2025 NBA Convention Sessions

Speakers

Nicole Gustafson - NAB
Nicole Gustafson is Senior Vice President for Government Relations for the National Association of Broadcasters. Previously, Nicole served for two years as Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Football League, and eleven years in Congress in counsel and coalitions roles for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Republican Conference Vice Chair John Cornyn, and Sen. Chuck Grassley. She holds degrees in political science and communications from William Penn University and received her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law. An Iowa native and proud Hawkeye, Nicole splits her time between Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Arlington, Virginia.

Davina Sashkin - Wilkinson Barker Knauer
Davina Sashkin is a partner with the boutique communications firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer in Washington, DC (though she resides in Austin, Texas!). For nearly two decades, Davina has represented broadcast and telecommunications clients on all manner of FCC regulatory compliance matters, transactions and mergers, spectrum auctions, broadcast ownership issues, political broadcasting rules, as well as FCC investigations, enforcement proceedings, and administrative hearings. Davina also has extensive experience advocating for broadcast and telecommunications clients in FCC rulemaking and policy proceedings and in litigation before federal courts.

Speakers

Matt Sunshine - Center for Sales Strategy
Matt Sunshine is the visionary CEO of the Center for Sales Strategy, a leading platform company revolutionizing B2B revenue performance through its divisions: Up Your Culture, LeadG2, Robertson Lowstuter, and CSS. Renowned for his expertise in sales growth, talent acquisition, and digital marketing, Matt is also a sought-after writer and speaker, contributing to top business publications and authoring the influential book “Getting Prospects to Raise Their Hand.” Under his leadership, the Center for Sales Strategy empowers organizations and sets new industry standards.

Speakers

Krista Anderson - Complete Wellness
Krista Anderson is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) with over a decade of experience counseling individuals, couples, and families. Drawing from extensive training in evidence-based modalities—including CBT, DBT, trauma-informed therapy, and Gottman Level 1 marriage therapy—Krista integrates a holistic, person-centered approach rooted in empathy and clinical excellence. She specializes in adolescent mental health, trauma recovery, and relationship dynamics, and is deeply committed to helping clients thrive emotionally and relationally. Krista currently is one of the owners of Complete Wellness, a thriving group private practice in Omaha, and also partners with local schools and organizations to support community wellness.

Speakers

Ryan Dohrn - Brain Swell Media
Ryan Dohrn is the founder of media sales training firm Brain Swell Media and has trained over 30,000 media sales reps in 7 countries. Ryan sells advertising every day and has been a part of over a BILLION dollars in media revenue. He has deep roots in the broadcast business with over 30 years in leadership roles at WLS/ABC TV, Sinclair Broadcasting, Cumulus Radio, and The NY Times Company. He is an Emmy Award winner, a multiple business book author, and has been featured in USA Today and on Forbes.com. Ryan currently works monthly with over 50 media companies and their related sales and management teams.

Speakers

Terrance Burzynski - Elevate
Terrance Burzynski is a seasoned media executive and marketing strategist with a strong track record in growth acceleration and brand development. As Vice President of Media Partnerships at Elevate Marketing Research, he leverages local consumer research to drive impactful multi-platform marketing campaigns that enhance brand performance and advertiser retention. Known for his analytical mindset and creative problem-solving, Terrance specializes in translating complex market data into actionable strategies that boost return on ad spend and deepen customer loyalty. His leadership style blends data fluency with a collaborative approach, making him a trusted partner in navigating today’s dynamic media landscape. Terrance has consistently delivered results by aligning brand objectives with data-driven marketing solutions. His commitment to excellence and continuous learning positions him as a forward-thinking leader in the industry.

Speakers

Bill Kelly - Moderator, Nebraska Public Media Senior Reporter/Producer
Bill Kelly, Nebraska Public Media senior reporter/producer. Bill is a longtime member of the PEOPLE/Bench Media Committee, an organization that fosters cooperation between the media and the judiciary and was instrumental in getting cameras into Nebraska courtrooms.

The Honorable Stephanie Hansen - Panelist, Judge for the Douglas County Court in the Fourth Judicial District of Nebraska

Molly Ashford - Panelist, Harvest Public Media/Nebraska Public Media

Andrew Ozaki - Panelist, retired KETV Capitol Bureau Chief

Rose Ann Shannon - Panelist, retired KETV News Director

Speakers

Erin Callaghan - Futuri Media
Erin Callaghan is Futuri’s President, Enterprise Partnerships. She works with broadcasters and digital publishers worldwide, helping them keep pace with fast-changing technology. She has built her career helping her partners win in challenging environments. And she delights in using Futuri's technology to help partners increase revenue, grow their audiences and create better content faster and more efficiently. Prior to joining Futuri, Callaghan spent more than 25 years in broadcast sales and sales management at companies including Cox Media, Journal Broadcast Group, and Capstar. Contact Erin at erin@futurimedia.com.

Speakers

Elizabeth Bernberg - AdCellerant
With over 17 years of digital marketing experience, Elizabeth Bernberg has spent her career developing and growing digital revenue strategies for media organizations across print, television, and radio. Her leadership roles with The Denver Post and Colorado Press Association, CBS Television Network, and Audacy have equipped her with a deep understanding of the digital landscape. At AdCellerant, she brings her industry expertise and dynamic leadership to help media organizations accelerate digital revenue growth and deliver impactful digital marketing solutions for advertisers. Originally from Texas, Elizabeth has called Colorado home for over two decades. She’s a proud graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder—SKO BUFFS—and will be completing her MBA from The University of Colorado - Denver in August of this year. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, dancing, concerts, and time with her family and friends.

Speakers

Korby Gilbertson - Radcliffe Gilbertson & Brady
Korby Gilbertson is a proud Lincoln native. She attended Lincoln High and the University of Nebraska where she received a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business education in 1992 and a Juris Doctorate in 1996. Ms. Gilbertson is a partner with the lobbying and governmental relations law firm of Radcliffe Gilbertson & Brady where her firm provides full-service lobbying and governmental relations services to more than 40 clients. Issues the firm is regularly involved with include insurance, taxation, real estate, physical, mental and behavioral healthcare, telecommunications, education, and First Amendment issues including open meetings and public records. Korby currently serves on the board of directors for Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers. She is a past board member and board chair of the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership as well as HopeSpoke, The Nebraska Club, and the Lincoln YWCA. Korby and her husband Mark Munger live just outside of Lincoln. Their blended family includes one son, two daughters, four grandchildren, two cats and about 20,000 honeybees. In her free time, Korby enjoys gardening, cooking, canning, baking, and traveling.

Speakers

Jeff McHugh - The Randy Lane Company
Jeff McHugh coaches on-air, on-camera, on-stage and podcast talent with The Randy Lane Company. Jeff leads trainings around the world with companies like SiriusXM, Connoisseur Media/Alpha Media, Universal Pictures, Cumulus Media, Twitch TV, Midwest Communications, NBC Universal, Apple and Axios.

Speakers

Ryan Dohrn - Brain Swell Media
Ryan Dohrn is the founder of media sales training firm Brain Swell Media and has trained over 30,000 media sales reps in 7 countries. Ryan sells advertising every day and has been a part of over a BILLION dollars in media revenue. He has deep roots in the broadcast business with over 30 years in leadership roles at WLS/ABC TV, Sinclair Broadcasting, Cumulus Radio, and The NY Times Company. He is an Emmy Award winner, a multiple business book author, and has been featured in USA Today and on Forbes.com. Ryan currently works monthly with over 50 media companies and their related sales and management teams.

Speakers

Al Tompkins - Al Tompkins Workshops
Al Tompkins is a Visiting Professor at Syracuse University and Senior Faculty Emeritus at The Poynter Institute, the world’s premiere school for journalists. For nearly 30 years, he worked as a photojournalist, reporter, producer, anchor, assistant news director, special projects/investigations director, documentary producer and news director. He is an FAA licensed Part 107 drone pilot. Tompkins has trained thousands of television news producers, reporters, photojournalists and managers in 49 states and several other nations. He teaches and coaches on the impact of AI in newsrooms, how to investigate and report, build interactive news websites, how to use video more effectively online and how to manage ethical issues. Over his distinguished career, Tompkins’ honors and awards include a National Emmy, the Peabody Award (group award), the Japan Prize, the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel for Court Reporting, seven National Headliner Awards, two Iris Awards and the Robert F. Kennedy Award. Tompkins is often quoted in newspaper, TV, network, public radio and cable coverage of media stories including NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, NPR Morning Edition and All Things Considered, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Boston Herald and hundreds of others. He holds an MA in Digital Journalism and Design from the University of South Florida.

Speakers

Steve Wexler - W-E-X-L Coaching & Development, LLC
Steve Wexler’s career has taken him from the broadcast control room to the executive board room. His successful on-air work began in his hometown of Milwaukee with stops in Portland, OR and Seattle before beginning his Radio and TV management journey by returning to Milwaukee in 1993 as PD for Journal Communications’ WTMJ. He ascended to market manager positions in Tucson, AZ and Omaha, NE and began overseeing additional TV and Radio markets, including as the VP/GM of Journal’s KMTV-TV and their co-owned radio group in Omaha. In 2012, he was named division head of the 36-station, 8-market Journal Radio Group, a position he continued through Journal’s merger with Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps. In 2018, he led the sale of the radio group to four separate companies, including Good Karma Brands in Milwaukee, where remained as vice president and market manager until late 2022, when he launched his own leadership and coaching consultancy. Steve has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Broadcasters, the Radio Advertising Bureau and is a past Chair of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association. Steve and his wife Amy live just outside of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and have two children and three grandchildren.

Speakers

Aaron Davis - Aaron Davis Presentations, Inc.
Aaron Davis is a dynamic keynote speaker, author, and proud cancer survivor who has inspired over a million people with his message on the power of attitude. A member of the 1994 National Championship Nebraska Football Team, Aaron knows that attitude determines altitude. From janitor’s son to trusted speaker for brands like Walmart and ConAgra, Aaron’s story proves it’s not what you do—it’s how you do it. With real-life experience as a business owner, former corporate leader, and morning radio host, Aaron brings authenticity and humor to every audience he serves.