The Carl E. Lee Engineering Awards


Broadcast engineers work diligently to ensure the integrity of our airwaves. For those who have
exercised their skills and innovations for the advancement of technology, this is our opportunity to say "you're outstanding".

Two awards are given each year - one to a radio engineer and one to a television engineer.

 

Candidates for the Carl E. Lee Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award must have been an employee, officer, or owner of any company, subsidiary or division whose primary business is broadcasting, or is directly in support of radio or television station in Michigan. One award for radio engineering and one award for television engineering will be awarded. The size of the organization with which each candidate is affiliated is not a determining factor. The merits of the contributions to broadcast engineering are the sole factors to be taken into account.

Candidates for the Awards shall have made contributions in one or more of the following categories:

  • Development of new technologies
  • Dissemination of technical knowledge and literature
  • Leadership in broadcast engineering affairs
  • Mentoring or coaching in the engineering field outside of the workplace
  • Any outstanding contribution which warrants consideration

 
2010 Carl E. Lee Engineering Awards
 

Radio Winner: Ed Trombley, Field Engineer/RF Expert, Munn-Reese, Inc, Coldwater, Michigan

Ed Trombley is the Field Engineer and RF Expert Extraordinaire at Munn-Reese, Inc. He began his broadcasting career as a student at Lake Superior State College in the Electronic Engineering Technology program. Upon graduating Ed worked as a contract engineer for several years at numerous stations across Lower Michigan. In 1984 Ed took on the position of Chief Engineer and Technical Director of Telecommunications at WSAE/KTGG at Spring Arbor College. After a decade of service at Spring Arbor College, Ed made to the move to Munn-Reese, Inc. in Coldwater, MI to work as a field engineer conquering the most complex of radio engineering issues. Since his move to Munn-Reese, Ed has become quite the engineering celebrity throughout the state known for his problem solving and uncanny way of communicating with the finickiest of machinery.

In addition to his professional work, Ed is known for his garage full of old broadcast parts and equipment supplying the local theatre with period props not to mention the numerous engineers who have been helped in a pinch because of his garage full of goodies. Ed is married to his lovely wife Mary and the couple has four children.
 
 
 
Television Winner: John Grover, Chief Engineer, WADL-TV, Mount Clemens/Detroit, Michigan

John Grover is the Adell Broadcasting Corporation’s Chief Engineer for WADL-TV. He has over 46 years of experience in broadcast engineering, 33 of which has been as a television station chief engineer. John began his broadcasting career in 1963 at WJIM as a staff engineer before a brief two year stint as an engineer for World Wide Sports in Williamston, MI. He then became the Chief Engineer for WGPR, a radio and television licensee, in 1977 where he assemble a U-Matic auto logging sequencer for interstitial and program playback.

In 1988, John joined the Sinclair Broadcast Group in Flint as Chief Engineer at WSMH starting a local news operation. In addition, in 1992 John took on the extra duties of Chief Engineer at WADL TV where he over saw the operations and staffing of Master Control. In 2006 John opted to lighten his heavy work load retiring from WSMH TV. John is still Chief Engineer at WADL-TV and is known for his positive, can-do sprit and outstanding work ethic.
 
 
2009 Carl E. Lee Engineering Awards
 
Radio Winner: Greg Urbiel, Director of Engineering, Saga Communications, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan

Greg is a 40-year veteran of the broadcast industry and has worked for a host of reputable companies. Greg began his career in broadcasting in 1969 at WCAR AM/FM in Detroit shortly after graduating from Loyola University. He then went on to serve as chief engineer for several stations in Detroit, including WWWW-FM, WWJ-AM/FM, and WYST/WJOI-FM.

In 1989, Greg was appointed Director of Technical Operations, Midwest, for CBS Radio where he oversaw technical operations for several major markets. After 8 years in New York, Greg returned to Detroit where he worked again for WWJ and then for ABC Radio, until he found his current home at Saga Communications.

In addition to his professional positions, Greg has also served as a member on the Technical Committee for the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and the Southeast Michigan Operations Area Emergency Broadcast Coordinating Committee.
     
 
 
     
Television Winner: Dale Scholten, Chief Engineer, WXMI-TV, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Mr. Scholten has worked in the broadcasting industry for over fifty years and has held a host of different positions. Dale began his career in 1956 at the ripe old age of 16 when he started his own bootleg AM radio station in his parent's basement. His television career started with repairing TVs for a small shop in Cadillac. From there he was hired at WWTV-TV where he earned his First Class FCC license. Dale went on to work for a Motorola 2-way company and Cook Communications in West Michigan.

In 1968, he worked as an engineer for WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids in addition to starting his own business, General Communications Company, specializing in contract maintenance. He grew that business by investing in tower building and leasing in the early 1970s. Then one day he read the local paper he found a help wanted ad asking for someone that could assist in designing and building a new TV station in the area. Dale answered that ad and helped to construct WWMA-TV, which is now WXMI-TV. Dale has served at WXMI-TV for 28 years.

Dale still owns General Communications Company and made it a family business when his son joined him in 1998. Dale is an active member of his community and a valued member of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters.

 


Past winners coming!