Minnesota Broadcasters Association Annual Conference and MBA Excellence Awards

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Confluence Hotel

10/7/2026 - 10/8/2026

Event Details

Location

The Confluence Hotel

200 2nd St W

Hastings, MN 55033

*All times and speakers subject to change*

Registration and Session Announcements Coming Soon!

Speakers include:

Major General Shawn Manke of the Minnesota National Guard

Jeff Schmidt, VP of Professional Development, RAB

Kelli Frieler, CEO of Vibrant Impact

David Oxenford, Partner, Wilkinson|Barker|Knauer

Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer, Cumulus Media

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon

Sam Richter, Expert on Generative AI, ChatGPT, and AI-Powered Digital Intelligence

Hunter Pinke

More to be announced!

Wednesday, October 7th

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free Headshots for MBA Members

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sessions and Vendor Expo

"The Sales Confluence"

Sponsored by:

Join us on October 7^th during the MBA Annual Conference for "The Sales Confluence." This is a dynamic opportunity designed specifically for radio and TV sales professionals. This dedicated day will feature industry experts, practical sales strategies, emerging trends, and ideas to help broadcasters strengthen client relationship and get results.

Attendees will gain valuable insights into today’s evolving media landscape while networking with colleagues across Minnesota. Whether you’re a seasoned sales manager or new to the industry, this day will provide the tools, inspiration, and connections needed to drive success in today’s competitive marketplace.

Featured Speakers: Jeff Schmidt, SVP of Professional Development of RAB, Kelli Frieler, CEO of Vibrant Impact and more to be announced.

The AI, AI, OH! Workshop

Do You Know AI? More Importantly, Does AI Know You?

Co-Presenters: Kelli Frieler, Vibrant Impact & Jeff Schmidt, RAB

Your clients are already using AI—and asking it for a second opinion before they spend. Are you ready for that conversation?

This hands-on workshop starts with how sellers and managers can use AI right now to prospect smarter, prepare better, uncover insights and improve the sales process. Then we’ll flip the conversation: You may be learning how to use AI, but does AI know you?

Broadcast has a great story. The problem is, much of that story lives inside our communities—in places AI can’t see. So when advertisers ask ChatGPT where to spend their money, broadcast may never make the answer. We’ll explore what AI tells advertisers when we’re not in the room, why broadcast may be missing from the answer, and what sellers, managers and stations can start doing now to change that.

You’ll leave with an actionable roadmap for both sides of the AI equation: how to use AI to maximize your sales process—and how to maximize your station’s visibility through AEO (Answer Engine Optimization), so when advertisers ask AI, you’re part of the answer.