The Society of Broadcast Engineers has elevated SBE Certification Director Megan Clappe to the membership rank of Fellow. The SBE Board of Directors elected her at its meeting held May 10.
Ms. Clappe started working for the SBE in September 2003. She was originally hired as the certification assistant and receptionist where she worked with previous Certification Director (and SBE Fellow) Linda Baun. In June 2006, Linda left the SBE for a position with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, and Megan was promoted to SBE certification director.
The Fellow honor is the highest membership level in the SBE. Members must have made significant contributions to the broadcast engineering field or the SBE. Candidates are nominated by their peers. Since the Society‘s founding 57 years ago, 82 members have been honored with the Fellow rank.
Megan’s daily duties include working with the SBE Certification Committee to operate and grow the SBE Certification Program, which includes implementing and maintaining certifications to match those needs. She coordinates testing with proctors, and follows up after exams are administered. In all, she is tasked with keeping track of more than 5,000 certifications and recertifications.
In addition to her certification duties, Megan also provides SBE member and chapter certification support, manages the SBE Awards Program; manages the SBE convention and expo presence; and oversees the SBE Store.
During her employment as certification director, the SBE Certification Committee has introduced several levels of certification, including CBNE, DRB and ATSC3. The SBE Certification Handbook for Radio Operators has been updated at least twice, and The SBE Television Operator’s Certification Handbook has been updated once. The CertPreview practice test software has been redeveloped once and is slated for a second later this year during her time as director.
In the letters supporting Megan’s nomination, her dedication to SBE certification and the Society in general are a common thread. One letter noted, “She is always quick to offer alternative ideas and processes to make the certification procedure more efficient. When the pandemic hit in early 2020 Megan was first to offer an alternative to face-to-face testing.”
Another supporting letter said, “She is the glue that holds the program together. The volunteer committee members contribute their fair share to the work, but it is Megan who ensures the work is done in a timely manner.”
The December 2020 launch of the SBE ATSC3 Certification was also noted, saying it was due to “no small measure of Megan’s dedication and determination to gather and catalog test and essay questions from experts in the field, find two rounds of Beta testers and keep the ATSC3 certification committee on task to ensure the program kept moving during the pandemic.”
Several letters noted her contributions to the SBE. Quoting one: “I would venture to say that there are few SBE members that don’t know who Megan is, and I certainly consider her contribution to the SBE’s Certification program to be conspicuous. Megan’s daily contribution to the program should indeed be considered valuable to ‘the advancement of broadcast engineering or its allied professions.'”
“While most of those elected to SBE Fellow are working-in-the-field broadcast engineers, Megan’s contributions to the SBE in general and the Program of Certification specifically are beyond measure,” said Wayne Pecena, CPBE, 8-VSB, AMD, ATSC3, DRB, CBNE, president of the Society of Broadcast Engineers. “I’m proud to welcome Megan to the SBE Fellow ranks.”
Megan will be recognized for her election to Fellow during the SBE Membership Meeting and National Awards Program, planned to be held on Oct. 11, 2021, in Las Vegas, during the annual SBE National Meeting, which is planned to be held in conjunction with the 2021 NAB Show. A list of all those who have been named SBE Fellows is posted on the SBE website.
Megan resides in the Indianapolis metro area. Previous to her employment with the SBE, she worked for the Embassy Theater in Ft. Wayne, IN.
