Mary M. Collins Named Executive Director of LAB Foundation

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, December 15, 2025 | 10:21am CT

Mary Collins

The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) has named Mary M. Collins as its next Executive Director, effective January 1, 2026. Collins has served as Treasurer of the Foundation for several years and will now take on day-to-day leadership of the organization.

In her new role, Collins will work closely with the LABF Board of Directors, the Library of American Broadcasting Collection team at the University of Maryland, and oversee initiatives including preservation grants, educational programs, and the annual Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts Awards luncheon.

LABF Co-Chairs Heidi Raphael and Jack Goodman said Collins' leadership experience, industry background, and long-standing involvement with the Foundation position her well to guide the organization forward, citing her collaborative approach and commitment to preserving broadcasting history.

Collins currently operates her own advisory firm, MMC Solutions, and serves as a guest columnist for TVNewsCheck's "Managing Media." From January 2003 through September 2021, she was President and CEO of the Media Financial Management Association (MFM) and its subsidiary, the Broadcast Cable Credit Association (BCCA). During her tenure, the organizations reported growth in membership, conference attendance, and overall revenue.

A Chicago-area native, Collins previously held sales, marketing, and business development roles at cable programming networks including the Television Food Network and Rainbow Programming Services, which operated SportsChannel Chicago, Bravo, and American Movie Classics. She also managed client relationships for media technology companies DIVA and High-Speed Access Corporation.

Beyond LABF, Collins is active in several industry organizations. Her roles include co-chairing committees for the Private Directors Association and the Financial Executives Networking Group, serving as a Gracie Awards judge for the Alliance for Women in Media, and past executive service with Women in Cable & Telecommunications.

Her career recognition includes being named one of Cablefax Magazine's "Most Powerful Women" in 2018 and inclusion in its "Top 100" lists in 2005 and 2006.