Wednesday, August 18, 2021, the VAB held our 65th Annual Convention and Production of the Year Competition Award Ceremony outdoors under the covered pavilions at Lareau Farm Inn, Events & Home of American Flatbread in Waitsfield, VT

Our first industry-wide gathering since December 2019 gave members of Vermont’s broadcast community the chance to reconnect with peers and enjoy a fun-filled day of learning in a beautiful and unique setting. Even the unexpected closure of Rt. 100 didn’t keep people away!

Governor Phil Scott stopped by to thank broadcasters for the role we played in keeping Vermonters informed and safe both during the pandemic and since the vaccine roll out started.

But one of the most memorable moments of the convention came when Elizabeth Bond of Great Eastern Radio saved the day by taking the stage and singing our National Anthem when we could not get the recording to play. Elizabeth’s beautiful voice was joined by many others for a moving acapella version of the Star-Spangled Banner that filled us all with pride and patriotism! 

Since Lareau Farm is the original home of American Flatbread, we all enjoyed a delicious Al Fresco lunch of salad and wood-fired pizza! After lunch, 22 awards were presented for Outstanding Commercial, Promo and PSA Production – see the winners at https://vab.org/production-of-the-year-award-winners/

The theme of this year’s convention was “Evolving with Modern Media Buying & Consumption” and we enjoyed presentations by four talented and inspiring broadcast professionals.

Generational Marketing & Hiring by Speed Marriott
As you and your clients cope with pandemic recovery and lack of workforce challenges, gain insight about how the traits and expectations of Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z & Gen Alpha define them as clients, consumers and workforce recruits.           

Content for Modern Consumers by Tracy Johnson
Are you an air personality or are you an original content producer and social influencer? Consumers have plenty of places to get news, weather, sports, music and entertainment – why should they get it from you? What sets you apart and makes what you offer unique? Learn how to produce engaging content both on-air and on your social media channels.

Re-Imagining Your Business Model; Fire-side Chat with John Zimmer & Carla Leible of Zimmer Communications
Learn how peers from a small market in Missouri successfully turned a radio station business into a thriving “Content Production, Multimedia Distribution, Client Problem Solving” business for modern media buying and consumption!

At the end of the day, attendees got a sneak peak at the new radio recruitment video produced by VAB intern and UVM Film Student Caroline Hall! This is the first in a series of recruitment videos the VAB plans to produce, then distribute to High School, Trade School and College Guidance Counselors/Career Centers to expose and get Gen Z’ers interested in career paths in broadcasting…