The Vermont Association of Broadcasters is thrilled to announce this year’s inductees into the VAB Hall of Fame as well as this year’s award winners! These broadcasters will be celebrated during the VAB Hall of Fame & Awards Gala Saturday, November 14, 2026 in the Emerald Ballroom at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in South Burlington, Vermont.

2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

Bob Kinzel

Bob Kinzel has been a trusted voice in Vermont broadcast journalism for more than four decades, becoming synonymous with thoughtful, practical political and legislative reporting. Based at Vermont Public’s Capital Bureau in Montpelier, he has covered the Vermont Statehouse continuously since 1981 – longer than any continuously serving member of the state legislature. His ability to distill complex legislative and political developments into a clear understanding of “What does that mean for us?” has made him an invaluable resource for Vermont audiences. Before joining Vermont Public full time in 2002 (then VPR), Bob served as news director at WNCS-FM in Montpelier and founded and operated the Vermont News Service for 21 years, providing daily local news to eleven radio stations. A pioneer in broadcast news distribution, he developed the News Service using a network of telephone answering machines to deliver stories to subscribing stations. Through decades of reporting, Bob has exemplified journalistic integrity, leadership and an enduring commitment to keeping Vermonters informed.

Kia Winchell Nealy

For 40 years, Kia Winchell Nealy was an indispensable part of Radio Vermont Group. Beginning her career in the copywriting department in 1982, she quickly took on delivering the station’s “Party Calendar” and built relationships with countless community organizations. Her deep knowledge of Waterbury and the surrounding area made her an important source of news, ideas and connections for WDEV AM & FM, WCVT-FM and WLVB-FM. Over the years, Kia wore many hats, including traffic director, host of “The Trading Post” program and a morning news contributor and special reports producer. Kia consistently stepped up during major events including 9/11, Tropical Storm Irene, the Montpelier and Barre floods, and the sudden death of Governor Richard Snelling in 1991, during which, she played a pivotal role in coordinating guests, managing calls and keeping continuous special coverage running. Kia devoted countless hours to community efforts, including the annual Waterbury Thanksgiving Food Drive and numerous local organizations and events. Kia also supported the VAB by doing administrative work in the years before email when Eric Michaels was VAB President and original Executive Director Al Noyes lived in Florida half the year. Known for her quick wit, distinctive voice, honesty and authentic delivery, Kia became a beloved and reliable presence both on-air and among her colleagues.

Howard Ginsberg

Howard M. Ginsberg began as a contract engineer and consultant before serving as afternoon announcer and Chief Engineer at WCVR-AM in Randolph (1976–1978) and WVMT-AM in Burlington (1978–1981). From 1981–1984, he provided engineering services to more than a dozen Vermont radio stations including WLFE-FM in St. Albans, WSNO-AM & WORK-FM in Barre, WNCS-FM in Montpelier, WEQX-FM in Manchester, WIZN-FM in Vergennes and WDOT-AM and WRUV-FM in Burlington. In 1984, Howard co-founded WXXX-FM (95 Triple X) in South Burlington where he served as the station’s Chief Engineer and later General Manager. He famously designed a unique “loud” broadcast sound by adding reverb to the audio to give the new Top 40 station an immediate, high-energy presence. The station quickly made a significant mark on the Burlington radio market. Following the sale of WXXX-FM, Howard partnered with fellow Vermont broadcasters John and David Kimel to purchase WKAJ/WQQY in Saratoga Springs, NY, where he served as General Manager and Chief Engineer. Howard’s career later took him to CNN in Atlanta & New York where he was Chief Engineer of Production Systems until he retired in 2009.

2026 Broadcaster of the Year Award

Vermont Public

Vermont Public’s “No Exit: Inside a Botched ICE Raid in Vermont” represents deep, ambitious, consequential and distinctly local journalism. Rather than simply report on a controversial federal immigration enforcement operation, the No Exit team dug beneath the headlines to tell the inside story of what happened during the ICE raid in South Burlington. The result is journalism that gives Vermonters a much deeper understanding of an event that raised significant questions about federal immigration enforcement, public safety and the experience of people caught in the middle. The No Exit team took a complicated and highly charged story and turned it into a compelling piece of narrative journalism. They pursued the details, sought out the people connected to the events and worked to reconstruct what happened in a way that allowed the audience to understand the story from the inside. It is the kind of work that requires persistence, trust-building, careful reporting and a willingness to stay with a complicated story. This type of in-depth reporting continues to demonstrate the value of media at a time when reliable local journalism is more important than ever.

2026 Distinguished Service Award

Jamie Dennis

Jamie Dennis began his broadcasting career while attending Lyndon State College, taking a part-time position at WSTJ and WKXH-FM in nearby St. Johnsbury. He became a versatile member of the stations’ operations, working on air and in the field, including reporting from the memorable Phish reunion concert. Jamie’s natural interest and understanding of computers, broadcast equipment and technology led him to expand his broadcast talents to include engineering and information technology. Eventually Jamie’s career path took him to Vox AM/FM/Digital where he is not only the chief engineer, but also is the Program Director and afternoon drive host on WVTK-FM in Middlebury. Jamie is known for hiswillingness to help whenever a fellow broadcaster encounters a technical challenge and often assists the VAB with EAS projects. Whether he’s on the mic or working with IT or broadcast equipment, Jamie’s passion for radio and technology makes him a distinguished member of Vermont’s broadcast community.

2026 Snyder-Teffner Award

Laura Lareau

Laura started her career in broadcast in 1987 when she was just 17 years old. She graduated from High School early and joined a job training program that led to a full-time Traffic Manager position. She was with PBS until 1998 when she started working for the local Fox station and stayed there until 2000 when she went to work for WPTZ-TV & WNNE-TV. In addition to traffic, Laura worked in the development department at PBS, edited film, organized tape libraries, ran cameras during fundraising events and movie marathons, and has spent countless hours helping other departments with anything she can. Laura works tirelessly through days, nights, weekends, even holidays, to ensure the stations look amazing on-the-air and that everything runs smoothly. Laura is one of the most dedicated, hard-workingemployees on the NBC5 team!

2026 Alan Noyes Community Service Award

WEQX-FM

On the 10th Anniversary of Benjamin Lerner’s sobriety, WEQX-FM hosted a 24-hour radiothon to raise money for The Wilson House and 1761 Arts. Benjamin is the host of CLEAN Jams, a weekly show on EQX that focuses on substance abuse, recovery and mental health. Benjamin interviewed politicians, artists and members of the community while playing music selected by those guests. Will Ventura and Jeff Morad produced the 24-hour radiothon and thousands of dollars were raised for the two charities. To their knowledge, it was the first event of its kind to be held on the radio in Southwestern Vermont!

2026 Rising Star Award Winners

Rising Star in Reporting: Sophia Thomas

After graduating from American University summa cum laude with a print journalism degree, Sophia started at WCAX-TV in 2023 as an intern and quickly rose through the ranks to full-time reporter and now morning anchor. With each step upwards in her career, she grows more and more proficient. She reports on topics including but not limited to the environment, energy, health care, culture and crime. Her favorite stories get her out of South Burlington, introduce her to different people and challenge her to learn something new. Sophia is intelligent, hard-working and excels in every aspect of her job. She will undoubtedly be an all-star in broadcast journalism.

Rising Star in Anchoring: Roy Santa-Croce

Roy Santa Croce has been with FOX44 & ABC 22 for two years and in that short time, he has taken on numerous newsroom responsibilities. He anchors and produces the weekend newscasts and reports during the week. Roy is mastering journalism like a pro. For 9/11 this year he interviewed a survivor, a retired FDNY Captain that was stationed in the South Tower. Not only did he create an extraordinary broadcast piece, but he also created a half hour special highlighting the captain’s harrowing experience that day. Roy is the first person to help out when needed and always goes above and beyond to tell the facts and get to the bottom of a story. He is a true rising star at FOX 44 & ABC 22 and throughout the region.

Rising Star in Radio & Digital Sales: Erin Howard

In just 2 1/2 years, Erin has quickly established herself as a standout radio sales professional. Her attention to detail, enthusiasm for learning and genuine commitment to her clients’ success have driven impressive results, including a more than 30% increase in sales this year. Erin takes the time to understand each client’s goals and focuses on developing ideas and solutions that will truly help their businesses grow rather than simply making a sale. Her clients appreciate her energy, creativity and sincere investment in their success, and her positive attitude and willingness to continually learn and improve make her a valued asset to her team.

Rising Star in Meteorology: Matt DiLoreto

Since joining NBC5 after graduating in 2021, Matt has distinguished himself through his meteorological knowledge, engaging on-air presence, dedication to public service, and genuine enthusiasm for broadcast journalism. He brings scientific credibility and accessibility to every forecast, communicating complex and changing weather conditions clearly, calmly, and responsibly. Whether covering severe thunderstorms, flooding, or snowstorms, Matt helps viewers understand both what to expect and how weather may affect their daily lives. His warmth, authenticity, and appreciation for New England’s changing seasons allow him to connect naturally with viewers and the communities NBC5 serves. A collaborative and curious colleague, Matt continues to grow professionally while refining his craft. He represents the future of local broadcasting: knowledgeable, adaptable, community-focused, and committed to accurate, accessible information.

2026 Friend of Broadcasters Award Winner

Robert “Bob” Shotwell

Bob Shotwell spent decades supporting Vermont broadcasting through his technical expertise, dedication and willingness to go “above and beyond” to help stations stay compliant with FCC regulations. A highly respected broadcast engineer, Bob operated Spectrum Investigative Services from 2003 at the inception of the ABIP Program, to 2023 and used his technical knowledge and professional experience to conduct alternative broadcast inspections at hundreds of radio and television stations around New England. Throughout his career, he developed a reputation for being professional, knowledgeable, dependable and detail-oriented – qualities that made him a valued resource to Vermont broadcasters. His work helped stations avoid costly FCC fines, maintain reliable service and navigate the constantly changing regulatory demands of the industry.