WLEN-FM in Adrian has been named the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Station of the Year in Market 3 for 2018. This is the fifth consecutive year that WLEN-FM has been named the station of the year. The person-to-person radio station received 11 separate awards.
Morning Show hosts Kristina Kidney and Steve Barkway were in attendance to pick up their awards. News Reporter Ian Wendt picked up his first two MAB awards; and Production Director Joe Johns joined the crew to collect their winnings. WLEN GM and President Julie Koehn and Marketing and Director of Digital Engagement Ashley Gonzalez were there to accept the 11 awards as well.
General Manager Julie Koehn has led the FM station to numerous nominations as the Michigan Station of the Year. She also has notched multiple wins as the National Station of the Year, being selected by the National Association of Broadcasters.
Dale Gaertner, WLEN’s Program Director, now in his 36th year with the company, has been at the helm for several nominations as the Michigan Station of the Year. He has also steered the staff to many wins as the National Station of the Year, being selected by the National Association of Broadcasters.
This isn’t WLEN’s first time bringing home the hardware. The Lenawee County station based in Adrian, Michigan has taken home the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Station of the Year award for Market 3 in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017…and now 2018. Market 3 includes Michigan radio stations in Adrian, Jackson, Cadillac, Port Huron, and Traverse City.
WLEN has also won awards on the national scale, taking home awards from the national Association of Broadcasters in a variety of categories. The Education Foundation “Service to America Award- Service to Children” in 2006, 2008 and 2014; Crystal Radio Award for Community Service in 1998, 2001, 2005, 2010 and 2014; the Crystal Heritage Award in 2015; a Marconi Award for Adult contemporary station of the Year in 2004 and 2015; and a Marconi Award for Small Market in 2011 and 2014.