Rising Through the Ranks 2025 Scholarship Recipients Revealed

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, July 14, 2025 | 10:49am CT

Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB)

The Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) and Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. (MIW) have revealed the 26 scholarship recipients selected for this year's Rising Through the Ranks program. Designed to foster the next generation of female leadership in the radio industry, the annual initiative combines professional development with mentorship and networking opportunities.

The 2025 program will follow a hybrid format, beginning with a virtual session on August 12 and culminating in an in-person workshop August 19-21 in Nashville, Tennessee.

A lineup of prominent media and industry leaders will present at this year's event, including:

• Rob Babin, President, Cox Media Group (CMG) Radio

• Kristin Cantrell, Owner/Operator, Seven Mountains Media

• Joe D'Angelo, SVP of Broadcast Radio and Digital Audio, Xperi

• Kelli Turner, President & CEO, Audacy

• Sheila Kirby, President, MIW

• Trisha Yearwood, award-winning artist

And many others from organizations including RAB, Salem Media Group, and the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters

"This program continues to be a cornerstone in helping advance the careers of women in radio," said Sheila Kirby, president of MIW. "This year's class represents a diverse and impressive group of professionals who are poised to make a lasting impact on our industry."

2025 Rising Through the Ranks Scholarship Recipients:

• Mallory Bouslog - Marketron Broadcast Solutions, New Orleans, LA

• Jennifer Butman - Community Broadcast Partners, Abilene, TX

• Rebecca Carroll - Rockey City Broadcasting, Huntsville, AL

• Kadie Daye - Adams Radio Group, Valparaiso, IN

• Bridget England - WFTK 96.5/Cumulus Media, Cincinnati, OH

• Nicole Eubank - WSM, Nashville, TN

• Margie Goehring - Ottumwa Radio Group, Ottumwa, IA

• Amanda Long - Broadcast House Media/NRG Media, Lincoln, NE

• Meredith McDermott - Connoisseur Media, Farmingdale, NY

• Lauren Merrill-Stakelon - Audacy, San Francisco, CA

• Jess Palmer - iHeartMedia, Cleveland, OH

• Wanda "Wanda P" Patterson - CMG Hot 106.5 FM, Jacksonville, FL

• Cassie Reimold - Salem Media Group, Tampa, FL

• Judy Remy - Salem Media Group, Sacramento, CA

• Laura Roberts - Illini Media Group, Champaign, IL

• Lori Roberts - Seven Mountains Media, Parkersburg, WV

• Jillian Sagat - Cox Media Group, Jacksonville, FL

• Kate Savage - Audacy, Farmington, NY

• Kayla Schneider - Hubbard Radio, Alexandria, MN

• Lauren Smith - Cox Media Group, Watkinsville, GA

• Kari Stoddard - Midwest Communications, Nashville, TN

• Slone Terranella - Beasley Media Group, Las Vegas, NV

• Susan Terwilleger - Saga Communications, Charlottesville, VA

• Michelle Truong - Audacy, Brooklyn, NY

• Whitney Zarder - North Central Florida Media, Saga Communications, Ocala, FL

• Sheena Ziegler - Hubbard Broadcasting, Brainerd, MN

Now in its 15th year, Rising Through the Ranks continues to provide scholarship-based access to women in radio seeking to enhance their leadership potential and further their careers within the broadcasting industry.