2015certified_chapters

News & Headlines

A Top Ten List of Most-certified SBE Chapters

by John Poray, CAE
SBE Executive Director

July 20, 2015

There are a number of ways to gauge the vitality of a chapter of the SBE. The number of active members and how many quality meetings held each year are two ways that are often used. Another is to measure the percentage of SBE members in each chapter that hold one or more SBE certifications.

Though SBE certification is an optional program, we of course recommend it highly. It is the most recognized measure in the broadcasting business today of technical knowledge and experience. I took a look at SBE chapters that meet the requirements to be a SBE Quality Chapter (who earned a chapter cash rebate from the national SBE for 2014) AND, that had 50% or more of its members certified through the SBE, and created a “SBE Top Ten” list; or in this case, Top 11.

During this 40th anniversary of the SBE Program of Certification, we’re pleased to recognize the Top 11 Chapters, their chairmen and certification chairmen, who play a significant leadership role in establishing a high level of chapter programming and a high percentage of member participation in the SBE certification program.

Rank	Chapter	% SBE Certified	Chapter Chairman	Certification Chairman
1	118, Montgomery, AL	68%	Wiely Boswell, CBRE, CBNE	Charles Grider, CBRE, CBNT
2	131, Inland Empire, CA	67%	Don Bartie, CPBE, CBNT	Paul Claxton, CPBE, CBNE
2	24, Madison, WI	67%	Kevin Ruppert, CPBE, CBNT	Jim Hermanson, CPBE, CBNT
4	86, Greenville, SC	63%	Jerry Massey, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, DRB, CBNT	Robert Maw, CSTE
5	55, St. Louis, MO	62%	Terrence Dupuis, CBRE, CBNT	Don Strauss, CPBE
6	52, Central Ohio	55%	John Owen	Roland Elikofer, CPBE
7	28, Milwaukee, WI	54%	Todd Boettcher, CPBE	Rick Ryan, CPBE
7	3, Kansas	54%	Vern Wirka, CPBE	Robert Locke, CPBE, CBNT
7	96, Rockford, IL	54%	Ben Pflederer	Chuck Ingle, CPBE, AMD
10	7, Jacksonville, FL	51%	Craig Butler, CSRTE	Alan Alsobrook, CSRE, AMD, CBNT
11	102, Grand Rapids, MI	50%	Glenn Gunnufsen, CSTE, CBNT	Philip Schmitt, CBRE, CBT

No matter what stage you are in your career as a broadcast engineer or master control operator, obtaining SBE certification can be helpful to you in your own professional development. Your chapter’s certification chairman can help you get started and answer any questions you may have. You can also check the Certification section at the SBE website, www.sbe.org, or contact SBE Certification Director Megan Clappe at the SBE National Office.