CMB is proud to present the finalists for the 2024 CMB Special Awards. The winners will be announced on Friday, May 31, during the awards dinner at Momentum. Voting on these awards are one of the many benefits of being a CMB Member. It’s not too late to become a member and still have the opportunity to vote.
Please join us in congratulating the following finalists:
2024 Special Award Finalists
Industry Achievement Award
Presented to a Christian broadcaster or associated professional for outstanding and long-term contributions to the growth of Christian Music Radio.
Lisa Barry – Owner, Lisa Barry Media
Lisa began her 30-year radio career at KTIS in Minneapolis/St. Paul after graduating from the University of Northwestern. Five years later, she stepped away to raise a family and worked with Elisabeth Elliot on “Gateway to Joy,” heard on 375 radio stations worldwide. Nine years later, Lisa returned to KTIS where she hosted Middays and garnered ratings consistently in the top 5, including #1. Simultaneously, she hosted middays for Spirit 105.9 in Austin, TX with similar results. Lisa was an early adopter of Facebook, finding ways to encourage listeners on a deeper level, while also giving them a place to respond. Now, she has over 10,000 followers and is using the platform to connect on a deeper, more meaningful level. She recently created two features called “Devo-on-the-Go” and “Be Kind” in addition to producing the “The Lisa Barry Show” daily podcast. Lisa has published articles on how to grow as a radio talent, how to de-escalate radio hot buttons, and how to live for God’s applause instead of ratings. She is currently creating a website called DJSummits.com to share invaluable insights from what she’s learned in radio. Since moving to Florida five years ago, Lisa’s been on the Smart Radio Suite network and is heard on more than 80 outlets across 19 states and Canada. She is living out her purpose to use every means possible to make Jesus known.
Mike Harper – VP of Communications, Encouragement Media Group
Mike Harper has been a staple of KVNE for 35 years, witnessing many highs and lows of the station. With a multiple award-winning morning show with Carrie Parsons, Mike is a HUGE part of the “Encouragement” in Encouragement Media. Whether it’s pushing through long hours every Praise Share (their pledge drive), staying overnight to cover emergency weather reports for families in East Texas, or being out in the community, loving people and praying for them, Mike has helped make KVNE the #1 station in East TX, and #1 in many listeners’ hearts. Off the air, he continues to show the encouragement and love of Jesus through gigs with his band, spending time with his wife, kids, and grandkids, making people laugh through stand-up comedy, and teaching drum lessons to all generations. He is always open to growing not only the Morning Show team, but the whole KVNE on-air team, never shying away from new technology, new song styles, or new ways of bringing stories to life.
Jim Leightenheimer – Associate Professor of Broadcasting & Station Advisor Resound Radio, Cedarville University
Jim Leightenheimer has passionately pursued the mission of teaching, mentoring, and preparing college students to serve Christ through media since 1982. With 30 years of experience as a radio veteran, Jim implemented and developed a student radio station that began as an AM carrier, transitioned to a low-power FM, and is currently streaming as Resound Radio. Under his leadership, Cedarville’s student radio has played a crucial role in jump-starting the careers of many current leaders in Christian radio stations and networks across the United States. His students, both past and present, credit Jim for being the catalyst in building their love for radio. Throughout his career, Jim has enlisted graduates and other professionals to serve as mentors to his student radio staff. He has introduced scores of students to CMB by bringing them to Momentum and, more recently, CMB University. Currently serving on the board of directors at WCVO (104.9 The River) in Columbus, Jim continues to be a resource not only for his current students but for those who are living out his legacy in radio.
Matt Stockman – Brand Director, Pillar Media
Matt is a 40-year veteran, having started his career at WBNQ in Bloomington, IL. His involvement in Christian radio began in the early 1990s and has included launching WBDX/Chattanooga, stops in Lynchburg, VA, Nashville, TN, and 10 years with the BGEA’s WMIT/Asheville. In the mid-2000s, Matt began partnering with other broadcasters as a guide and coach – leveraging his experience and knowledge in programming, talent development, and fundraising for stations and organizations like Partners For Christian Media, Christian Family Radio, Heart For Lebanon, KHPE/Albany OR., Radio Onda Paz/Barcelona, HopeFM/Sweden, Vision Africa, and many more. Additionally, Matt has served in programming roles at CRISTA Media (SPIRIT 105.3, SPIRIT 105.9, PRAISE 106.5, AM 630 KCIS), the K-LOVE Radio Network, and now as Brand Director for Pillar Media (WAWZ/STAR 99.1, WAKW/STAR 93.3, KPOF, KJHM/STAR 101.5, and KFCO/107.1). In 2019, he joined the CMB Momentum Leadership Team and is a regular writer/contributor to the industry on programming, talent development, and fundraising, as well as a frequent presenter for various CMB events. Throughout his whole career, his goal has remained the same – to raise the standard of excellence in Christian broadcasting so that more people can know Jesus.
Johnny & Stacey Stone – Founders, Atlantic Gateway Communications / Afternoon Host, WGTS 91.9 / Owners, Stone Studios
Johnny and Stacey Stone have over 80 years of broadcasting experience between them, with the last 24 years spent together in Christian Music Radio. Currently, they serve at WGTS 91.9, Washington DC, where they are bringing the message of Christ’s love to the “loneliest city in America.” Their show, Johnny and Stacey Stone in the Afternoon, is often ranked by Nielsen as the #1 music show in their time slot. In Christian radio, they have served God in Chicago, New York Metro, a national network, and now in the Nation’s Capital. Johnny and Stacey travel the DC area during the Summer, broadcasting live from various locations on the WGTS 91.9 Ice Cream tour and providing broadcast support for the more than 40 Sticker Stops that WGTS 91.9 hosts all year. They also volunteer and teach at various CMB events and Stacey, serving as the moderator for the CMB Women in Radio forum, strives to uplift women in the industry and showcase God’s love to them. Johnny and Stacey’s legacy is bringing up the next generations of broadcasters, and they now assist future broadcasters across the country with creating their dreams through CMBU and mentoring. They have impacted several major broadcasting companies by mentoring individuals who now serve on the executive teams or staff at Salem Media Group, Hope Media Group, Atlantic Gateway Communications, and Northwestern Media.
Community Service Award
Presented to a Christian broadcaster, radio station or associated professional who, during the past year, has shown outstanding effort in community service.
KCBI (Dallas)
KCBI shares Jesus’ love and transforming power in Dallas-Fort Worth, inviting listeners to serve the community with them. Their outreaches served nearly 30,000 listeners and community members in 2023. Of those – including events with Buckner Shoes and Mission Arlington and mobilizing listeners to pray online and in the community – they are most excited about KCBI’s ‘Prison Outreach.’ They invited listeners to help them bring hope to inmates as they partnered with Gateway Church, installing inmate-run radio stations in Texas prisons. Prisoners are isolated, some facing their last opportunities to know Jesus. KCBI stepped alongside inmates at the Polunsky Unit, Texas’ men’s death row, as they reached into the darkness with the message of hope, operating the first inmate-run radio station in Texas. “They can turn on that radio station and hear another inmate that speaks their language,” said Stephen Wilson, Gateway’s Pastor of Prison Ministries, and a former inmate. KCBI launched a second inmate-run station at a prison in Tennessee Colony, bringing the number of inmates reached to 6,000. Two more stations are planned by the end of 2024, including the women’s death row unit. Pastor Stephen says KCBI’s ‘Prison Outreach’ is critical for the salvation of death row inmates and the success of about-to-be-released prisoners. “We’re turning them into the husbands and the dads that God has called them to be. They long to be that, but they don’t know how. Every inmate has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to Jesus.”
Life 88.5 / KJNW (Kansas City)
The mission of Life 88.5 is to lead people to Christ and nurture believers in their spiritual growth – while the vision is to transform Kansas City by sharing the hope and joy of Christ with every person in every community they serve. With their small but impactful staff and Life Support Team of volunteers, Life 88.5 set the goal of being boots-on-the-ground in 100 communities over three years, beginning in 2023, under the mantra: “In Every Community.” Through community events, Life 88.5 engaged with just over 200,000 people in 2023. Efforts included listeners providing more than $11,300 in gift cards for law enforcement to care for those they interact with every day. ‘Snow Cone with a Cop’ provided more than 3,000 free snow cones and opportunities to unite law enforcement and the communities they serve. Life 88.5 listeners provided a jaw-dropping three and a half tons of food donations over the eight Tuesdays leading up to Thanksgiving during ‘Terrific Tuesdays!’ All the food collected stayed in the community it was donated in and was typically ready to be distributed within 24 hours. Life 88.5 connected with countless individuals through ‘Pop-Up Parties,’ community events, ‘Life 88.5 Listener Lounge’ events, and concerts throughout 2023. Life 88.5’s ‘Raise the Roof’ campaign provided a brand-new roof for a family nominated by another listener, whereas ‘Paint It Forward’ gifted an entire paint project to both a non-profit organization and a residential homeowner in need.
KVNE (Tyler)
KVNE is involved in numerous community projects throughout the year. From collecting thousands of shoes and coats and 19,000 Valentines for kids and seniors in hospitals, they went even deeper this year with their first ‘Christmas Encouragement.’ Listeners were invited to nominate someone in the community facing monumental hardship. KVNE raised $62,500 to meet the needs of 12 of 240 nominees. Carly, 25, was pregnant, and diagnosed with terminal cancer. She knew she wouldn’t make it to Christmas, her favorite holiday. KVNE made it possible for Carly to enjoy Christmas with her family one last time. KVNE’s videographer captured the day-long celebration filled with gifts, food, and a beautifully trimmed tree – memories Carly’s children will treasure forever. Carly died two weeks before Christmas. She said, “In the end, it’s all going to be ok. My husband, my two boys, and my mom will all be ok. I will be in Heaven with my heavenly Father.” Her faith inspired many, including her husband, who now attends church. Charlie became a quadriplegic after falling out of a window. KVNE arranged for $6,000 in repairs to his handicap-equipped van and gave Charlie and his family six months of gas and groceries. The KVNE team even threw him a “King’s party,” a Hispanic tradition filled with friends, décor, cake, and more. These stories were shared on-air and three of them were via video through email, web, and social. A ripple effect beyond imagination has happened and continues to impact listeners.
WFSH / The Fish (Atlanta)
Through open dialogue between the station and the community, The Fish connected with listeners in 2023 to activate their faith and created incredible moments of service and support. The station’s non-profit, Fish Christmas Wish, was responsible for funding 93-months’ worth of mortgage payments for struggling families, 11 adaptive bikes for children with special needs, and three full home furnishings for families transitioning from local shelters. This giving mission also extended to everyday blessings of hope, like providing gas, groceries, school supplies, and even a year of karate lessons for a 9-year-old boy whose parents are incarcerated. 2023 saw many fulfilled opportunities for collaborative generosity. Fish listeners contributed over $1,053,000 to charitable causes in Atlanta and abroad, such as enabling 255 pediatric surgeries with CURE International, and nourishing 1,700 kids with ‘Save The Children’ radiothons. Outside studio walls, The Fish activated 120 community events throughout the year including lunch for 36 church staffs with weekly ‘Thankful Thursday’ events, championing 16 youth soccer programs with ‘Soccer Smiles,’ hosting high school student athletes and visiting eight local schools with ‘Friday Pep Rally Shout Outs,’ celebrating youth and volunteers at seven Vacation Bible Schools through their VBS Spotlight program, and empowering 200 pastors at the annual ‘Pastors Appreciation Event.’
The Light FM / WMIT (Network)
The Light FM felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit to canvas local communities experiencing difficulties and share the stories of how Jesus is at work through various ‘Light On’ campaigns. ‘Light On Charlotte’ told the stories of men on the streets who needed both Jesus and tangible items, like shoes and socks. Jesus provided over 600 pairs for West Boulevard Ministry. ‘Light On Knoxville’ revealed how Jesus is at work at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Casting Crowns, Ben Fuller, and We Are Messengers joined Carol from the morning show to tell the stories of the precious children and to hand out toys collected from Light FM listeners. ‘Light On Canton’ partnered with the mayor of the town after a mill closure resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 jobs. The station told the stories of how Jesus was at work and encouraged other communities to help. The Light FM provided discipleship resources and prayed with people in Canton on multiple occasions. ‘Light On Long View,’ a city oppressed with poverty, partnered with churches and local government to have a day of prayer and assistance for food, clothing, and school supplies. 750 out of the 2,000-person population attended. Most importantly, an attendee gave her life to Christ that day. During the sixth annual ‘Heartbeat of Hope’ on-air campaign in early May, listeners provided over 2,300 ultrasounds to 18 local pregnancy centers so mothers could receive faith-based counseling and ultrasounds to help them choose life.
Rich Mullins Artist Impact Award
Presented to an artist or group to recognize their long-time contributions to the music and ministry of Christian radio.
