Fifteen executives from across the radio and television industry have been selected for the NAB Leadership Foundation’s 2027 Broadcast Leadership Training class, a 10-month program aimed at preparing senior managers for station ownership and C-suite roles.
Sessions in the MBA-style curriculum cover financial and business strategy, management and leadership, artificial intelligence, human resources, organizational culture, and other issues shaping the future of broadcasting. For more than 25 years, BLT has prepared nearly 450 senior executives and managers for station ownership and C-suite roles, with the 2026 class bringing the alumni total to 448 graduates upon its June graduation.
This year’s cohort includes:
- Angel Livas, Founder and CEO of ALIVE Network
- Ashley Parker, Vice President and General Manager of KSAT-12 in San Antonio for Graham Media Group
- Brenden Nakamine, News Director at KITV-4 in Honolulu for Allen Media Group
- Coriya Burns Falker, General Sales Manager at Urban One Atlanta
- Eric Casella, Vice President of Programming at Cox Media Group
- Erik Smith, Vice President of News Operations and Technology at Fox Television Stations
- Ilana Goldstein, Director of Finance and Strategy at Beasley Media Group
- James Galindo, General Manager of KERO-23 in Bakersfield for The E.W. Scripps Company
- James Loftus, Vice President and General Manager of KAPP/KVEW for Morgan Murphy Media
- Jessica Fernandez, News Director at Univision Television Group
- Keith Hildibrand, Vice President of Benefits at Gray Media
- Matt McDonald, General Manager of Central Oregon Daily News (KBNZ/KOHD)
- PJ English, Director of Operations at Tuscaloosa Radio Group
- Shannone Dunlap, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Black Diamond Broadcasting & Digital Solutions
- Shawnda Adams, News Director at KOCO-5 in Oklahoma City for Hearst Television
NABLF President Michelle Duke said, “The 2027 BLT class brings together an exceptional group of professionals who are ready to challenge conventional thinking, learn from one another, and inspire confidence for what lies ahead. Resilient and effective leadership has never been more important, and we are thrilled to support these professionals as they grow and to see where their leadership takes them.”
