Silver Circle invitees to be honored at event in Cleveland this summer
CLEVELAND – The NATAS Central Great Lakes chapter’s Gold & Silver Circle committee is proud to welcome four longtime members into its illustrious Silver Circle this summer, marking the occasion at an event that will also honor four new Gold Circle invitees who are currently in our Silver Circle.
Gold Circle invitees Leon Bibb, Harry Boomer, Bob Hammer and Carl Monday will be officially inducted at a special Gold & Silver Circle luncheon event July 24th at the Lakeside Event Center in Cleveland, along with this year’s class of Silver Circle inductees, Linda Jackson, Chuck Lofton, Lisa Lowry and Joe Pagonakis.
Linda Jackson has served the Fort Wayne market for more than 33 years as a television producer, anchor, mentor to aspiring journalists, and as an engaged volunteer and champion for the community. Her many awards include an induction to the Hall of Fame by Indiana Broadcasters Association.
WATCH: Linda gets surprised by her colleagues with news of her Silver Circle induction
Chuck Lofton has been in television for almost 43 years. He joined WTHR in 1985 and since then has served Hoosiers as weather reporter, mentor, and volunteer. His gifts as meteorologist and storyteller have earned him numerous awards, including the Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists and the 2007 National Broadcaster of the Year from the National Weather Service, and he was named Prodigy of Indianapolis.
Lisa Lowry has over 40 years in the industry as an assignment editor in the WKYC newsroom. She is much revered by her colleagues, who speak of her as the “heart of the newsroom” and the impact she has had on her community and the profession at large, as seen in this video from WKYC.
Joe Pagonakis is a veteran journalist who has served our chapter in three of its markets: Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and, since the late 1990s, Cleveland. As an investigative reporter, Joe has served his community and profession with integrity. He inspires his co-workers, is a role model for interns, and has earned the respect even of those who were the target of his stories.
The eight Gold & Silver Circle recipients will be honored at a special luncheon event at the Cleveland on July 24th at the Nuevo Lakeside Event Space in Cleveland, with tickets for the July luncheon going on sale in the coming weeks.
Tickets now on sale for June 25th Awards Gala at Lucas Estate
INDIANAPOLIS – Tickets are now on sale for the 53rd Great Lakes Emmy® Awards at the Lucas Estate near Indianapolis! Members can now purchase individual tickets or tables of 10 via EmmyExpress, with links to purchase tickets also being made available on your account dashboard.
Link to purchase individual tickets: Membership Events – EMMY® Express
Link to purchase tables: Membership Events – EMMY® Express – Tables
This year’s gala will be held Saturday, June 25th at the magnificent Lucas Estate in Carmel, Indiana, with the Indianapolis Colts serving as the official sponsor.
“We’re extremely honored to partner with the Colts and invite our nominees out to Indy,” said Central Great Lakes chapter president Dan Spehler. “Outside of a few small watch parties, we haven’t been able to gather in person these last two years, and we can’t wait to celebrate the occasion in style with everyone again in June.”
Weather permitting, this year’s gala will be held outdoors on the grounds of the Lucas Estate, owned by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, founders of Lucas Oil Products, Inc.
“We’re so thankful for the team at the Lucas Estate,” Spehler added. “In another year where we’ve had to improvise and change plans from time to time, this event will be a lovely way to celebrate our chapter’s accomplishments in an elegant and comfortable environment. Our recent survey showed that an overwhelming majority of our members wanted to be back in person, and we’re eager to see everyone again this summer.”
The Central Great Lakes chapter would also like to recognize Tabatha Starcher, director of brand engagement and business development for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, who was instrumental in forming this new partnership with the Colts.
“The NFL and its franchises submit amazing work both on the national and regional to the Emmys® every year,” said Starcher. “It’s exciting to be partnering with the Indianapolis Colts and we look forward to working with them in delivering a great ceremony as we celebrate our return to ‘in-person’ events in 2022.”
“The Great Lakes Chapter is excited about bringing the awards gala to Indy for the 4th time,” said executive director Bob Hammer. “Since annexing most of Indiana to the then ‘Cleveland Chapter’ in 1988, we have seen tremendous response from the television professionals in the Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and West Lafayette markets. We are adding new categories to include streaming and internet video, which opens new areas for Emmy® recognition.”
Please note:
Hotel capacity is somewhat limited near the venue, as there are always many events occurring in the Indianapolis area. If you’re coming from out of town, we would recommend booking a hotel room upon (or before) purchasing your tickets for the gala.
For a limited time, there is a group rate available ($199/night) at the Hyatt Place/Hyatt House in nearby Fishers, IN.
Reservations can be made online or by calling 1 (888) 591-1234 and asking for the Emmy Awards Gala room block at the Hyatt House Fishers, or referencing group code G-EAG6
Additionally, two highly-rated hotels closer to the venue in Carmel are offering rooms in the $200-$300 range:
*Renaissance Indianapolis North – Carmel – 5 minutes from the venue
*Marriott Indianapolis North (Keystone) – 5-10 minutes from the venue
There are also rooms available for $100-$200 in NW Indianapolis, 10 minutes from the venue:
*Extended Stay America Suites Indianapolis Northwest I465
*LaQuinta Inn by Wyndham Indianapolis North at Pyramids
Further from the venue, there are also still some highly-rated hotels available in Downtown Indianapolis should you wish to explore the Downtown area during your visit:
*The Alexander, a Dolce by Wyndham
*Omni Severin Hotel – Downtown Indianapolis
Weather permitting, this year’s gala will be held outdoors on the grounds of the Lucas Estate, so plan for warm weather, and feel free to dress accordingly. For your comfort, there will be both indoor and outdoor spaces available on site to gather and watch the show.
Proof of vaccination or a recent negative test may be required to enter the gala, should conditions warrant. If any such requirements are enacted, attendees will be notified in early June and screened via the CLEAR in-app Health Pass. Attendees should also monitor for potential symptoms and not attend the gala if ill.
Gold Circle invitees to be honored at event in Cleveland this summer
CLEVELAND – The NATAS Central Great Lakes chapter’s Gold & Silver Circle committee is proud to welcome four longtime members and current Silver Circle inductees into the chapter’s prestigious Gold Circle this summer.
Gold Circle invitees Leon Bibb, Harry Boomer, Bob Hammer and Carl Monday will be officially inducted at a special Gold & Silver Circle luncheon event July 24th at the Lakeside Event Center in Cleveland, along with this year’s class of Silver Circle inductees which includes Linda Jackson, Chuck Lofton, Lisa Lowry and Joe Pagonakis.
Leon Bibb began his television career at WTOL in Toledo in 1971, and also worked in Columbus before returning to his native Cleveland to join the team at WKYC, where he would eventually serve as evening news anchor.
From 1995 to 2017, he anchored various newscasts at WEWS, before returning to WKYC in 2018 as a senior reporter and commentator.
Harry Boomer‘s broadcasting career also began in 1971, with the bulk of that time being spent (since the early 90’s) at Cleveland’s WOIO/WUAB, where he still works as a general assignment reporter and as host and executive producer of 43 Focus.
The chapter surprised Boomer with the news during our recent monthly webinar focused on “Covering Our Communities: The Importance of Inclusion & Diversity” as part of the ‘Centered on Excellence’ webinar series.
The board of governors also recognized executive director Bob Hammer‘s accomplishments, announcing his invitation to the Gold Circle this year.
With over 50 years in the television and entertainment business as an executive producer, commercial producer, writer and director, Hammer is a former chapter president, our longtime awards administrator and currently serves as our chapter’s Executive Director. He began his television career in 1966 at KAKE in Wichita, Kansas.
Currently serving as our chapter’s regional vice president, Carl Monday has also worked 50 years at various television and radio stations in the Cleveland market, serving as an award-winning investigative reporter after starting out on the air on WJAN-TV in Canton while still a junior in college.
Over the years, Monday has won some 50 regional Emmy® awards for his work with WJW’s “I-Team” and other investigative reporting teams across the city.
Tickets for the July 24th luncheon will be on sale in the coming weeks.
NATAS CGL announces more Gold Circle honorees
The NATAS Central Great Lakes chapter’s Gold & Silver Circle committee is proud to welcome two additional longtime Cleveland TV veterans into its prestigious Gold Circle to mark 50 years in the broadcasting industry!
WOIO-TV’s Harry Boomer and longtime Central Great Lakes chapter administrator Bob Hammer had both been members of the chapter’s Silver Circle and will now be ‘graduated’ into our Gold Circle later this year to honor their 50 years of accomplishments in our industry.
Boomer’s broadcasting career began in 1971 and has been working at Cleveland’s WOIO/WUAB since the early 90’s, where he still works as a general assignment reporter and as host and executive producer of 43 Focus.
In the video above, see Boomer’s reaction upon the recognition being announced during our recent monthly webinar focused on “Covering Our Communities: The Importance of Inclusion & Diversity” as part of the ‘Centered on Excellence’ webinar series.
Earlier this month, the chapter also announced that longtime Cleveland journalists Leon Bibb and Carl Monday were invited into Gold Circle for their many contributions to the region.
Bibb began his television career at WTOL in Toledo in 1971, and also worked in Columbus before returning to his native Cleveland to join the team at WKYC, where he would eventually serve as evening news anchor.
From 1995 to 2017, he anchored various newscasts at WEWS, before returning to WKYC in 2018 as a senior reporter and commentator.
Currently serving as our chapter’s regional vice president, Monday has also worked 50 years at various television and radio stations in the Cleveland market, serving as an award-winning investigative reporter after starting out on the air on WJAN-TV in Canton while still a junior in college. Over the years, Monday has won some 50 regional Emmy® awards for his work with WJW’s “I-Team” and other investigative reporting teams across the city.
Monday and Bibb were also members of the chapter’s Silver Circle, marking more than 25 years in the business.
Their ‘graduation’ to the Gold Circle will officially be recognized by the chapter this summer.
In the video below, the board of governors recognizes executive director Bob Hammer’s accomplishments, announcing his invitation to the Gold Circle this year.
With over 50 years in the television and entertainment business as an executive producer, commercial producer, writer and director, Hammer is a former chapter president, our longtime awards administrator and currently serves as our chapter’s Executive Director.
Leon Bibb & Carl Monday invited into the NATAS Gold Circle
The NATAS Central Great Lakes chapter’s Gold & Silver Circle committee is thrilled to announce that longtime Cleveland journalists Leon Bibb and Carl Monday have been invited into the chapter’s prestigious Gold Circle to mark 50 years of broadcasting excellence!
In 1971, Bibb began his television career at WTOL in Toledo, and also worked in Columbus before returning to his native Cleveland to join the team at WKYC, where he would eventually serve as evening news anchor.
From 1995 to 2017, he anchored various newscasts at WEWS, before returning to WKYC in 2018 as a senior reporter and commentator.
Monday has also worked 50 years at various television and radio stations, primarily in the Cleveland market, serving as an award-winning investigative reporter after starting out on the air on WJAN-TV in Canton while still a junior in college. Over the years, Monday has won some 50 regional Emmy® awards for his work with WJW’s “I-Team” and other investigative reporting teams across the city.
Monday and Bibb were already members of the chapter’s Silver Circle, marking more than 25 years in the business.
Their ‘graduation’ to the Gold Circle will officially be recognized by the chapter this summer.
The invitation was extended to Monday and Bibb as a surprise during the chapter’s monthly “Centered on Excellence” webinar series focused on “Superb Storytelling & Journalism That Matters” which featured both Monday and Bibb along with IU’s Anne Ryder and WXIN/WTTV’s Mike Sullivan:
Tickets now on sale for June 25th Awards Gala at Lucas Estate
INDIANAPOLIS – Tickets are now on sale for the 53rd Great Lakes Emmy® Awards at the Lucas Estate near Indianapolis! Members can now purchase individual tickets or tables of 10 via EmmyExpress, with links to purchase tickets also being made available on your account dashboard.
This year’s gala will be held Saturday, June 25th at the magnificent Lucas Estate in Carmel, Indiana, with the Indianapolis Colts serving as the official sponsor.
“We’re extremely honored to partner with the Colts and invite our nominees out to Indy,” said Central Great Lakes chapter president Dan Spehler. “Outside of a few small watch parties, we haven’t been able to gather in person these last two years, and we can’t wait to celebrate the occasion in style with everyone again in June.”
Weather permitting, this year’s gala will be held outdoors on the grounds of the Lucas Estate, owned by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, founders of Lucas Oil Products, Inc.
“We’re so thankful for the team at the Lucas Estate,” Spehler added. “In another year where we’ve had to improvise and change plans from time to time, this event will be a lovely way to celebrate our chapter’s accomplishments in an elegant and comfortable environment. Our recent survey showed that an overwhelming majority of our members wanted to be back in person, and we’re eager to see everyone again this summer.”
The Central Great Lakes chapter would also like to recognize Tabatha Starcher, director of brand engagement and business development for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, who was instrumental in forming this new partnership with the Colts.
“The NFL and its franchises submit amazing work both on the national and regional to the Emmys® every year,” said Starcher. “It’s exciting to be partnering with the Indianapolis Colts and we look forward to working with them in delivering a great ceremony as we celebrate our return to ‘in-person’ events in 2022.”
“The Great Lakes Chapter is excited about bringing the awards gala to Indy for the 4th time,” said executive director Bob Hammer. “Since annexing most of Indiana to the then ‘Cleveland Chapter’ in 1988, we have seen tremendous response from the television professionals in the Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and West Lafayette markets. We are adding new categories to include streaming and internet video, which opens new areas for Emmy® recognition.”
Please note:
Hotel capacity is somewhat limited near the venue, as there are always many events occurring in the Indianapolis area. If you’re coming from out of town, we would recommend booking a hotel room upon (or before) purchasing your tickets for the gala.
For a limited time, there is a group rate available ($199/night) at the Hyatt Place/Hyatt House in nearby Fishers, IN.
Reservations can be made online or by calling 1 (888) 591-1234 and asking for the Emmy Awards Gala room block at the Hyatt House Fishers, or referencing group code G-EAG6
Additionally, two highly-rated hotels closer to the venue in Carmel are offering rooms in the $200-$300 range:
*Renaissance Indianapolis North – Carmel – 5 minutes from the venue
*Marriott Indianapolis North (Keystone) – 5-10 minutes from the venue
There are also rooms available for $100-$200 in NW Indianapolis, 10 minutes from the venue:
*Extended Stay America Suites Indianapolis Northwest I465
*LaQuinta Inn by Wyndham Indianapolis North at Pyramids
Further from the venue, there are also still some highly-rated hotels available in Downtown Indianapolis should you wish to explore the Downtown area during your visit:
*The Alexander, a Dolce by Wyndham
*Omni Severin Hotel – Downtown Indianapolis
Weather permitting, this year’s gala will be held outdoors on the grounds of the Lucas Estate, so plan for warm weather, and feel free to dress accordingly. For your comfort, there will be both indoor and outdoor spaces available on site to gather and watch the show.
Proof of vaccination or a recent negative test may be required to enter the gala, should conditions warrant. If any such requirements are enacted, attendees will be notified in early June and screened via the CLEAR in-app Health Pass. Attendees should also monitor for potential symptoms and not attend the gala if ill.
Announcing The Central Great Lakes Chapter’s Centered on Excellence Webinar Series
The NATAS Central Great Lakes chapter is excited to announce the first edition of our “Centered on Excellence Webinar Series” starting this month!
On Tuesday, Nov 16th at 7:30pm, we’re holding our first online webinar for students & professionals, with our first webinar focusing on broadcast media’s role in society during these very polarized times.
“Informing our Viewers and Earning Their Trust in Divisive & Dangerous Times” will feature WEWS chief investigative reporter Ron Regan, former WTHR political reporter Kevin Rader, former CNN/ WRTV reporter Cheryl Jackson, and Carolyn Robinson from the Solutions Journalism Network.
Panelists will discuss a wide range of related issues, and can field questions from participants who can watch the webinar live on our CGL Facebook page, and ask questions in the comments or live via Zoom. (We’ll make the Zoom webinar link available to participating classes or to other participants upon request)
We’ll have additional sessions in the coming months, focusing on award-winning writing advice for reporters and producers, covering our communities with an eye toward diversity & inclusion, and advice on how to get a job in the ever-changing television industry!
Please share with others who may be interested, and let us know if you’d like to participate, or simply join us live on Facebook on the 16th!
CALL FOR ENTRIES – IT’S COMING!
It’s almost that time of year! The Central Great Lakes chapter’s Call For Entries goes out on December 1st so be sure to take stock of all your award-worthy work from 2021, and don’t forget to renew your membership so you’re all set to get started on the entry process starting next month. And stay tuned for more exciting announcements in the coming days about our plans for the 2022 gala!
CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!
We’re sending out big congratulations to two of our student organizations in Northeast Ohio- St. Edwards High School and Hoover High School for their nominations to the national Student Production Awards from the NATAS foundation!
“The future journalists, analysts, correspondents and entertainers of the next generation will be found among these talented young nominees represented here,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS. “Highlighting their work and encouraging their pursuit of excellence is one of the primary mandates of our Foundation.”
“The Foundation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is thrilled to honor the incredible work of these talented students,” said Danielle Mannion, Education Chair, NATAS. “The students faced extraordinary challenges and produced dynamic and compelling stories. We also wish to acknowledge the dedicated work of their teachers who supported the productions.”
Winners will be announced in a livestream from NATAS this month.
We’d also like to congratulate Central Great Lakes governor Terri Cope Walton as she departs WRTV after 23 years to head to Jacksonville as the new Vice President/General Manager at WJXT/WCWJ-TV!
Terri has brilliantly left her mark in Indianapolis is so many ways, and has been such a great addition to our board of governors, where she’s still planning to serve through the end of her term next year- congrats again Terri- we’re going to miss you!
Central Great Lakes Chapter Mentorship Initiative
Hello friends,
The Central Great Lakes chapter is delighted to share news of some exciting mentorship opportunities for our membership! We understand the importance of giving back to our industry by using our expertise to help with the next generation of media professionals.
In the coming weeks, we plan to launch a series of webinar events for our student and professional members to learn more about what it takes to succeed in our industry, and we’re looking for experienced (or retired) professionals who might be willing to share their expertise with our members.
Please email dspehler@emmyonline.tv if you’re interested in participating.
We’ve also been invited to participate in a mentorship initiative with The Catalyst Story Institute – a year-round educational and professional development institute empowering creators to bring their narrative stories to fruition. (Click here to view the Catalyst timeline.)
Through this initiative we’re looking for members who might be willing to volunteer to be connected with a specific mentee. Each mentee has been vetted by The Catalyst Story Institute and will be hand-picked for their mentor based on their experience. It’s a great way to use your talents to help others!
If you are interested in participating in this program, please complete the survey below. We look forward to bringing you more opportunities in the future and thank you for your membership!
Mentorship Registration Link: link to the mentor signup survey
Interested in learning more about Catalyst’s annual festival?
Please go to their website at https://www.catalystories.org/
NATAS Mentors who wish to be Mentors are able to attend at no cost other than hotel accommodations, which are available at a discount.
General attendance to the Storieroad event includes (valued at $399, waived for NATAS mentors):
- A festival pass
- A festival submission
- Access to Catalyst Institute virtual and in-person seminars
- 2 (1-on-1 meetings) with our creative team
- Their program listed in Catalyst’s content database
The mentor program is for a few selected creatives who come to Catalyst either via the institute or the festival entry process who are ready to move forward in their professional careers.
As a NATAS mentor in the Catalyst program, you would be asked to:
- Work with at least 1 mentee each year
- Meet individually (or virtually) with each mentee at least twice to discuss their career paths & offer creative notes on their current project/productions/shows
- Offer at least one career training opportunity such as shadowing on a production, working in a studio, connection to a potential job, etc.
News & Notes from chapter president
Dan Spehler
Hello NATAS friends-
It’s time for some exciting news about the future of our chapter!
As we welcome our new board members and officers who began their terms this month, it’s also time to complete the transition to our new chapter name, Central Great Lakes, which formally becomes our new name Sept. 1st with the start of the new fiscal year.
This past weekend, our new board met virtually to discuss our plans for the year ahead, including the transition to the new name and the mission we continue to build for our chapter, focusing on education and encouraging excellence in our industry as we aim to showcase what’s truly “central” to our cause.
In the coming weeks and months, you’ll see a new web site, new and expanded social media campaigns, and new initiatives launched to help expand our educational efforts.
We’re also working to find new ways to incentivize and show appreciation for our many chapter members who help judge entries from across the country. Your efforts are crucial to the process as we award excellence throughout the industry, and additionally, it’s a great way to see some of the amazing work being done in other regions that might inspire an idea or two of your own.
Stay tuned!
It’s certainly been an interesting couple of years, and while we’re disappointed we weren’t able to gather in-person for this year’s gala, we’re proud of the work put in by my very talented predecessor John Stealey and his team which made our live virtual show a huge success, and we’re hopeful that next year we can all reunite again for the 53rd annual Regional Emmy® Awards.
We’ve got a great team in place for the year ahead, including several new officers and governors:
- President – Dan Spehler
- Ohio VP – Carl Monday (2nd term)
- Indiana VP – Vickie Binkley
- Secretary – Susanne Schwibs
- Treasurer – Jim Stunek
- Trustee – Steve Warren
- Trustee – Megan Simpson
Newly elected governors: Jasmine Crighton, Heather Schramm, Adam Snow
Returning governors: Jonathan Adkins, Terri Cope-Walton, Joe Cromer, Mitch Davis, Matt Eck, Jennifer Feick, Jonathan Shelley
Indeed, I’m honored to have the opportunity to succeed John as chapter president this year and look forward to working with our executive director Bob Hammer and meeting with our membership across the region to hear some of your thoughts and ideas on the future of our chapter.
We’re all looking forward to an exciting year ahead and we’re eager to share more with all of you soon!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any ideas, suggestions or concerns related to our chapter.
I’m available via email:
dspehler@emmyonline.tv or president@nataslgl.org (new web address coming soon)
CELEBRATING THE SILVER CIRCLE
This past June, we welcomed seven new honorees into the Silver Circle, and I wanted to offer some personal congratulations for our new inductees. Among them: FOX8’s Lou Maglio, who I’ve watched and admired for many years, and Bob Donaldson, my longtime colleague at FOX59/CBS4 Indy.
Bob and I have traveled the country together covering major news stories, and we’re honored to recognize his many years of broadcast excellence in our region.
I’ve also spent time (many years ago) working with two of our inductees from WEWS, photographers Rich Geyser and Tom Livingston, whom I interned with in my native Cleveland. They’re both excellent photojournalists who’ve contributed greatly to their station’s success through the years.
We’re also welcoming three longtime broadcast executives into the Silver Circle this year, WFYI’s Clayton Taylor, WTVG’s Mel Watson, and WKBN’s David Coy, who have all enjoyed very successful careers here in our region.
Congrats to all of our inductees! And if you know of someone deserving of recognition in our Gold or Silver Circle, please let us know by filling out the Gold & Silver Circle nomination form on our web site.
CHALLENGING TIMES
If you don’t already subscribe to or follow Poynter on social media, it’s truly a great resource for broadcast journalists, especially in the midst of these challenging times.
From advice on how to deal what they call the ‘Unreality Crisis’ involving stories of controversial factual debate to helping journalists deal with trauma and concerns about our own mental health, they’re always worth reading and following for some great advice on how to navigate some of the challenges journalists currently face.
We’re looking forward to connecting you with some of these resources and engaging our chapter in similar educational discussions on the media’s role in society, what we’re doing well, what we could be doing better, and how to earn and keep the public’s trust through these unprecedented times. And as we prepare to mark 20 years since the events of September 11th, 2001, we’ll also be looking back at the brave and inspiring work many of you have done over the years to mark that tragic occasion in our nation’s history.
Thanks again for all you do to inform and inspire your viewers! We have an extremely talented chapter and we can’t wait to see the award-winning work you all have been doing this year!
Nominations Announcement
Nominations for the 52nd Annual Central Great Lakes Chapter Emmy® Awards will be announced on Thursday, April 29th, 2021. The list of nominees will be posted to our Facebook page in the morning, and to our website by noon.