Board Biographies

Duane Alverson
MacDonald Broadcasting (Saginaw/Lansing)

Duane Alverson has spent his entire broadcast career working in various leadership capacities at MacDonald Broadcasting Company. After a three-year stint as General Manager of MacDonald Broadcasting Company's Muzak franchise, Duane's actual broadcast career began in 1985 as Local Sales Manager for country powerhouse WKCQ-FM. A few years later he became General Sales Manager for the Saginaw property and then served for five years as VP of Sales prior to being named President in 2004. Duane will be starting his 23rd year with MacDonald Broadcasting Company in July 2005.

Prior to his career in the broadcast industry, Duane spent twelve years in a the carbide cutting tool industry working for Rico Tool Co. in Bridgeport, Michigan. Duane served as the 58th President of the Michigan Jaycees in 1981-1982 and has served at various non-profit organizations. Duane currently serves as Vice President of St. John Lutheran Church in Saginaw.

Al Blinke
WNEM-TV/AM (Saginaw)

Al Blinke is the Vice President and General Manager of WNEM-TV5 in Saginaw. Blinke has spent over 30 years in the broadcasting industry in both radio and television. His previous experience includes work as the News Director at KDKA-TV/WNPA-TV in Pittsburgh, PA and as a television consultant for Frank N. Magid Associates in Iowa. Blinke has also served as News Director at WSB-TV in Atlanta, GA, and WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh. He began his career as a reporter in Flint. Blinke graduated from Specs Howard and is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit.

Marla Drutz
WDIV-TV (Detroit)

Marla Drutz is vice president and general manager of WDIV in Detroit. Prior to joining Post-Newsweek Stations in July 2008, Drutz had been with E.W. Scripps Company. In January 2002, she was named director of programming and special projects, responsible for the programming purchased, production and scheduling of five Scripps TV stations across the country, including WXYZ, the ABC affiliate in Detroit. She also oversaw a series of Scripps Television Productions.

Drutz joined E.W. Scripps Company in January 1988 as research director at WXYZ. She was named program director in 1994. Previously, Drutz worked at WJBK in Detroit and at WJW in Cleveland.

Drutz holds a BA from Ohio University in journalism and communication. A native of Louisville, KY, Drutz lives in Bloomfield Hills with her husband, Ron, and their son.

Trey Fabacher
WWJ-TV/WKBD-TV (Detroit)

Trey Fabacher is Vice President and General Manager of two CBS O&O television stations in Detroit, WWJ-TV (CBS) and WKBD-TV (CW50). He has been in broadcast management for 14 years, and got his start in the business as a radio disc jockey in his home state of Louisiana over 25 years ago. Trey joined the CBS Television Stations Group in 2003 as Station Manager at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. He has also served for CBS as the VP/GM for KSTW-TV (CW) in Seattle. Before joining CBS, Trey was General Sales Manager for KSTP-TV (ABC) in Minneapolis, the Hubbard Broadcasting flagship station. Trey has worked in Detroit before when he was Local Sales Manager for WDWB-TV20 (WB) in 1997-98. Prior to his first stay in Detroit, he served for four years in various sales manager roles at WFTC-TV (FOX), the largest Clear Channel property at the time. Before joining the management ranks, Trey was an account executive for Blair Television in Minneapolis and Chicago.

Trey served for seven years on the NATAS Board of Governors in various markets, serving for three of those years as Vice President and Sponsorship Chairman for the Upper Midwest Chapter. He has also been a representative on several network affiliate and sales traffic system advisory boards.

Trey received a B.S. in Communications with high honors from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a major in Broadcast Sales and Management.

After those early disc jockey days, Trey stayed active in the industry while earning his degree. While in college, Trey worked in research at WATE-TV (ABC) in Knoxville. He also helped establish a broadcast honor society chapter (AERho) at UT and served as its first President and Regional Director. Trey was also selected by the IRTS as one of the top Broadcasting students in the nation and received a fellowship in the sales pricing and planning area at NBC in New York City in 1988.

Tim Feagan
Clear Channel Radio West Michigan

Tim Feagan is Vice President Market Manager for Clear Channel West Michigan. which includes seven stations in Grand Rapids (WBCT-FM, WBFX-FM, WOOD-AM, WOOD-FM, WTKG-AM, WSNX-FM, WMAX-FM) and four stations in Muskegon (WMRR-FM, WMUS-FM, WSHZ-FM, WKBZ-AM).

Tim is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in Marketing. He began his broadcast career with Katz radio Managing the Houston, Los Angeles, and Chicago offices for the firm. Tim went from Katz to WVAZ-FM in Chicago where he served as General Sales manager. Moving to Grand Rapids to became General Manager of WJFM-FM which later he changed to WBCT-FM "B93" which is also part of the Clear Channel cluster of stations today.

Ed Fernandez
WXYZ-TV (Detroit)

Ed Fernandez is a Michigan native with a distinguished career as a broadcast executive. He rose through the ranks at stations in Grand Rapids and, most recently, served as president and general manager of WSNS Telemundo in Chicago. Before joining Telemundo in 2003, Ed Fernandez worked for 14 years at WXMI Fox 17 in Grand Rapids. He joined the station as a local sales manager, served as general sales manager, station manager and eventually became vice president/general manager. Earlier in his career, he served as an account executive for WSB-TV in Atlanta, WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids, and WOOD-TV, also in Grand Rapids.

Fernandez, whose stations have won numerous local Emmys, has received a number of awards, including the Central Michigan University Distinguished Alumni award, Grand Rapids Business Journal "Forty Under Forty" award and St. Augustine College's "El Puente" award for his commitment to the Chicago Hispanic community.

Originally from West Michigan, he earned a bachelor's degree in broadcast and cinematic arts from Central Michigan University. He was the Robert R. McCormick/Tribune Foundation Fellowship Recipient through National Association of Broadcasters.

Alan Frank

Post-Newsweek Stations (Detroit)

Prior to being elected President of Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc, Alan Frank spent 12 years at WDIV-TV. As Vice President and General Manager, Frank strengthened the station's local reputation by successfully securing the rights to broadcast Detroit's most visible annual events, including the International North American Auto Show, the Grand Prix Parties, the International Freedom Festival and beginning in 1990, the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Frank also strenthened the reputation of WDIV's news operation by insituting the "24-Hour Newsbeat," live, around the clock news and weather updates airing every hour and half hour. Frank was responsible for assembling WDIV's sports production unit which included a client list comprised of the Detroit Tigers, PASS, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, the NBA, NHL, NFL, General Motors and the Ford Motor Company.

Frank joind WDIV in 1979 as program manager and was promoted to director of programming and audience development in 1981. He was named vice president of programming and audience development in 1984 and became vice president of programming and production for Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc, WDIV's parent company, in 1986. He was elected president of Post-Newsweek Stations in January 2000.

Debbie Kenyon
CBS Radio (Detroit)

Debbie Kenyon started her radio career in 1990. She has had diverse roles at different stations throughout the market including National Sales Manager for WOMC, Director of Sales for all CBS Radio’s local stations, Vice President and General Manager of WYCD-FM and WVMV-FM, and currently Vice President and Market Manager of CBS Radio Detroit. Debbie once had plans to become a Wall Street broker, instead she followed in her father’s footsteps and chose a media career – her father George Kenyon, now retired worked in television advertising sales for WJBK-TV.

Debbie was chosen one of Crain’s Detroit Business’s 40 Under-40 honorees for 2005, as well as, Crain’s Detroit Business’s Most Influential Women in 2007. She is currently on the board for Campfire USA and Detroit Radio Advertising Group, she has a Bachelor’s Degree and Finance Degree from Western Michigan University. Debbie is married and the mother of 3 beautiful children, one boy and two girls. Debbie’s long-term goal is to become a regional manager.

Mike King
WILX-TV (Lansing)

Mr. King is a 1985 graduate of Michigan State University with a Bachelors degree in Telecommunications.  After graduation, he relocated to Grand Rapids and began his career as an Account Executive for WLAV-AM/FM radio serving West Michigan. In May of 1989 he made the move to television taking a position with WWMT-TV the CBS affiliate serving the Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Battle Creek DMA. After four successful years in sales and marketing, Mr. King was promoted to National/Regional Sales Manager in 1993. Two years later in 1995, he was then appointed Local Sales Manager in charge of the local sales efforts for the region. Finally in 1997, he was appointed General Sales Manager, responsible for the National, Regional and Local sales organization.

In January 1999, Mr. King was named Vice President/General Manager of WLAJ-TV, the ABC television affiliate in Lansing, MI. In November 2000, he was named Vice President/General Manager of WILX-TV, the NBC television affiliate in Lansing. Mr. King has overseen the rise of WILX into a market leading position and transformed the property into a multi-platform media company reaching consumers on-air, online and on-the-go with WILX-TV, WILX Weather Source 10.2, WILX.com and WILX Mobile.

Mr. King has been actively involved in the Mid-Michigan community serving on the boards and in leadership roles for several business and charitable organizations including the Capital Area Michigan Works, Workforce Development Board; Board of Directors, Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce; Chair of the Board for Ele’s Place; Chair of the Board for the Mid-Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross and finally, served on the Board of the Lansing Regional Community Foundation.

Mr. King is the incoming Chair of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. He has also recently been appointed to the national NBC Television Network Affiliate Board.

Mr. King has been married 23 years to his wife Kim and they have two daughters Jessica 20 and Abby 16.

Julie M. Koehn
WLEN-FM (Adrian)

Julie Koehn is the President of Lenawee Broadcasting Company, licensee of WLEN Radio, Adrian, Michigan.

Julie began her broadcasting career in 1985 as an Account Executive. She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BS in both Industrial and Labor Relations and Political Science. Julie is a veteran of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors, serving as Chairman in 2005-2006, and is currently on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation and a Trustee for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee. Julie is on the Board of Directors of ATHENA Lenawee, serving as Treasurer and is the Rear Commodore of the Devil’s Lake Yacht Club.

Julie has also been a featured and panel speaker on small market radio at multiple NAB and RAB annual conferences, in addition to being the current District 13 representative to the National Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors which encompasses the State of Michigan.

Bill Kring
WWTV/WWUP/WFQX/WFUP-TV (Cadillac/Traverse City)

Bill has been the Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer for MICI, Inc. a diversified company with interests in small market television, real estate and mobile home communities since 1988. In his current capacity, he is also the General Manager of WWTV/WWUP-TV, the CBS affiliate in Traverse City, Michigan.

Prior to 1988, he was a CPA with a national accounting firm. Bill has served on several committees for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and local organizations and is a graduate of Central Michigan University.

Mark Libke
TBC Sports (Holt)

Mark Libke started his career in 1981 with WJR-AM as a high school news intern also producing Detroit Pistons broadcasts. While in college at Eastern Michigan University, Mark worked as announcer, producer and sports reporter at WQBR, WSDS and WAAM in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.  In 1992, he made the move to radio sales taking an Account Executive position with WPZA-AM/WQKL-FM in Ann Arbor. After four successful years in sales and sports marketing, Libke was promoted to General Sales Manager at WTKA-AM. In 1996, Mark took the position of Managing Director at Premier Tower Insurance Company (Okemos) specializing in comprehensive coverage for group radio and television studios and tower sites. In 1999, Libke joined TBC Sports (Holt) as Sales Manager for the Spartan Sports Network (SSN). Recently, he was promoted to Chief Marketing Officer for the Spartan Sports Network division of TBC Sports.

Libke holds a BA from Eastern Michigan University in Telecommunications and Film. In addition to serving on the MAB board, he is a current board member/advisor for Group 31 Foundation.

James Lutton
WLAJ/WWMT-TV (Lansing/Kalamazoo)

James Lutton has spent his entire 34 year career in television and syndication. In December of 2006 he was named as the Vice President and General Manager of WWMT-TV and the CW7 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Previously he served eight years as Vice President and General Manager of WSTM (NBC)/WSTQ (CW) in Syracuse, N.Y. WSTM-TV was a top billing station and was the “most watched” station for the last five years of Lutton’s tenure. He spearheaded the acquisition of WSTQ-TV, the CW affiliate, in 2003. He also has extensive experience in programming, program development and news. He has held positions at the following stations: KPIX-TV in San Francisco, WFSB-TV in Hartford, Conn., WBBM-TV in Chicago, Ill. and WCVB-TV in Boston, Mass.

Lutton holds a master of arts degree in Broadcasting and Film from Boston University and a bachelor of arts degree in English from Clark University in Worcester, Mass.

Scott Meier
Cumulus Media (Midwest)

Scott brings over 30 years of broadcast marketing, sales, on-air, and management experience to Michigan.  As a manager that enjoys working closely with our advertising partners, Scott finds community service an integral part of his job.  Serving on numerous boards like Ronald McDonald House, The American Red Cross, Junior Achievement, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America, he brings a wealth of marketing knowledge and fundraising ability to local chapters.  Scott has also served as a senior manager with Emmis Broadcasting, CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting, Alliance Broadcasting, and Blair Radio.

Gayle Olson
Mid-West Family Broadcasting Group (Benton Harbor)

Gayle Olson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. Gayle worked for WIZM-AM in La Crosse, WI, WMAY-AM in Springfield, IL, WSJM-AM and WIRX-FM in Benton Harbor before he became the President and General Manager of Mid-West Family Broadcasting of Southwest Michigan in 1995.

Mid-West Family Broadcasting, is a family of companies which includes 'clusters' of radio stations in Madison, WI; La Crosse, WI; Springfield, IL; Springfield, MO; and Southwest Michigan. Olson serves on the operating Board of Directors and has been a Mid-West Family Group shareholder since 1979.

He is a member of various community boards and organizations and is a Senior Active Member of the Rotary Club. His special community commitment for more than 20 years has been as Entertainment Chair of the Venetian Festival on the St. Joseph River. This summer celebration on the Lake Michigan waterfront draws more than 100,000 persons and features a weekend of 'name' entertainment, fireworks, food and family fun.

Bob Peters
WCZY-FM/WMMI-AM (Mount Pleasant)

Bob Peters is General Sales Manager of WCZY-WMMI in Mt. Pleasant. His broadcasting career began in 1984 after graduating from Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts. His first stop was at Metro Traffic Control in Detroit before spending the next first four years as an announcer in northern Michigan at WGRY Grayling and at WJGS/WMKM Houghton Lake before moving into sales in 1989 at WKLT Traverse City. He also served as an Account Executive at WKQZ Saginaw. Since that time Bob has held management positions at WKHQ Charlevoix, WCEN Mt. Pleasant, WABJ/WQTE/WMXE Adrian. He then returned to Mt. Pleasant in 2001 to manage WCFX.

Bob is an active member of the Mt. Pleasant community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce and the Isabella-Clare Chapter of the American Red Cross Fund Developmental Committee.

Ken Radant
WBCH-AM/FM (Hastings)

Ken Radant is President and General Manager of WBCH AM & FM in Hastings. His radio career started in 1953 when he began, while a senior in high school, as a weekend disc jockey at WOAP in Owosso, a job he continued during college at Alma and transferring to Michigan State University where he graduated in 1958.  Radant moved to Hastings in 1958 and accepted an air and news position at WBCH, Hastings. He was elevated to the position of Manager of WBCH in 1960. He and his wife later bought the station and he has remained there for 49 years.

In 1968 Ken was elected to the Barry County Board of Commissioners and was re-elected for seven consecutive two-year terms, serving as Chairman for three terms before retiring from the Board. He was promptly appointed by Gov. Milliken and reappointed by Gov. Blanchard as the state appointee to the Barry County Social Services Board. He also served on that body for 14 years. A community activist, Radant served on many local committees and organizations, including President of the Barry County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Board of Directors of that organization for nearly 40 years.

Jill Saarela
WPBN/WTOM-TV, Traverse City

Jill Saarela is the Vice President, General Manager of WPBN/WTOM-TV in Traverse City Michigan. She moved back to Northern Michigan in October 2007 after being away for 5 years in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to that she was the General Sales Manager for WPBN/WTOM-TV. Her goal was to return to Traverse City in the GM capacity. She has worked in New York, Chicago (twice), Detroit (twice), and is extremely happy to be back in Traverse City and hopes this will be home for many years. This also puts her closer to her family that still reside in the Detroit area.

She enjoys golfing, travel, dining with good friends and family, wine, boating, swimming, cooking, gardening and most of all, laughter and her dogs.

Chris Warren
Midwestern Broadcasting Company (Traverse City) 

Chris Warren is a board member and Corporate Controller of Midwestern Broadcasting Company, a parent company to 10 Northern Michigan AM and FM Radio Stations. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan with an accounting degree. In 1992, he began working in Midwestern Broadcasting’s accounting department, and has been there ever since.

Chris also serves on the Board of The Les and Anne Biederman Foundation, founded to provide financial support to worthy Northern Michigan causes, and the Board of The Children’s House Montessori School in Traverse City.

Karole L. White
Michigan Association of Broadcasters

Karole White is President/CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Service Corp, Inc and the Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters.

When Ms. White arrived at the MAB 20 years ago, the organization had a part time executive director a few boxes of files and about $150,000 dollars in the bank. The membership was only at about 50 % of 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%.

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. White 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.