Vermont Business Magazine Saturday, November 15, 2025, the Vermont Association of Broadcasters (VAB) will induct Television photojournalist Joe Carroll, radio legend John Hill (posthumously) and broadcast engineer Joe Tymecki into the VAB Hall of Fame and will present eight other people with excellence awards. The celebration will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in South Burlington, Vermont.
Rutland native Joe Carroll has spent over four decades as a photojournalist at WCAX-TV. He began as a videotape editor in August 1985 and rose to the position he holds today as Chief Photographer. His Emmy award-winning series Super Seniors, has brought attention to the lives and stories of older Vermonters with empathy and respect. Beyond the lens, Joe has mentored generations of journalists, fostering talent and professionalism in both photographers and reporters. Carroll’s legacy is not only in the images he’s captured, but in the lives he’s honored and the journalists he’s guided.
For over four decades, “Big John” Hill was a cornerstone of Vermont’s radio landscape. First at WJOY-AM and then at WDOT-AM in the 1970s. Then at WVMT-AM from 1985 to 1994 and later at Champ 101.3 (WCPV-FM) and Star 92.9 (WEZF-FM) from 1994 until his passing in 2012. His multifaceted role included both being an on-air talent as well as a successful career in advertising sales.
Joe Tymecki, Senior Vice President of Engineering & Technology at Vermont Public, has consistently demonstrated visionary leadership and technical excellence across Vermont’s broadcast media landscape. He has served as Chief Technology Officer at VPR and Vermont PBS and held Chief Engineer positions for Sison Broadcasting and WCAX-TV. Tymecki’s early career included on-air radio work at WWPV-FM, WVTC-FM, WCVR-AM, WVMT-AM and WXXX-FM. He received the VAB Snyder-Teffner Award in 2015 and is highly respected among his colleagues. Tymecki served on the VAB Board of Directors as well as the Vermont State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC) and serves as a technical liaison between the VAB, Vermont Emergency Management and NOAA.
WXXX-FM (95 Triple X) of Colchester has been named VAB Broadcaster of the Year for rebranding their station “Sophie95.5” for a weekend and raising $13,000 to help pay medical bills for a local cheerleader diagnosed with a rare eye cancer.
The VAB Distinguished Service award will go to Merl Grabowski who has a forty plus year career as both a radio air personality and a sales consultant mostly in the Northeast Kingdom.
As she gets ready to retire after 40 years, WCAX-TV Business Manager Peg Doolin will receive the VAB’s Snyder-Teffner award for excellence behind the scenes in a support role. The Snyder-Teffner award is named for VAB Hall of Fame members Dennis Snyder and Ted Teffner.
WSYB-AM of Rutland will receive the Alan Noyes Community Service Award for their annual WSYB Christmas Fund, which last year raised $64,000 and helped 1,280 people before the holidays. The Alan Noyes Community Service Award is named for the VAB’s First Executive Director and a charter member of the VAB Hall of Fame.
Wanting to recognize more young adults new to the industry that demonstrate passion and potential and who will likely have long and successful broadcast careers, the VAB has chosen four “Rising Star” award recipients. Lily Sakaniwa who is a reporter at WFFF-TV (FOX 44) and WVNY-TV (ABC22), Adrian Pastor who is a news Anchor at WPTZ-TV (NBC5), Sam Shinn who is an Executive Producer at WCAX-TV and Bobby Lussier who is Development Specialist at Vermont Public.
Additional details about all the Hall of Fame inductees and award winners can be found at https://vermontbroadcasters.org/2025-vab-hall-of-fame-inductees-and-award-winners
This year’s inductees and award winners will be honored during the VAB Hall of Fame & Awards Gala Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, 870 Williston Road, South Burlington. This year’s theme is “Platinum & Pearls” and celebrates the milestone 70th anniversary of the VAB as well as the 30th anniversary of the Hall of Fame & Awards Gala. The cost to attend. VAB members and their guests can register no later than November 7th at the discounted rate of $70 per person. Non VAB members can register for $140 per person at https://vermontbroadcasters.org/2025-vab-hall-of-fame-awards-gala
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