Hawaii Association of Broadcasters State Convention 2026
Call Jamie Hartnett with any questions 808-599-1455 or text 760-717-6439. Thank you.
Speakers
We are excited to showcase a lineup of impressive speakers.
Derron Steenbergen
THE SWAGGER INSTITUTE
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 1 – Building the Foundation (Effort)
Part 2 – Crossing the Bridge (Results)
Part 1 – Building the Foundation (Effort)
Part 2 – Crossing the Bridge (Results)
Trisha Ripperger
EVP, CHIEF CLIENT & MARKETING OFFICER, TVB
Full Throttle Sales: Capturing the Auto Dealer Market
Erik Therwanger
THINK GREAT
Communication that Increases Conversions
Becoming fluent in the Sales Language of Success
Delivering Exemplary Service
Mastering the art of repeat business, referrals, and record-breaking results
Becoming fluent in the Sales Language of Success
Delivering Exemplary Service
Mastering the art of repeat business, referrals, and record-breaking results
Brad Seitter
Executive VP, Local & National Business Development, TVB
TV Breakout Session
Advancements in Local Broadcast TV
Brad will present the latest updates on the industry’s push to move Nielsen to a one-minute qualifier, update the national Nielsen Gauge Report to include demo 18+ ad supported viewing and announcement on the creation and development of the groundbreaking broadcast industry’s Linear Trading Platform.
Advancements in Local Broadcast TV
Brad will present the latest updates on the industry’s push to move Nielsen to a one-minute qualifier, update the national Nielsen Gauge Report to include demo 18+ ad supported viewing and announcement on the creation and development of the groundbreaking broadcast industry’s Linear Trading Platform.
Mike Hulvey
President & CEO, RAB
Radio Breakout Session
This! is Radio, The Audio Leader
RAB’s Mike Hulvey will share radio’s truths. Radio is driving measurable success and in this session, attendees will hear how they can address misconceptions and pre-existing perceptions in the marketplace and how to drive their own measurable results when presenting the This! is Radio presentation to their local clients.
This! is Radio, The Audio Leader
RAB’s Mike Hulvey will share radio’s truths. Radio is driving measurable success and in this session, attendees will hear how they can address misconceptions and pre-existing perceptions in the marketplace and how to drive their own measurable results when presenting the This! is Radio presentation to their local clients.
Schedule
| 8:00 am
Registration / Continental Breakfast
Sponsored by Eastlan Ratings
Regency I
Regency I
| 8:45 am
Session 1
Regency II & III
Derron Steenbergen – The Swagger Institute
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 1 – Building the Foundation (Effort)
Derron Steenbergen – The Swagger Institute
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 1 – Building the Foundation (Effort)
| 10:15 am
Break
Sponsored by Local Broadcast Sales
| 10:30 am
Session 2
Regency II & III
Derron Steenbergen – The Swagger Institute
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 2 – Crossing the Bridge (Results)
Derron Steenbergen – The Swagger Institute
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 2 – Crossing the Bridge (Results)
| 11:30 am
Lunch - Keynote Speaker
Monarch Room
Trisha Ripperger
EVP, Chief Client & Marketing Officer, TVB
Full Throttle Sales: Capturing the Auto Dealer Market
Trisha Ripperger
EVP, Chief Client & Marketing Officer, TVB
Full Throttle Sales: Capturing the Auto Dealer Market
| 1:00 pm
Breakout Sessions
• TV Breakout Session with Brad Seitter, Executive VP, Local & National Business Development, TVB - Regency I
• Radio Breakout Session with Mike Hulvey, President & CEO, RAB - Regency II & III
• Radio Breakout Session with Mike Hulvey, President & CEO, RAB - Regency II & III
| 1:45 pm
Session 3
Regency II & III
Erik Therwanger – Think GREAT
Communication that Increases Conversions
Becoming fluent in the Sales Language of Succes
Erik Therwanger – Think GREAT
Communication that Increases Conversions
Becoming fluent in the Sales Language of Succes
| 3:00 pm
Break
Sponsored by Think GREAT
| 3:15 pm
Session 4
Regency II & III
Erik Therwanger - Think GREAT
Delivering Exemplary Service
Mastering the art of repeat business, referrals, and record-breaking results
Erik Therwanger - Think GREAT
Delivering Exemplary Service
Mastering the art of repeat business, referrals, and record-breaking results
| 4:30 pm
TALK STORY
Regency II & III
Derron Steenbergen and Erik Therwanger
Derron Steenbergen and Erik Therwanger
| 5:00 pm
Pau Hana Party
Sponsored by the Swagger Institute and P1 Learning/TenX Minute Trainer
King Kamehameha Suite • Second Floor Suite 280
King Kamehameha Suite • Second Floor Suite 280
Parking in the Sheraton structure will be hosted by validation.
Bring ticket to registration desk for validation. We cannot validate for the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Valet parking will NOT be hosted or validated.
Bring ticket to registration desk for validation. We cannot validate for the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Valet parking will NOT be hosted or validated.
Session Details
SESSION 1
Derron Steenbergen
Swagger Institute
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 1: Building the Foundation (Effort)
Great sales results don’t happen by accident — they’re built on daily effort, discipline, and intentional activity. In this session, broadcasters will focus on the foundational behaviors that create consistent sales success, including prospecting habits, preparation, pipeline development, and professional follow-through. Sellers will leave with a clearer understanding of how their daily actions directly impact future revenue and long-term client relationships.
BIO
Derron Steenbergen is the President and Founder of the Swagger Institute. The Swagger Institute specializes in customer service training, sales and leadership training, motivational speaking and business and nonprofit consulting. He is a founder and partner of the Ten Minute Trainer Network, one of the nation’s leading online training platforms. Derron also spent over 30 years as the Chief Revenue Officer of Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation.
SESSION 2
Derron Steenbergen
Swagger Institute
The Sales Bridge: Connecting Effort to Results
Part 1: Building the Foundation (Effort)
Effort creates opportunity — execution creates results. This session focuses on turning activity into revenue by helping broadcast sellers confidently ask for business, present meaningful marketing solutions, and build long-term partnerships with clients. Participants will learn how to convert strong sales habits into measurable outcomes and sustained billing growth.
BIO
Steenbergen has decades of broadcast sales experience, beginning as a local direct rep and advancing through the ranks of sales management. His years training sales people led to the formation of Swagger. Recently, Steenbergen saw a need to incorporate and adapt his sales expertise into winning strategies for the nonprofit arena, and formed Golden Rule Fundraising, the nonprofit division of Swagger Institute.
SESSION 3
Erik Therwanger
Think GREAT
Communication that Increases Conversions
– Becoming fluent in the Sales Language of Success
Erik Therwanger, founder of Think GREAT and author of The Communication Movement
Communication is always rated a “10 out of 10” in importance — especially in Sales. Yet despite its value, most communication merely informs… it rarely inspires, influences, or moves people to act. This high-energy session challenges sales professionals to elevate their communication from transactional to transformational — articulating the impact they create for their clients and prospects!
Built on Erik’s groundbreaking methodology, Magnetic Communication, sales professionals will learn practical and proven tactics to make every conversation more relevant, more compelling, and impossible to ignore. Whether in prospecting, presentations, negotiations, or follow-up, attendees will learn how to communicate with intentionality, clarity, and influence.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover how to align your message with client expectations.
- Learn strategies to leverage words, body language, and actions.
- Master the art of asking questions that create an emotional connection.
SESSION 4
Erik Therwanger
Think GREAT!
Delivering Exemplary Service
– Mastering the art of repeat business, referrals, and record-breaking results
Erik Therwanger, founder of Think GREAT and author of Dynamic Sales Combustion
This transformational session equips sales professionals to dramatically increase referrals, expand repeat business, and unlock dynamic new opportunities by mastering the art of the ultimate client experience. Centered on his philosophy of “earning our way into our clients’ credits,” Erik unveils a powerful framework designed to elevate sales performance, strengthen client relationships, and create a meaningful, long-term impact.
Learn the practical, high-impact strategies to cultivate synergistic teamwork that consistently delivers unmatched client experience. Attendees won’t just improve their sales performance — they will redefine it, turning everyday interactions into extraordinary results and sustainable growth.
Key Takeaways:
- Discover how to identify the common denominators of every client expects.
- Learn strategies to encourage higher levels of teamwork.
- Exceed all customer expectations and increase referrals.
LUNCHEON KEYNOTE
Trisha Ripperger
EVP, Chief Client & Marketing Officer, TVB
Full Throttle Sales: Capturing the Auto Dealer Market
Learn how to win automotive business and bring revenue back to traditional media - radio and TV!
Get expert automotive insights from Trisha Ripperger, EVP, Chief Client & Marketing Officer, TVB and former CMO of Tom Wood Automotive Group. She’s also been a featured speaker at NADA, ANA, and other prestigious conferences.
She’ll share how to navigate and overcome common dealer objections, sharpen your approach to selling against endemic advertising, and position yourself as a trusted partner to automotive clients.
BIO
Trisha Ripperger joined TVB in January of 2025, as SVP, Strategic Communications & Category Development and has now transitioned into the role of EVP, Chief Client & Marketing Officer. She is a seasoned marketing professional with a passion for driving strategic growth and delivering exceptional results. She formerly served as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Tom Wood Group, which has 28 businesses and 1,100 employees, Trisha was responsible for overseeing the company’s overall marketing strategy, encompassing brand development, digital marketing, advertising, customer acquisition, and retention initiatives.
Trisha’s journey in the marketing world began after earning her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in business communications.
She has held various leadership positions with prominent companies. Under Trisha’s guidance, Tom Wood Group experienced unprecedented growth and solidified its position as a trusted and customer-centric brand. She’s stated in the past that her investment in local broadcast television was key in driving significant business growth.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Brad Seitter
President & CEO, TVB
Brad Seitter is Executive Vice President of Local & National Business Development at TVB, the national trade association representing the power of America’s local broadcast television industry. With over 30 years of experience, Brad and his team travel nationwide to educate advertisers on the impact of combining local broadcast TV with digital to maximize reach and ROI.
Under his leadership, TVB’s business development efforts have successfully shifted millions of ad dollars toward broadcast TV by demonstrating how a strategic mix of video formats can elevate brand visibility and engagement across all 210 DMAs. Brad’s career also includes time with Scripps and FOX, as well as serving as President of the Kansas City Chiefs GameDay Television Network, where he led sponsorship integration and syndication across a regional network.
Brad’s expertise in both traditional broadcast and emerging digital platforms provides valuable insights into creating the right video mix for today’s advertising strategies.
BREAKOUT SESSION
Mike Hulvey
President and CEO, RAB
As president and CEO of RAB, Mike Hulvey leads radio’s advocacy efforts by helping to drive business, grow advertising revenue, communicate radio’s digital transformation, and help attract new sales talent through recruitment and training efforts.
Hulvey joined the organization in April 2024. Prior to RAB, Mike was CEO at Neuhoff Communications, Inc., an independent broadcasting company that owned and operated 20 radio stations in Illinois and Indiana along with a revenue generating digital business.
A lifelong radio broadcaster starting at the age of 8, Hulvey has been an active RAB member for over 25 years including leadership positions as RAB’s board chair, Executive Committee member, Sales and Local Advisory Committee member. Previously, Mike served as president of the International Broadcasters Idea Bank Board of Directors and National Association of Broadcasters board member, and RAB/NAB Radio Show Steering Committee Chair for two years. He joined the Broadcasters Foundation of America board in September 2025.
Mahalo to our Sponsors
Conference Location – Royal Hawaiian Resort
Parking in the Sheraton structure will be hosted by validation.
Bring ticket to registration desk for validation. We cannot validate for the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Valet parking will NOT be hosted or validated.
Parking in the Sheraton structure will be hosted by validation.
Bring ticket to registration desk for validation. We cannot validate for the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.
Valet parking will NOT be hosted or validated.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, contact Jamie Hartnett.
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (808) 599-1455
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: (808) 599-1455