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Hall of Fame 1994Gary FriesVideo |
Gary R. Fries joined the Radio Advertising Bureau as its President and CEO in October 1991, from his post as President of the Unistar Radio Networks. Fries has spent his entire professional life on the front lines of RAdio as a salesperson, sales manager, general manager, group head and network president, with first-hand sales experience in markets from Grand Island, Nebraska to New York City.
In addition to Fries' leadership roles at the Unistar Radio Networks, he served as President and COO of the Sunbelt Communications Radio division. He also managed stations in Phoenix, Omaha, Little Rock, Springfield (Il.), and Albuquereque and held the title of Vice President at both ITC Communications and Multimedia Broadcasting, Inc.
Fries graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1963 with a degree in Business Administration. He began his radio career at Stuart Broadcasting's KFOR radio in Lincoln while attending college there, and held his first management position at KRGI in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Fires, who was named Radio Executive of the Year by Radio Ink Magazine in 1993, is an active spokesman for the Radio industry. He has been a guest speaker at dozens of industry conferences in the U.S. and abroad, including the National Assoication of Broadcasters conventions.
Fries is an active member of numerous industry planning committees, including the Arbitron Radio Advisory Committee, the NAB Radio Convention Planning Committee, and the Advertising Council, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Electronic Media Ratings Council (EMRC).
Fries divides his time between his office at the RAB, life on the road and his home in Colorado Springs. He and his wife Linda have three sons.