpha Media ( Saginaw )
Job Titles:
- Member of the Officers Team
- Vice Chair
- Chairman Elect
Mike Murri began his broadcasting career as an account executive at WJBK-TV. He was hired by WXYZ as an account executive in 1982 and was promoted to local sales manager in 1996, director of sales in 2001, and station manager in 2012. In 2015, he was promoted to vice president and general manager of WXYZ and the newly acquired My Network affiliate WMYD, TV20. In 2015, Murri lead the team effort to create a new street-side studio in the heart of downtown Detroit. The studio is home to 7 Action News at noon, and connects viewers to the vibrant rebirth of the city. Under Murri's leadership, WXYZ has continued to build on its rich history of public service and local programming. The station has syndicated its coverage of the Woodward Dream Cruise to stations across the country; advanced the multi-platform approach to storytelling with a series of ground-breaking news stories; and launched a Detroit 2020 town hall initiative. WXYZ has been named "Station of the Year" by the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, top station in the Detroit market by the Michigan chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and honored as a finalist in the National Association of Broadcasters Service to America Awards. Murri is a board member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, Forgotten Harvest, the Woodward Dream Cruise, and the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. He lives in Rochester Hills with his wife Mary and has three children; Lauren, Katie and Michael.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Programs
Rachel Krause has worked at the MAB in different capacities since 2016, currently serving as a Executive Director of Programs. Rachel studied Business Marketing and Apparel Merchandising at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois and has a background in marketing and advertising. She currently resides in Lansing, Michigan and enjoys spending time with her husband and three young children.
Job Titles:
- Director
- President / General Manager, Handyman Productions ( Novi )
Robert David's career in the radio broadcasting industry spans four decades, all of them in
Michigan. He is currently the President / General Manager of Handyman Productions, a
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
- MAB As CEO / President
- President / CEO, MAB, and Executive Director, MAPB
Sam Klemet is MAB's President/CEO, succeeding retiring President/CEO Karol L. White in January, 2022.
Mr. Klemet rose out of 38 applicants to be the number one choice of the MAB Transition committee for the position. Mr. Klemet has a unique combination of skills coming from a broadcasting background working in radio, television and public radio as well as serving five years with the Indiana Broadcasters Association. He has worked in both commercial and public broadcasting and association management.
Mr. Klemet joined the MAB as CEO/President-elect in 2021 from his role at Director of Member Services for the Indiana Broadcasters Association. A Michigan native, he graduated from Michigan State University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Broadcast Journalism.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Officers Team
Scott Shigley started his broadcast career in sales at the Liggett owned station in Lansing, WFMK in 1993. He began his sales management career in 1998, managing stations in Adrian, Michigan (Friends Communications: WQTE,WABJ, WBZV), Port Huron (Liggett Communications: WSAQ/WBTI/WPHM/WHLS/WHLX), Greater Media Detroit (WMGC- Magic 105.1, WCSX Classic Rock 94.7). After that, Scott worked in advertising sales at Fox Sports Detroit before having the opportunity to return to his adopted home town of Port Huron in 2011, where Scott assumed the General Manager position for Liggett Communications in July 2014. Scott manages WSAQ, WBTI, WPHM, WHLS, and WHLX. He is a graduate of University of Michigan and Reading Schools in lower Michigan. Scott has three children: Kalyn, Isaac and Avery and two grandchildren. Scott loves to do anything outdoors, especially playing golf, coaching softball and UM football games.
As a career media marketing professional, I have become a student of consumer behaviors with a thirst for understanding the moment to moment movements of our listeners and populations to maximize the audiences of our radio stations and digital assets to bring the greatest return on investment for our advertising partners. Now, working with Mike Chires and Norm McKee in Northern Michigan for Black Diamond Broadcasting, I am the New Business Development Director. Every day I work directly with our sales team to create marketing opportunities for local and regional businesses. I don't just work in the communities I serve; I roll my sleeves up and work hand in and with organizations through volunteerism and facilitating creative brainstorming sessions to help create opportunities that overcome challenges in retail, service and recruitment business environments. I pride myself on helping main street businesses understand the ever-changing landscape of marketing with today's technology. Expressing the importance to businesses, that being known before the consumer needs their products or services are needed is vital to any business's growth. Advertising through traditional media such as radio keeps them top of mind and in play to earn their customer's business whether through foot traffic in their store on through their websites and digital marketplaces. I am a strong leader. Dedicated to my craft who tirelessly works with conviction, ethics and a hunger to win. I am a mom of an awesome 12-year-old who is fully invested in my family, my work and my community.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Chair
- Member of the Officers Team
Stephen Marks started his broadcasting career at the age of 17 as a copy writer at WINX in Rockville, Maryland. While there, he was able to learn enough to pass the FCC 3rd class with number 9 endorsement license test. His early career was spent in radio holding positions from marketing to management. That included working with Mutual Broadcasting Systems (MBS) in Affiliate Programming and Syndication, after graduating in 1973 from American University in Washington D.C. In 1983 he acquired 51 percent of Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation in Alpena, Michigan. Today as a 100-percent shareholder, he still serves as President/CEO of WBKB-TV. His other Michigan stations include Lake Superior Community Broadcasting, WBUP-TV/WBKP-TV and Houghton Community Broadcasting, WOLV-FM, WHKB-FM, and WCCY-AM. Under the DBA of The Marks Group, he holds a total of 5 television stations and 14 radio stations. His Michigan stations fund two student scholarships with MAB Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Vice - President / Station Manager, Barry Broadcasting ( Hastings )
Job Titles:
- Director
- Co - Owner, WGHN - FM ( Grand Haven ) and Vice President / Director of Operations, Spartan Sports Network
- Member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
Wendy Hart has spent the last 10 years as co-owner of WGHN, Inc which consists of radio stations WGHN-AM/FM and WMPA-FM in Grand Haven, Michigan. She also serves as Vice President/Director of Operations for the Spartan Sports Network in East Lansing, Michigan, a post she has held since the 1990s.
It all started for her in 1985, when she joined TBC in Chicago after the corporate media promotions company expanded into sports broadcast operations. Within three years of joining TBC, the company merged with Rasmussen Communications Management led by Bill Rasmussen, the founder of ESPN. During her stint with RCM, Wendy worked in radio network operations, affiliation, and as a radio producer and writer for the University of Illinois, Purdue University, the Big Ten Conference, and the Chicago White Sox.
Following RCM, she helped co-found the Spartan Sports Network, Michigan State University's statewide sports radio network. Wendy currently oversees broadcast operations and digital media. On weekends in the Fall, she also moonlights as a producer. She has led the Michigan State football broadcast team for over 25 years. Aside from SSN, management and marketing duties keep her on her toes at WGHN.
A proud member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Wendy is a graduate of Illinois State University.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Regional President, Alpha Media
Zoe Burdine-Fly was the former Chair of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters from 2019-2020. She brings more than 25 years of media leadership experience from major media companies, including Townsquare Media, Clear Channel, and Citadel Communications in markets like Lansing, Flint, Syracuse, and Chicago. Best known for her energetic spirit, creativity and tenacity, she has been in a leadership role in one form or another since the early 1990s in the radio industry. Most recently, Zoe was the Regional Vice President for Townsquare Media in New Jersey, where she was named on the of the "50 Most Influential Women in the Radio Industry" by Radio Inc. She also was the Market President for two of Townsquare Media's key markets, Lansing and her hometown of Flint. Zoe is currently a Regional President for Alpha Media, overseeing 13 markets throughout the country.