Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Round Rock, TX

Emily Heinichen is a Digital and Broadcast Sales & Marketing Specialist with AMP Media/Sinclair Broadcast Group, affiliated with CBS Austin and Telemundo Austin.

Emily graduated with her degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Arkansas. 

Before joining Sinclair, she interned with Kendal King Group, where she worked with CPG brands on in-store displays and e-commerce strategy. She also managed social media accounts, organized networking events, and developed PR plans aimed at increasing clientele and driving sales.

Emily moved to Austin and joined Sinclair nearly two years ago. Since then, she has helped local businesses grow through strategic, results-driven campaigns across broadcast and digital media platforms. 

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Round Rock, TX

Jose Rodriguez is a stop motion animator and videographer based in McAllen, Texas, with a passion for storytelling that began at the age of 12. Focused on a future in the film and broadcasting industries.

Jose currently interns with a local radio program led by his professor, where he also hosts his own weekly show, Cinema Buzz. The program showcases his enthusiasm for film as he discusses movie news, reviews, and highlights from the local film community.

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Round Rock, TX

Julia Lyle is a Sales & Marketing Specialist with AMP Media/Sinclair Broadcast Group, supporting CBS Austin and Telemundo Austin.

She studied psychology and business at the University of Kentucky, originally planning to pursue graduate school in counseling before pivoting into media sales. She likes to justify her TV-watching habits by calling it “research.”

Julia comes from a media-focused family. Her parents met selling radio advertising in Columbus, Ohio, where her father still works in the industry with Sinclair. Her grandfather and uncle also run a small media group in North Central Ohio.

Julia moved to Austin and joined Sinclair nearly two years ago, helping local businesses grow through TV, digital, and streaming advertising.

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Round Rock, TX

Dan Balla joined UNT as KNTU’s General Manager on September 1, 2020. He has worked in commercial radio for most of his career, and today retains an ownership stake in a radio company. He has been a Texas certified teacher since 2007, and taught science and social studies in the Frisco ISD.

Balla began his radio career in high school at a small town station in Michigan. He later attended Central Michigan University, where he received a Bachelor’s of Science degree. His early career included jobs in news, on-air DJ, and morning show host.

He has been a program director in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; Lansing, Michigan; Oklahoma City; and Houston. He also held positions with Clear Channel and Cumulus Media as Operations Manager for radio clusters in Columbia, South Carolina, and Mobile, Alabama. While teaching in public schools, he moonlighted as a news anchor in Dallas at KRLD and Metro Networks.

In 2008, Balla ventured into radio ownership as president and majority owner of Falls Media, LLC., based in Wichita Falls, Texas; the company owns and operates KWFB and KXXN.

Dan served on the Executive Board for the Media Arts Department at UNT starting in 2011. He also served as a board member with the Texas Association of Broadcasters.

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
Round Rock, TX

Angela Smith-Johnson, widely recognized by her professional moniker “Val Wilson,” is an esteemed veteran in the radio broadcasting industry, boasting an impressive career spanning over four decades. With a wealth of experience in both on-air broadcasting and commercial voice-over production, Val has consistently demonstrated her remarkable talents and expertise.

Val kick-started her journey in broadcasting at KTSU-FM, the campus station of Texas Southern University’s School of Communication, where she graduated from. Since then, she has made significant contributions to several prominent commercial radio stations in the Houston area, assuming various roles in broadcast management throughout her illustrious career.

Notably, Val’s affiliation with Texas Southern University carries a deep personal significance, as she hails from a proud lineage of TSU graduates. Her grandfather, the Rev. Dr. John Reuben Sheeler, served as the former Chair of the History Department at TSU. Furthermore, Val’s parents, multiple family members, and even her daughter all share the distinction of being esteemed TSU graduates, with accomplishments spanning undergraduate and graduate degrees.

To complement her academic achievements, Val holds both a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Texas Southern University and a Master of Business Administration from Huston-Tillotson University, two of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in Texas. This educational foundation has undoubtedly enhanced her multifaceted skill set and broadened her understanding of the industry.

In 2011, driven by her passion for nurturing future talents and giving back to the industry that shaped her, Val embarked on a rewarding journey as an Instructor in the School of Communication. Her role aims to develop, prepare, and mentor the next generation of aspiring broadcast and voice-acting professionals, solidifying her dedication to fostering excellence in the field.

Val Wilson stands as a highly respected figure in the radio broadcasting community, combining her extensive practical experience, academic prowess, and unwavering commitment to inspiring others. Her remarkable contributions continue to shape the industry and leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of aspiring broadcasters and voice actors alike.