Wilkins Named SBE Broadcast Engineer of the Year

Indianapolis, IN - The Society of Broadcast Engineers has named Larry J. Wilkins, CPBE, AMD, CBNT, its national Broadcast Engineer of the Year. Recipients are recognized for making significant contributions to the field of broadcast engineering and for furthering the goals and objectives of the Society. They must be members of the Society and are nominated by their peers.

Wilkins is Assistant Director of Engineering for Cumulus Broadcasting and resides in Prattville, Alabama. Besides his duties with Cumulus, Wilkins is the Alabama state chairman of the Emergency Alert System and conducts that state’s Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program through the Alabama Broadcasters Association. He is well-known through the state as an authority on EAS and regularly sought out by broadcasters for information and his expertise. Wilkins is a member of the national Board of Directors of SBE and is a member of SBE’s National Certification Committee. He has been an active member of SBE Chapter 118 in Montgomery and currently serves as its chairman. Wilkins holds the Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer, AM Directional Specialist and Certified Broadcast Networking Technologist certifications from the SBE.

"Broadcast Engineer of the Year" Larry J. Wilkins, CPBE, AMD, CBNT

SBE President, Chriss Scherer, CPBE, CBNT, commented on the selection of Wilkins for the ward by saying, “The Broadcast Engineer of the year award recognizes the many skills that a broadcast engineer must possess. Larry's understanding of our industry and knowledge of radio broadcast systems make him an ideal choice for this SBE honor.”

Wilkins began his broadcasting career in 1963 with WSFA-TV in Montgomery. For eleven years, beginning in 1967, he worked for several radio stations in central and southern Alabama before joining WLWI Radio in Montgomery in 1978. Besides his role as assistant corporate engineering director for Cumulus, he serves as chief engineer for the Cumulus-Montgomery properties.

Wilkins will be recognized as SBE’s Broadcast Engineer of the Year at the Society’s National Awards Dinner on September 27 in Verona, N.Y. The event is held as a part of the annual SBE National Meeting.

The Society of Broadcast Engineers, Inc. is the professional organization devoted to the advancement of the broadcast engineer and the field of broadcast engineering. With more than 5,400 members and 111 local chapters, SBE provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of information to help members keep pace with the rapidly changing broadcast industry. SBE provides certification and education services to the industry and represents its membership’s interests on regulatory issues, including the EAS, which affect broadcast engineers. SBE also provides a nationwide network of volunteer frequency coordinators who provide service to the nation’s broadcasters.