Speakers

Andrew Altenbern has worked as a Multimedia Content and Newscast Producer, Broadcast Producer, Executive Producer and Assistant News Director at several stations across the country. He currently is the News Director at KWWL-TV.

Bruce James Bales is a Cinematographer based in Des Moines, IA. He focuses mainly on narrative, documentary, and commercial work. Bruce wrapped up his third feature film, KNEE HIGH, earlier this year, and it will be released this Fall. When not filming Bruce can be found rollerblading, taking photographs, or playing ice hockey.

Pat Blank worked with Iowa Public Radio for 43 years. She was hired as a reporter and eventually was chosen to host Morning Edition in 1986. She is a nationally award-winning reporter who has also worked in commercial radio and television. Pat has a degree in radio-television broadcasting from UNI.

Isaac Campbell graduated from UNI in 2014 with a B.A. in Digital Media Production and in 2021 with a M.A. in Communication Studies. His written and creative work focuses on community based public art, social justice, digital photo archiving, and vernacular photography. Following his research as a Fulbright Grantee in Budapest Hungary, Isaac garnered international media coverage from esteemed outlets such as NPR, CNN, The New York Times, Reuters, and the Washington Post for his 2022 mural in Washington D.C. featuring American Hostages and Wrongful Detainees.

Nicole Carros is a UNI and University of Missouri graduate who worked in local television newsrooms as an award-winning anchor and reporter for nearly 20 years. Most recently, Nicole anchored early evening newscasts at KCRG-TV9. She recently transitioned to a recruiting role for Gray Television, one of the largest and most influential broadcasting companies in the country.

Dan Corbin graduated from UNI in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in Communications/Electronic Media. After obtaining his master's degree in Sport Management from the University of Texas in 2001, he worked for the athletics department at Western Kentucky University. In 2002, Dan became the Assistant General Manager with the Waterloo Bucks, being promoted to General Manager after the 2005 season.

Emma Criswell is an up and coming sports media professional with experience in both radio and television. She has worked as the in-studio producer for 1650 “The Fan” as well as camera operator, producer, and director for many UNI sporting events that are part of “The Valley on ESPN”.

Tony Dehner got his start in radio while a student at the University of Northern Iowa, working at KGRK, the student radio station. He also worked part-time at KUNI as a student, and was hired full-time as the station’s overnight operator shortly after graduating. Tony is now one of the hosts of IPR’s Studio One Tracks and Studio One All Access shows, and is also a contributing writer for the IPR website.

Madison Foley graduated from UNI in 2022. Since graduating, she has worked at Impact Marketing as their creative coordinator, copywriter, social media content creator, and video editor.

Mason Fromm was among the first to graduate UNI in 1997 with the newly-established Electronic Media major. His student radio career began his freshman year with a 2-hour Saturday afternoon shift at KGRK AM 970. Eventually becoming Production Manager and then General Manager, Mason assisted the transition from an unreliable carrier current AM signal, to a crisp stereo signal on Channel 5 of the campus cable TV system. He currently is a salesman at Nagle Signs in Waterloo where he specializes in digital displays and creating landmarks for businesses across Iowa.

Ben Hagarty (UNI alum) is an award-winning filmmaker, director, and editor. Creating projects with artists & brands like Beyonce, Jay-Z, EA Sports, Adidas, and more.

Devin Harschnek is a Cinematographer based in Cedar Falls, IA with Around The Corner Productions. His career path to this occupation has been anything but linear. He leverages his experiences in operations leadership, corporate photography, and video production to create doc-style corporate videos for clients like John Deere, UNI Foundation, and Milkhouse Candle Co.

Julie Hein is the President, CEO and chief dishwasher at KZIA, Inc. KZIA is a women-owned and led small business in Cedar Rapids that owns Z102.9, 1600ESPN, SmartFM and X107.5 as well as a digital ad agency, CI Digital Group. Julie started at the company in 1996 as a seller and then got an MBA from the University of Iowa before entering in leadership.

Olivia Hottle-Mossman is a Waterloo native and 2015 UNI graduate who returned to the Cedar Valley after spending 4 years in Atlanta, GA and Dallas, TX. She is a Senior Integrated Media Planner at Basis Technologies and helps clients understand how to effectively spend their dollars on digital advertising to meet their business goals. She lives in Cedar Falls with her husband, two cats, and seven chickens.

Jon Huff has served in many leadership roles at KWWL TV since starting with the station in 1998. He was the Local Sales Manager, General Sales Manager, Station Manager and is currently Vice President and General Manager.

Chris Kleinhans-Schulz is in his 12th year at UNI as play-by-play broadcaster of Panther volleyball and women's basketball. A 2012 graduate of Valparaiso University, he has also been a sports information director and Minor League Baseball announcer.

Christopher Martin is a professor of Digital Journalism in the UNI Department of Communication and Media. He has served as the head of the department as well as faculty advisor of the UNI student radio station. He is a board member of Iowa Public Radio.

Amy Mertz is a messaging expert, humorous fantasy author, and mom. Her work appears on blogs and websites across the country and her books are read all over the world.

Dana Potter is an artist and educator specialized in two fields: printmaking and digital studies. She has been an Assistant Professor of Interactive Digital Studies at UNI since 2020. Her specialties in animation are within the areas of motion graphics for interface design and loop animations in interactive installation art.

Aaron Van Maanen is a UNI graduate who has directed several TV commercials for the University of Northern Iowa as well as commercials for companies such as Musco Lighting and Western Home Communities. He also directs music videos, documentaries and short films and is co-owner of the video production company Good Era, based out of Cedar Falls, IA.

Jason Voyna is a 2004 Electronic Media graduate. While at UNI he spent time at KULT as a DJ, music director, and program director as well as being part of the team that transitioned the station to its LPFM signal. After graduation Jason went on to be the producer of the UNI Sports Radio Network (2004-2005), and has been on-air at Lazer 103.3 in Des Moines (2005-current).

Joel Wauters graduated from UNI in 2018. After working in sports media in semi-professional basketball media relations, radio broadcasting and college sports information, he is currently the Assistant Athletic Director for Communication for the Panthers.