Jim Disch is the Director of Radio and Television for the Archdiocese of Chicago.  Jim is responsible for designing, operating and programming an instructional television system to serve the 41 high schools in the Archdiocese. Before his current position, he had an 8-year run as Director of News  and Programming for CLTV, Chicagoland's 24-hour regional news channel.  Prior to joining CLTV, Jim spent 25 years at WGN-TV, including a dozen years as Assistant News Director. In addition to working in the television news business, Jim  teaches TV journalism.  He has taught various television news courses at Columbia College Chicago since the 1970s.   Jim has been a valued board member of the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of NATAS for several years and served as Board President for two terms.

Go to our Silver Circle page to buy tickets to the Silver Circle dinner on Friday, April 20th.

Jorge is host of Univision Chicago News Monday through Friday at 5:00 pm segments and 10:00 pm He has served on WGBO team since its inception in 1995.

Prior to joining Univision News Team Chicago, he worked for ten years as a reporter and presenter for Channel WCIU.

His professional career has earned him a regional Emmy, plus eight nominations for this award made by different coverages.

Jorge Barbosa was born in Veracruz, Mexico and graduated from Northwestern University, receiving a degree in administration and communication sciences.

Go to our Silver Circle page to buy tickets to the Silver Circle dinner on Friday, April 20th.

This year the Pioneer Award will be given to Burr Tillstrom for his pioneering achievements with the Kuklapolitan Players.  From 1947 to 1957, "Kukla, Fran and Ollie” not only appealed to children but also their parents.    

In 1965, Tillstrom received a special Emmy for his hand-ballet about the conflicts caused by the Berlin Wall.  He also received at George Foster Peabody for individual achievement for his work (which included the Berlin Wall hand-ballet) on "That Was The Week That Was". 

Go to http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/burr.html for a wonderful biography.

Ed started his career in broadcasting in 1966 as a Producer/Director at WMAQ-TV.  In 1974 he moved to WBBM-TV as Program Manager where he developed original local programming like the trial of Chicago White Sox star Shoeless Joe Jackson.  From 1980 to 1989, Ed moved from Broadcasting Director at WBBM to Programming Director for CBS Television Stations to Broadcast Director for KCBS-TV in LA to Vice President for Program Development for CBS Television Stations.

In 1994, he joined the E..W. Scripps Company and became one of the co-founders of the cable channel HGTV.  When the Food Network was acquired in 1997 he became executive vice president of the newly formed Scripps Networks. In 2000 he was named president overseeing HGTV, Food Network, DIY, Fine Living and Great American Country. He retired in 2005 and lives in Knoxville, TN.

Go to http://www.cablecenter.org/content.cfm?id=669 for an interview with Mr. Spray.

Go to our Silver Circle page to buy tickets to the Silver Circle dinner on Friday, April 20th.