Mark Cornetta
2023
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Mark Cornetta, Senior Vice President of VP TEGNA and President and General Manager of KUSA/KTVD-TV, began his television career at KCNC-TV Denver in the early 1980’s. While becoming a top account executive, he was recruited by KUSA-TV in 1987, becoming their General Sales Manager in 1992. He became President and General Manager of KUSA, while assuming the role of Senior Vice President of TEGNA, currently overseeing three other TEGNA stations. He is considered one of the leaders in television in Colorado. As one of his long-time coworkers, Patti Dennis, noted, “He is often the first one in the office and often the last one to leave. If there is a news crisis, Mark is always at the station making sure the journalists have all they need to cover breaking news.” He has also made significant contributions to the Denver community. Under his leadership, 9News has helped raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local nonprofits that include among others, Food Bank of the Rockies and Dumb Friends League, and he was one of the founders of Colorado Succeeds, a statewide business advocacy organization focused on improving Colorado’s education and workforce development systems. He worked with Trinity United Methodist Church Senior Pastor Ken Brown in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in 2020 to create forums to confront longstanding divides regarding racial perspectives. Pastor Brown said, “Mark lives the values 9News espouses – community bravery, inclusivity, passion and integrity.”
Dave Grant
2023
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Long-time co-worker, Larry Hatteberg, sums up the career of Silver Circle Honoree Dave Grant succinctly. “If you had to design a newsroom leader, it would be Dave Grant. He has held nearly every position in the newsroom. For the staff, he is the rock, he is the calm and he is your friend. To those in upper management, he is a truth-teller. He won’t always tell them what they want to hear, but he will tell him what they “need” to hear.” Dave Grant has been a reporter, anchor, producer, assistant news director, news director, web wizard and a bureau chief for western Kansas. Currently producer and assistant news director at KAKE since 1995, he manages dozens of reporters, photographers and producers for the daily news operation, even filling in for the web and producer team when needed. He mentors the next generation of broadcasters by organizing the station’s internship and job shadow program, giving high school and college students hands-on experience through mock storytelling and newscasts. His prior experience included stints at KWCH-TV as a reporter, producer and news anchor as well as anchor/reporter for KAYS-TV. He believes in supporting the Wichita community through a remarkable group of non-profit organizations that include serving on the board of directors for the Greater Wichita YMCA, being a Cub Scout Leader with the Boy Scouts of America’s Quivira Council and President of the Wichita Heights High School Booster Club. The Heartland Chapter is proud to welcome Dave Grant to our distinguished Silver Circle Roster.
Tim Ryan
2023
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Tim Ryan began his broadcasting career in 1985. As a newly-minted graduate of the famed Missouri School of Journalism, his first job was KFSM-TV in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as a reporter, photographer, editor, producer and weekend news anchor. Moving to KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kansas, he served as assignment editor, then moved to KUSA-TV in Denver in 1991, where he began as assignment editor, then promoted to assistant news director. Stories under his leadership included the Salt Lake City Olympics, the visit of Pope John Paul II to Colorado, and the mass shootings of Columbine and the Aurora theater. He helped guide reporter mentoring, editorial content and approval, to create the thorough in-depth news coverage that is a hallmark of the station. He even managed to complete a Master’s degree in history from the University of Colorado Denver in 1997, and is famously known for is his ability to cite the Presidents of the United States of America in order along with their years in office. In 2017, he took on the responsibilities of news director at KVUE Media Group in Austin, where he directed newsgathering staff as well as their social and digital platforms. But in 2020, KUSA recruited him back to Denver as director of content for 9NEWS, where he is responsible for recruiting journalists and leading the team producing content on all 9 NEWS platforms. KUSA President and General Manager Mark Cornetta believes, “he is as much an engaged student of the industry as he has been a leader in it.”
Rick Sallinger
2023
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Silver Circle Honoree Dave Tamez creates programs that move hearts and minds through his photography, the programs he produces, and the documentaries he directs. Winner of numerous regional Emmy® Awards, he combines his love of photography, lighting, and editing in his work. He's also a brilliant teacher, helping to make OETA in Oklahoma City a learning center for young photographers through his high standards for program and segment content development, photography, and editing. In his 20 years at OETA, he has developed and launched award-winning series that include "Stateline," "Gallery America," and "Back in Time," as well as numerous OETA special programs.
He has performed illustrious work at other stations as well. He served as Chief News Photographer and Special Project Producer at KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City from 1987-2000. The station staff received both a RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award and George Foster Peabody Award in 1996 for their program, "Murrah Bombing."
The words of his peers say it best. Bill Perry, who was VP of Content at OETA, said, "I knew instantly he could turn any vision into a reality. With a handshake, the creative standards of video at OETA were on the road to becoming standard." Video producer Christi McGahan noted, "His storytelling ability is unmatched. There are few media professionals that can do it all from shooting, writing, editing, and producing, but Dave can. He takes documentary storytelling to a new art and performs his art with magic."
Deborah Takahara
2023
SILVER CIRCLE INDUCTEE
Silver Circle Honoree Dave Tamez creates programs that move hearts and minds through his photography, the programs he produces, and the documentaries he directs. Winner of numerous regional Emmy® Awards, he combines his love of photography, lighting, and editing in his work. He's also a brilliant teacher, helping to make OETA in Oklahoma City a learning center for young photographers through his high standards for program and segment content development, photography, and editing. In his 20 years at OETA, he has developed and launched award-winning series that include "Stateline," "Gallery America," and "Back in Time," as well as numerous OETA special programs.
He has performed illustrious work at other stations as well. He served as Chief News Photographer and Special Project Producer at KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City from 1987-2000. The station staff received both a RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award and George Foster Peabody Award in 1996 for their program, "Murrah Bombing."
The words of his peers say it best. Bill Perry, who was VP of Content at OETA, said, "I knew instantly he could turn any vision into a reality. With a handshake, the creative standards of video at OETA were on the road to becoming standard." Video producer Christi McGahan noted, "His storytelling ability is unmatched. There are few media professionals that can do it all from shooting, writing, editing, and producing, but Dave can. He takes documentary storytelling to a new art and performs his art with magic."