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Speakers & Panelists

Natalia Sanchez Alvarez is CEO of Norsan Media, leading daily operations and strategic growth across more than 50 radio, television, print, and digital outlets in the Southeastern U.S. and Texas. With over a decade at the company, she brings expertise in national sales, media operations, community festivals, and station acquisitions. Her leadership has strengthened Norsan’s market presence and expanded its digital capabilities, creating new opportunities for advertisers to reach audiences across platforms. A proud first-generation Mexican-American, Alvarez is committed to amplifying Hispanic voices, culture, and stories. She champions Spanish-language media as a vital bridge connecting communities, culture, and opportunity through innovation, authentic representation, and meaningful engagement.

Jason Anderson is Vice President at Kalil & Co., Inc., where he has spent more than a decade advising media owners and buyers on acquisitions and divestitures nationwide. He specializes in media M&A across television, radio, digital infrastructure/towers, and outdoor advertising, with transaction experience spanning markets of all sizes. A graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in architecture, Anderson brings a diverse entrepreneurial background to his work in media brokerage, having founded a design-build company and a boutique hospitality group. At Kalil & Co., he works closely with owners, operators, and investors throughout the transaction process, bringing a broad perspective on market dynamics, valuation, strategic positioning, and the evolving media landscape.

Nic Anderson serves as Vice President of Government Affairs for Salem Media and Vice President of Public Policy for the National Religious Broadcasters. He leads advocacy and public-policy efforts before Congress, the FCC, federal agencies, and state legislatures. Before moving into government affairs in 2021, Anderson spent more than a decade overseeing Salem’s Twin Cities radio operations, with responsibility for programming, sales, engineering, promotions, and regulatory compliance. He also serves on the NAB Radio Board and Joint Board, representing broadcasters in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. With more than two decades of broadcasting experience, Anderson brings an operator’s perspective to communications policy and industry advocacy.

Larry Bailin is a bestselling marketing author, award-winning executive, and acclaimed keynote speaker recently recognized among the Top 100 Speakers to Watch. For more than 30 years, Bailin has helped shape the digital landscape, contributing to pivotal decisions and innovations that have influenced the industry. His expertise spans marketing, sales and persuasion, consumer behavior, leadership, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. A sought-after presenter, Bailin has delivered keynote addresses for leading organizations including GE, Synchrony Bank, Capital One, Microsoft, Coupa, Carrier, Shazam, Withum, NAMM, Verisign, and Tennant, among others. An entrepreneur and forward-thinking innovator, Bailin has also been recognized by Yahoo’s marketing team as one of the leading minds in business. He continues to challenge conventional thinking and help organizations navigate an increasingly complex digital marketplace.

Caroline Beasley is Chief Executive Officer of Beasley Media Group and Chair of its Board of Directors. A respected American media leader, she has championed innovation, localism, and advocacy while guiding the company’s expansion across broadcast, digital, podcasting, and streaming. Beasley has served as BMI Board Chair, NAB Joint Board Chair, and NAB Radio Board Chairman, and currently serves on the Boards of the Broadcasters Foundation of America and NAB Leadership Foundation. Consistently ranked among Radio Ink’s “40 Most Powerful People in Radio,” her honors include the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame and recognition as a Giant of American Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation, the NAB National Radio Award, and her June 2026 induction into the Florida Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Vince Benedetto is the Founder and President of Bold Gold Media Group, which owns and operates 17 radio stations, various digital media platforms, and tower assets throughout Northeast Pennsylvania and Upstate New York.  Benedetto is a 1998 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and a former Air Force Captain and Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI) Special Agent.  During his time in OSI, he led counterintelligence, counter-narcotics, counterterrorism, and felony-level investigative efforts for the Department of Defense.  He is a past Chairman of the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters and a Member of the Board of the International Churchill Society.

Brock Berry is an accomplished Senior Executive, C-Suite officer, entrepreneur, consultant, and board member, with over 17 years of success in marketing, advertising, and technology. His expertise spans radio, TV, broadcast, digital, and mobile advertising; SEM; social media and email marketing; and sales management. Berry has held leadership positions at AdCellerant (Co-Founder/CEO), Affinity Express, AdTaxi, Digital First Media, Clarity Media Group, The Denver Post, and Schurz Communications. He co-founded AdCellerant, which grew over 4,000% to $75 million in revenue in under three years. His team earned recognition from CoBiz Magazine and Colorado, Inc. Magazine, plus industry awards from Red Herring, Denver Business Journal, and Editor & Publisher.

Danny Bortnick is Vice President of Local Revenue and Client Growth for Cox Media Group Radio, where he partners with market and sales leaders across the company to accelerate local revenue, strengthen client relationships, and drive growth across broadcast and digital platforms. Bortnick brings more than two decades of media and sales leadership experience, with a career spanning Cox Media Group, Hubbard Radio, iHeartMedia, CBS Radio, and Salem Media. He has built and led high-performing sales organizations in major markets including New York, Washington, D.C., and South Florida, with a focus on new business development, sales transformation, data-driven marketing, and helping local businesses achieve measurable results. Throughout his career Bortnick has been recognized as one of Radio Ink’s Best Managers in America, Edison Research’s 30 Under 30, and the Washington Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Sandy Breland has served as Gray Media’s Chief Operating Officer since May 2023, following leadership roles at Gray and Raycom Media. A lifelong journalist, she served as News Director in New Orleans and Phoenix and led WVUE and WAFB as VP/General Manager. Her honors include a Peabody and National Murrow Award for Hurricane Katrina coverage, RTNDF’s First Amendment Award, and RTDNA’s 2025 John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award. She serves on the Carole Kneeland Project for Responsible Journalism’s Board of Directors and holds a journalism degree from Loyola University-New Orleans, reflecting her commitment to journalism, integrity, and strong local news leadership.

Phillip Brooks is Vice President of Technology at Graham Media Group, where he leads technology strategy, broadcast operations, and the company’s Momentum transformation — driving unified cross-platform workflows, AI-enabled production, and the modernization of legacy systems into scalable, multi-platform media networks. With more than 25 years in broadcast engineering, Brooks has overseen large-scale infrastructure rebuilds, cloud-based production environments, next-generation newsroom automation, and group-wide digital transformation initiatives. Prior to Graham Media Group, he served as Director of Engineering and Strategy at Scripps Media. Brooks has been recognized with the 2024 TAB George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence and the 2023 Broadcasting & Cable Unsung Hero Award.

Sheila L. Brown is the manager and principal owner of Vision Multi Media Group, LLC, a certified MWBE she has led since 2007. Beginning in entry-level sales at Buffalo’s WUFO Radio in 1986, she rose to CEO and purchased the station in 2013, becoming the nation’s youngest African American female radio-station owner. A three-time author and community advocate, Brown created events and on-air platforms supporting authors, businesses, and local voices. Her honors include Black Achievers’ Media Award, Buffalo Business First’s Power Women recognition, and Buffalo Broadcasters Association induction. She also leads WUFO’s Black Radio History Collective and owns Atlanta’s WIGO Pacesetter 1570 AM.

Jeanne‑Marie Condo‑Bucknell is one of the most decorated and influential executives in the U.S. audio and network radio industry, with a 25+ year track record of driving national revenue, relaunching major networks, and shaping modern audio sales strategy. Condo is a nationally recognized audio‑industry revenue leader, known for building a national audio powerhouse, relaunching ABC Radio and CBS News Radio, and now driving revenue strategy at Audacy’s Infinity Networks. Recruited by Audacy CRO Bob Philips, who called her “a respected and accomplished leader in network radio,” she leads network revenue growth initiatives and is a key project partner.

Chris Cornelius is Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Murphy Media and a broadcasting executive with more than 40 years of industry experience. During his career, he has also served as Station Group Head for Benedek Broadcasting and President and COO of Barrington Broadcasting. He has participated in mergers, acquisitions, and management transactions involving more than 25 television stations and has held numerous industry leadership positions, including NBC Affiliate Board member, two-time Chair of the CBS Affiliate Board, NAB Board member, and Chair of the Television Operators Caucus. Cornelius currently serves on the CBS Affiliate Board, the Television Operators Caucus, the TVB Executive Board, and the Executive Board of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

Joseph M. Di Scipio is Senior Vice President, FCC Legal & Business Affairs and Assistant General Counsel for Fox Corporation. He joined FOX in 2009. He is responsible for all FCC regulatory matters for FOX, negotiating retransmission consent and other distribution agreements, spectrum matters, M&A activity, and other special projects. He is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation Board of Directors and previously served for six years on the NAB Board of Directors, including one year on the Executive Committee. Di Scipio is a past president of the Federal Communications Bar Association and is a past chair of the FCBA Foundation. He is a recipient of the FCBA Distinguished Service Award.

Tim Dukes is a partner at Collective Heads, a media consulting, fractional-management, and marketing group for audio brands. A 40-year industry veteran, he programmed WLUP (The Loop) in Chicago for Emmis, WKLS/Atlanta for Clear Channel, and WEBN/Cincinnati for Jacor, among other legendary stations. Early in his career, he was part of the original airstaff at WFLZ/Tampa, known as The Power Pig. He left secular media in 2015 to become Dallas-Fort Worth GM for noncommercial Contemporary Christian WayFM, later serving as President of parent Hope Media Group, owner/operator of more than 80 FM licenses. In March 2026, Dukes was the cover-story interview for Radio Ink’s first issue focused on the rise of Christian radio in the U.S.

Joe Fortunato was promoted in 2026 to the newly created role of Vice President/Revenue at Hearst Television. He helps drive revenue across the company’s multiplatform portfolio, including broadcast, streaming, OTT/CTV, digital video, programmatic, social, and branded content, while supporting addressable advertising and AI-powered sales initiatives. Fortunato joined Hearst in 2023 as OTT national sales manager and later added linear advertising responsibilities. Before joining Hearst Television, Fortunato spent 11 years in national television advertising sales representation, rising from sales assistant before he was ultimately named general sales manager/team leader, serving multiple TV station groups including Hearst. Fortunato holds a Broadcast Journalism degree from Quinnipiac University and participates actively in Hearst leadership and mentorship programs.

Alan Gould is Head of Investor Relations at Gray Media, a role he assumed in late 2025. He brings extensive experience across the media, internet, and cable sectors, gained through senior buy-side and sell-side positions. Most recently, Gould was a Managing Director at Loop Capital Markets, following comparable roles at Evercore Partners, CIBC Oppenheimer, and Kidder, Peabody. He also co-managed the Media Sector at J.P. Morgan Investment Management and began his career as a media analyst at Furman Selz. Recognized by The Wall Street Journal, StarMine, Reuters, and Bloomberg for his research, stock selection, and earnings-estimate work, Gould was also ranked the #1 analyst by the Greenwich Survey for the most original and trusted media-entertainment research.

Michael J. Hayes is senior vice president of Hearst and president of Hearst Television. Before moving to the company’s corporate offices in 2013 he served successfully for two decades in numerous station leadership positions. He is a member of the Hearst board of directors. A graduate of Indiana University Bloomington, Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. Named a Distinguished Alumni in 2022, he serves as a board member of the Indiana University Media School. Among various industry and civic activities, Hayes is the vice chairman of the NBC Affiliate Board and a past chairman of the ABC Television Affiliates Board of Governors.

Davis Hebert joined CreditSights in 2020 and serves as co-head of High Yield Research, covering High Yield, Media, Cable Telecom, and Satellite. Previously, he spent nearly 20 years in banking, including 13 years as a sell-side analyst with Wells Fargo High Yield Research. From 2014 to 2019, he earned multiple Institutional Investor All-America Fixed Income Research rankings across Broadcasting & Publishing, Telecom Services, and Cable & Satellite. Hebert holds a BSBA in Finance from Appalachian State University, an MBA from Virginia Tech, and the CFA designation. His industry insights have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Economist.

Rebecca Jarvis is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and ABC News’ Chief Business, Technology & Economics Correspondent, reporting across Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, Nightline, 20/20, and This Week. Her reporting spans some of the defining financial stories of the past two decades, including the global financial crisis, Bernard Madoff scandal, and the rise of crypto, big tech, and artificial intelligence. Before joining ABC News, Jarvis served as CBS News’ Business and Economics Correspondent and spent three years at CNBC covering markets from the New York Stock Exchange and New York Mercantile Exchange. She began her career at Crain’s Chicago Business and Business 2.0 and also has professional experience in investment banking and foreign-currency trading. A University of Chicago graduate in Economics and Constitutional Law, Jarvis also studied European banking and financial markets at Sciences Po in Paris. She is the creator and host of the acclaimed podcasts The Dropout and No Limits with Rebecca Jarvis and a GMA Contributing Anchor.

Rick Kaplan is the Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the National Association of Broadcasters. Kaplan joined NAB in October 2012 as the Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning and was named General Counsel in November 2014. In his current role Kaplan is responsible for directing NAB’s advocacy at the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies. He also manages all NAB’s legal affairs, including litigation and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining NAB, Kaplan served in numerous leadership capacities at the FCC.

Pat LaPlatney is Co-CEO and President of Gray Television, which he joined in January 2019 after serving as CEO and President of Raycom Media from 2016–2018. His career includes leadership roles at Blair Television, Metro Networks, and Westwood One. During seven years at Raycom Sports, he oversaw distribution, events, and business development. At Metro Networks, he built its news services division and helped develop the first commercial traffic website. LaPlatney serves on Gray’s board and previously chaired the National Association of Broadcasters’ Television Board and the NBC Affiliate Board, bringing extensive broadcasting and digital media experience to his leadership roles.

Curtis LeGeyt is president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, serving as chief advocate for America’s free, local television and radio stations and their network partners. Previously NAB’s chief operating officer, he assumed his current role in January 2022. LeGeyt champions policies that expand access to local programming, promote trusted journalism, and level the playing field between broadcasters and Big Tech. He serves on the boards of the NAB Leadership Foundation, Broadcasters
Foundation of America, and Tracy’s Kids, which helps children with cancer, and on the
National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Executive Committee.

Senan Mele is Vice President of Forecasting & Data Analysis at BIA Advisory Services. In this role he collaborates with cross-functional teams to develop advanced forecasting models and analytics frameworks that help media, technology, and investment clients anticipate market trends and drive data-informed growth. He contributes to strategic planning, revenue forecasting, and market evaluation through rigorous data modeling and custom-built solutions. His deep expertise in data infrastructure and process improvement helps streamline workflows through automated ETL pipelines, database engineering, and scalable reporting systems. Before joining BIA, Mele led technical and analytical transformation initiatives at Horizon Media.

Randy Michaels calls himself a “mediocre broadcast technician” who has dabbled in programming, management, and ownership — but his career has made him one of radio’s most influential dealmakers, said to be attributable in more U.S. broadcast licenses than anyone. As CEO of Jacor Communications, he built a top-performing radio group before its 1999 sale to Clear Channel, where he remained CEO through 2002. He later served as EVP of Tribune Company and CEO of its Interactive and Broadcasting operations. Today, Michaels owns Radioactive LLC, a radio-license holding company. Recently active in Ohio and Kentucky, he and partner Jeff Ziesmann acquired the WKRP call letters in April 2026 and rebranded three Cincinnati–Dayton–Northern Kentucky signals as WKRP.

Francisco “Frank” Montero is a Partner with the law firm of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, specializing in telecommunications, broadcasting, media, and technology. Montero is well known as an early advocate for Hispanic and Spanish-language media in the U.S. and Latin America. He is on the board of directors of the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council (MMTC) and serves as the Washington, D.C., legal representative for the Puerto Rico Broadcasters Association. Montero has been recognized by numerous publications and organizations as a top media attorney and is a recipient of the Hispanic Radio Conference’s Medallas de Cortez Distinguished Leadership Award for significant contributions to Spanish-language and Hispanic-targeted broadcasting. He serves on the advisory boards for Bloomberg BNA Now: Tech and Telecom and the Radio Ink Hispanic Radio Conference.

Chris Oliviero is Chief Business Officer of Audacy and Regional President of Audacy New York, overseeing iconic brands including WFAN and 1010 WINS. Audacy is a leading multi-platform audio company spanning broadcast radio, podcasting, digital, live events, music, sports, and news. Before Audacy, Oliviero spent 22 years at CBS Radio, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President of Content and helping expand the company’s sports-audio leadership. He also helped lead the 2017 CBS Radio–Entercom merger that formed Audacy. A Billboard and Radio Ink honoree, he serves in leadership roles with the New York State Broadcasters Association, Broadcasters Foundation of America, and Radio Hall of Fame.

Justin Sasso is President & CEO of the Colorado Broadcasters Association, where he has led the organization since 2011, representing more than 300 radio and television stations and advocating for broadcasters at the state and federal levels. A lifelong broadcaster, Sasso spent 25 years in radio, working for multiple broadcast groups along Colorado’s Front Range before owning and operating a Northern Colorado radio station. Today, his industry leadership spans public policy, broadcast regulation and emergency communications, and he is a frequent speaker and advocate for local media. With both parents having worked in radio and television, broadcasting is something of a family business.

Jen Soch is Executive Director of Channel Solutions at WPP Media, overseeing audio and local video, DR, publishing, and AdvancedTV. Her career spans over three decades in media agencies. Previously, as Integrated Global Investment Lead at Mindshare, a WPP Media Brand, Soch spearheaded the Facebook business, managing all investment channels including video, audio, programmatic, image, search, social, and digital. Her strategic oversight ensured cohesive campaigns and seamless integration across channels and tactics. Soch’s track record includes roles as EVP/Commercial at The Guardian, where she led U.S. Commercial Operations, and a strategic position at Domo focusing on analytics and investment. Her agency experience encompasses leadership roles at Ammarti-Puris, Dentsu-Aegis, MEC, and MediaVest, where she guided planning, strategy, and investment for diverse client portfolios.

Angela Yee is a Radio Hall of Fame host, four-time Gracie Award recipient, and media entrepreneur dedicated to amplifying voices and empowering communities. As the nationally syndicated host of Way Up with Angela Yee on iHeartMedia, she reaches millions daily with conversations that inform, uplift, and inspire. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Yee began in marketing before transitioning to radio at SiriusXM’s Shade 45. She later co-founded the influential morning show The Breakfast Club. Beyond broadcasting, she champions economic empowerment through her Wealth Wednesdays initiative, teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Her ventures include the Brooklyn café Coffee Uplifts People, real estate investments across multiple cities, and the Lip Service podcast.