Alabama Broadcasters Association President Sharon Tinsley was shocked at the ABA’s annual conference during the Hall of Fame luncheon on August 8th. At the end of the planned 2025 class inductions, she was interrupted by board members Lee Perryman and Jimmy Shaw for the surprise of her life. Perryman and Shaw announced that Tinsley was also becoming a member of the Hall of Fame. The following is from the special printed program that was created to share with the audience.

Tinsley came to the Alabama Broadcasters Association twenty years ago and transformed it into the extremely organized, financially solid and highly regarded organization that it is today. No one has garnered more respect, esteem and admiration than she has, not only from broadcasters in Alabama, but from those at the highest levels of the industry in our nation’s capital. For these reasons, and many more, the board of the ABA could not be more pleased to induct Sharon into the Hall of Fame.

“There was lot of room for improvement,” says David Woods, president of Woods Communication. “And Sharon has spent the last 20 years improving, upgrading, and expanding the Alabama Broadcasters Association relentlessly. Every year, she puts in various initiatives to improve the efficiency, to increase the service to the members.”

“Sharon is considered a role model for how to lead and manage a state association,” says Scott Johnson, legal representative with Smithwick and Belendiuk in Washington D.C. and counsel for the ABA. “She single-handedly built the PEP program, bringing revenue to the association as well as financial security.”

“We’ve been able to do so many things because of the huge amounts of money that Sharon has generated through that program,” adds Jimmy Shaw, general manager of WJRD and ABA board president. “Nobody could have done it as well as she did. She’s just magic.”

Tinsley has also made a name for herself on the national level through her strong involvement with the National Association of Broadcasters. She served as president of the National Alliance of State Broadcast Associations in 2012 and 2013, working closely with the NAB.

“When I send out an advocacy alert, Sharon is always on top of it,” says Sue Keenom, Senior Vice President of State, International and Board Relations for the NAB. “She sends out newsletters and emails to the members right away. She supports us in just about every way that there is possible for a state association.”

“She’s very active with the national association, working closely with them and with state and national elected officials,” says Wood. “She’s been relentless on meeting with members of Congress about the importance of radio in cars. I’ve sat in offices with her and in one hour you go from sitting with a member who is all about satellite radio. Thirty minutes later, we’re leaving and he’s going, ‘where do I sign?’”

Tinsley’s energy level has reached legendary status.

“She’s like the Energizer Bunny,” laughs Keenom. “She gets things done so quickly! I’m in awe.”

Shaw agrees. “I’m actually kind of jealous,” he laughs. “She just goes and goes. She never runs out of energy.”

“She never stops. I don’t even like to travel with her because you can’t enjoy it,” Wood says jokingly. “Have you seen her agendas?”

Keenom says with all she accomplishes; she still has time for others. “We had a colleague that had an unfortunate accident,” says Keenom. “Sharon was the one that gets on the call and says – when you’re well enough, we want to have a zoom with you because we care about you.”

“She’s a very giving person, always thinking of the welfare of others including the ABA staff,” Johnson says. “She finds time to mentor university students seeking a career in broadcasting. She’s an extraordinary person.”

“Sharon’s very bright, very smart and most of all, she’s really passionate about broadcasting,” says Keenom. “And that always come across with everything that she does. She loves what she does, and it shows.”

Tinsley graduated from the University of Alabama in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications and Film. She produced local, cable and syndicated television for several years before joining the staff at Broadcast Music, Inc. In 2005, she left her role there as Senior Director to take the reins at the ABA. Under her watch, the ABA has launched the ABBY Awards, the Hall of Fame, the Engineering Academy, the Scholarship Endowment program and Education Debt Relief Grant program.

Sharon’s Look When The Chairman Went Off Script. Sharon In Tears Of Joy and Shock!!