George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence Archives

Phil Brooks

Written by Beth Bobbitt on June 12, 2024. Posted in George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence, Previous Winners.

2024 George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence

(Published August 2024)

Television stations simply cannot operate without a robust technological infrastructure.

Phil Brooks, Engineering Director for KRIS-TV Corpus Christi, continues to make sure that station – and many other Scripps-owned stations – are built for success.

Phil Brooks

Phil joined the station in 2021 and oversaw the complete rebuilding of the station’s physical plant.

It’s an understatement to say Phil has had his hands full since joining the company.

In addition to KRIS-TV (NBC), the facility operations include KAJA-TV (Telemundo), KDF-TV (Independent) and managing SagamoreHill-owned station KZTV-TV (CBS).

From transmitter and towers to master control, production rooms and sets, Phil has completely rebuilt the infrastructure for all the stations.

In 2023, Broadcasting + Cable presented Phil with their “Unsung Hero Award,” recognizing his efforts to spearhead multiple projects including building two brand new sets, two brand new control rooms, new field equipment for MMJ’s and new vehicles.

Those two new controls rooms are using a production system designed by Phil himself.

Corpus Christi was the first (and only) station in the world to use it.

“Our Corpus Christi team spent all of 2023 beta testing and developing the system, with near-daily communication with developers in Europe to write code for the software to address needs, news ideas and fix bugs,” said News Director Jim Bob Breazeale.

The system is so effective and easy to use, plus far more cost-efficient than previous options, that it is being placed in all stations across the E.W. Scripps company in 2024-2025.

He also built a new mobile production tool to facilitate the “Thursday Night High School Football” broadcasts and added multiple ISP News/Traffic cameras throughout Coastal Bend.

Phil is the driving force behind innovating an easy-to-use production control room that can seamlessly switch from live, linear TV to modular/OTT content.

In addition, his leadership skills have created a motivated, committed, capable and service-driven engineering team that is respected and appreciated by the staff.

“In today’s broadcast environment, where technology plays a substantial role in all aspects of our field, a creative, capable, and self-driven Chief of Engineering is an amazing asset. Phil’s leadership skills permeated the operation and made the rest of the team better,” Breazeale said.

“I can think of no one better to receive the George Marti Award than Phil Brooks. Not only is he the smartest person I’ve ever worked with, but he is also an amazing human being and a great leader.”

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Tim Winn

Written by Beth Bobbitt on August 30, 2023. Posted in George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence, Previous Winners.

2023 George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence

(Published August 2023)

Born and raised in Amarillo, Tim Winn has been an integral part of the success for KFDA/KEYU-TV for more than 40 years.

Much like George Marti, Winn is no stranger to innovation and helping his fellow broadcasters.

Tim Winn

Whether it’s an assistant engineer at his station, a crosstown competitor, one of the many stations under Gray TV’s umbrella or a local church or school – Winn displays a true passion for broadcasting.

“I had the pleasure to work alongside Tim when I became Chief Engineer of KFDA-TV in 1979,” said longtime Texas Engineer John Schilberg.

“I was immediately impressed by the depth of knowledge Tim had of our station’s studio cameras and other production equipment.

“I also discovered that Tim was also blessed with an extremely bright, adventurous, creative side for TV production and editing.

“In a matter of a few months, I learned he did “this” commercial or “that” commercial…or the 5, 6, and 10 O’clock news opens…or even a music video.”

And he didn’t just edit them. He wrote, shot, edited and produced them all from scratch!

Tim’s gift is still a deep understanding of technology coupled with a highly creative imagination.

It’s an extremely effective “one-two punch” that he’s been applying to his TV career since the mid 70’s.

Current KFDA-TV GM Brent McClure says – “Tim takes crazy ideas of mine and makes them real! His knowledge is truly amazing and practical and his experience helps us create unique solutions.”

In a small market with limited budgets and resources, being able to achieve maximum results is so very, very important.

Tim now oversees two full-power transmitters and 14 over the air signals.

He continued to set “Firsts” in Amarillo with the High-Definition move and launch of KFDA and now has new innovations that include live programming being produced – simultaneously – in two locations broadcast on TV, Radio and streaming platforms all at the same time.

Throughout his career, Tim has taken pride in hiring and developing great broadcasters.

His teaching, leadership and mentorship have led to seven people who have gone on to become chief engineers at other stations and in other markets – along with countless other industry sales and support techs.

In the Gray TV ranks, Tim is known as the “Adobe Premiere Whisperer.”

He helps professional creative producers across the country troubleshoot systems and is the group’s leading authority on building the best editor at the best prices.

His humble approach and teaching style is a true blessing to those that work with him.

Colleagues salute his willingness to think creatively, keep an open mind to new ideas and create an atmosphere that fosters collaboration and teamwork.

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Sonny Cavazos

Written by Beth Bobbitt on January 22, 2023. Posted in George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence, Previous Winners.

2022 George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence

(Published August 2022)

Dedicated to broadcast engineering for more than 30 years, Manuel “Sonny” Cavazos II has demonstrated excellence and innovation in the field.

Sonny Cavazos

His humble beginnings started in the Audio/Video Department of Edinburg High school in the late 1980s.

While attending college, he got a job in the engineering department at KRGV-TV in Weslaco.

After holding various positions at KENS-TV San Antonio and KVEO-TV Brownsville, Sonny took the helm as EVP/Director of Technology for Entravision Communications – where he has been for more than 20 years.

His thirst for knowledge and his commitment to the industry can be seen firsthand in the work that he has done not only in Texas, but throughout the country…

Designing and building master controls, news production control rooms and radio control booths…
Trekking through muddy sites and up mountains to install transmitters and tubes…
Designing RF systems for transmitter installations…
Automating network signals for ad delivery, live news and traffic reconciliation…

Much like George Marti, Sonny has devoted his career to improving Television and Radio broadcast signals, processes, and operations.

When he joined Entravision in 1997, the company was growing rapidly – acquiring many broadcast properties – all under his technical leadership.

In 2019, he led the project to consolidate all of Entravision’s master control operations to McAllen.

Not a small task!

The project involved designing the playout and delivery of more than 180 video streams via IP, all from the McAllen HUB to Entravision’s 24 markets across the country.

Because of his leadership and vision, Entravision was able to launch its first five markets within 10 months of the initial project announcement!

Sonny shares his knowledge freely and is always willing to take time to teach and explain.

He is continually promoting broadcast in the community, mentoring master control operators and proctoring exams for them to become SBE certified.

Throughout his career, his ideas and implementation to improve RF have proved to be crucial in growing stations’ over-the-air market coverage, resulting in improved signals and greater audience delivery.

He has literally grown up with our industry, but also recognizes the importance of learning and staying up to date with all technical aspects and trends by studying and sharpening his skills.

His ability to evolve with the ever-expanding needs of not only RF, but also digital and IT, has made him one of the broadcast industry’s most well-rounded engineers.

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Norm Philips

Written by Beth Bobbitt on January 22, 2023. Posted in George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence, Previous Winners.

2021 George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence

(Published August 2021)

Texas Radio engineering and the name Norm Philips go hand in hand.

Norm Philips

Philips started working at the Morehead State University Radio Station while pursuing his degree in Electronics and Radio/TV.

While still in college, he worked at several commercial stations in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia.

“It was in Ashland, Kentucky in 1973 that I met Norm Philips, ON THE PHONE,” said Dan Halyburton, former Senior VP/General Manager of Group Operations for Susquehanna Radio Corp.

“Norm was doing the night shift at WKEE and I needed a midday jock. I called the request line, told him who I was and asked if he be interested in making the move to WTCR – a 5,000-watt daytimer.

“He told me his real interest was being an engineer, and I said even better! Our chief was talking about retirement and we were building new studios and a new transmitter site.

“Norm made the move…and the move to our new studios cemented our friendship. The new studios were close to complete and the 5KW Gates was moving to the new site when the old 5kw transmitter bit the dust.”

Halyburton and Philips wired the new studio over-night and early the next day, they fired up the transmitter and WTCR was back on the air.

In 1997, Halyburton moved to the PD position at WFMS Indianapolis and he told Susquehanna Radio about a smart young Chief Engineer – Norm Philips.

Philips got the gig and advanced to Regional Engineer over the company’s stations in Ohio and Atlanta.

He transferred to Dallas in 1984 as Regional Market Engineer Manager while overseeing stations in Atlanta and San Francisco.

Susquehanna added stations in Houston in 1986 – and the list of acquisitions kept growing. Philips had his hands in all of them.

Legendary engineer and Susquehanna VP Engineering, Charlie Morgan, built the foundation one of the best built radio-groups in the country – and he mentored Philips.

When Morgan announced his retirement, Philips became Senior VP Engineering for Susquehanna.

He designed and rebuilt studios, transmitters, towers. You name it – Philips has done it.

When Cumulus bought Susquehanna in 2006, he did some contract work for Continental Electronics and eventually was one of two Engineering VPs for GAP and Townsquare Media…managing nearly 200 stations across the US.

After working in the industry for nearly 50 years, Norm retired in 2016.

Much like Legendary Broadcaster George Marti, Norm Philips inspired a legion of broadcast engineers who are sustaining Radio stations throughout Texas today.

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David Stewart *

Written by Beth Bobbitt on January 22, 2023. Posted in George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence, Previous Winners.

2019 George Marti Award for Engineering Excellence

In the tradition of Broadcast Legend George Marti, TAB’s 2019 Marti Award recipient has been active in nearly every facet of the business.

Broadcast colleagues know David Stewart as the consummate engineer, starting “in the trenches,” while still in high school in his hometown of Lubbock.

The Lubbock Public School System had a series of electronics courses taught by a teacher who moonlighted as a local Radio engineer.

The courses produced several well-trained broadcast engineers who – to this day – serve in technical and ownership positions at Texas Radio and Television stations.

He attended Texas Tech University and served as on-air talent at the campus Radio station and handled master control and engineering for KTXT-TV.

In 1985, Tichenor Media System needed an engineer to work on station startups, as well as restore operations to once successful AM and FM stations across Texas. He would spend nearly 12 years with the media group.

Heftel purchased Tichenor in 1997 and that company morphed into Hispanic Broadcasting, then merged in 2003 with Univision Communications. Stewart stayed with the group through all the transitions.

He served as corporate engineer/director of engineering and VP of engineering for Hispanic Broadcasting and Univision Radio for 13 years.

In that capacity, he oversaw more than 40 engineers from all over Texas.

During his time at Univision, Stewart even helped relocate the FM plant at the Empire State Building in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

Stewart was instrumental in the efforts surrounding the Emergency Alert System.

He worked closely with former TAB President Ann Arnold in crafting the Texas State Emergency Alert System plan – as well as helping his fellow broadcasters create their own local plans.

In 2004, he started the Moving Target Consulting Works company, specializing in upgrading AM, FM signals of all sizes for family-owned, owner-operated and estate-owned signals.

In 2007, he became managing member of “Lamesa’s Home Town Radio” KPET-AM-FM.

He’s also a partner in the management group that owns KWFB “BOB FM” Wichita Falls.

“David Stewart is your ideal engineer. Throughout his career, he’s never wavered from providing the best engineer/consulting services, while keeping his values and worth ethic high,” said Bill Cordell, Cordell Communications/KMAT Houston.

David Stewart