Corporate Officers
Perry A. Sook
Chairman, President and CEO
Perry A. Sook has over 37 years of professional experience in the television and radio broadcasting industries, covering all facets of the business including ownership and M&A, management, sales, on-air talent and news. He founded Nexstar in 1996 with one local television station in Scranton, PA and began building the foundation of what is today one of the world’s leading local marketing and content companies that leverages localism to bring new services and value to consumers and advertisers through its traditional media, digital and mobile media platforms. Based in Irving, TX, Nexstar trades on NASDAQ under the symbol NXST.
Reflecting the recently completed $4.6 billion accretive acquisition of Media General, Nexstar Media Group is the second largest local broadcast television operator in the United States with 170 stations reaching 100 markets, or approximately 39% of all television households, and annual revenue in excess of $2.3 billion. As one of the nation’s leading providers of local news, entertainment, sports, lifestyle and network programming, Nexstar produces and distributes over 185,000 hours of local content per year. In addition, Nexstar’s digital properties provide innovative digital marketing solutions and services to local and national media companies, advertisers, agencies and brands.
Prior to Nexstar, Sook was one of the principals of Superior Communication Group, Inc., which was sold in 1995 to Sinclair Broadcast Group. Before Superior, Sook was President/CEO of Seaway Communication, Inc., owner of network affiliated stations in Bangor, ME and Wausau, WI. Before being recruited to run Seaway, he worked in the television industry as a General Sales Manager, acting General Manager and National Sales Manager. Sook previously spent five years with Cox Broadcasting, first in local sales in Pittsburgh then at Telerep, Inc., as a National Account Executive. Early in his career, Sook was involved in local TV sales and radio sales. Sook also worked briefly as a television news anchor at the CBS affiliate in Clarksburg, WV.
Sook was recently elected to serve as the Chairman of the TVB, the not-for-profit trade association of America’s local broadcast television industry. In addition to serving on the Board of TVB, Mr. Sook is a Board Member of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the CBS Affiliate Board, the Broadcasters Foundation of America Board, and is Chairman of The Ohio University Foundation Board. Mr. Sook was named 2009 Broadcaster of the Year by Broadcasting and Cable (B&C) and was among the honorees inducted into the 2014 B&C Hall of Fame. He was inducted to The Library of American Broadcasting Foundation’s 2016 Giants of Broadcasting and Electronic Arts and received The Media Institute’s 2016 American Horizon Award, recognizing his leadership, promoting the vitality and independence of American media.
Sook did his undergraduate work at Ohio University in Athens, OH and was an adjunct professor at Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania.
He and his wife Sandra have three children; Laura, Victoria and Perry, Jr., and reside in Flower Mound, Texas.
Timothy Busch
President, Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Timothy C. Busch was appointed as President of Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. in January 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Busch served as Nexstar’s Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer from May 2008 to January 2017, as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager from October 2002 to May 2008 and as our Vice President and General Manager at WROC (CBS) in Rochester, New York from 2000 to October 2002. Prior to joining Nexstar, Mr. Busch served as General Sales Manager and held various other sales management positions at WGRZ (NBC) in Buffalo, New York from 1993 to 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Busch held various sales and management positions at WGR-AM and FM radio with Taft Broadcasting. Mr. Busch has served on various organizational boards in the upstate New York area. He served for 8 years on the CBS Affiliation Association Board with his last role as Chairman. Mr. Busch currently serves on the NBC Affiliates Board and the Upstate New York Advisory Board for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Mr. Busch is a native of Ohio and a graduate of Ohio University. He and his wife of 27 years have two sons.
Gregory Raifman
President, Nexstar Digital, LLC
Gregory R. Raifman was named President of Nexstar Digital LLC in April 2017, and is responsible for leading the development and implementation of the digital business strategy, integrating existing and acquired digital products under the Nexstar Digital brand, managing overall operations and identifying additional value-building investment opportunities with the overall objective of maximizing performance and accelerating financial growth. In addition, he oversees a team of experts who work in conjunction with Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. personnel to optimize local digital and mobile offerings across the Company’s local media markets.
Prior to joining Nexstar, Mr. Raifman served as President and Board Member for The Rubicon Project, Inc. where he was responsible for overseeing operations of the global advertising leader, including revenue and business development, product, engineering, finance, legal, marketing, communications and strategy. .
From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Raifman served as the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Mediaplex, a global advertising technology company he eventually took public that reached a post-IPO valuation in excess of $4 billion. Through his investment vehicles The Gekko Group, LLC & Gekko Holdings, LLC, Mr. Raifman has also been an active seed investor, board member and board advisor to numerous early stage technology companies.
He also previously served as Executive Chairman of LiveRail, Inc., founded and was Managing Member of PointBreak Ventures, LLC, and founded Dragon Media Online, Inc.
Today, Mr. Raifman served as a Member of the Board of Directors for the Mobile Marketing Association and the Trustworthy Accountability Group, and served as a Foundation Board Member for the Advertising Women of New York. Currently, Mr. Raifman serves a Member of the West Coast Board of Directors of the United Healthcare Children’s Foundation, the Board of Visitors for Georgetown University Law Center and CEO’s Against Cancer.
Tom Carter
Executive VP, Chief Financial Officer
Tom Carter joined Nexstar in the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in August of 2009. Mr. Carter has responsibility for all internal and external financial reporting, oversight of internal audit, compliance and controls, investor relations, and assisting in strategic planning, business development, mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining Nexstar, Mr. Carter served as Managing Director, Media Telecom Corporate Investment Banking at Banc of America Securities, which he joined in 1985. In this position, he acted as the senior banker responsible for delivering bank products and services including M&A, private and public equity, high-yield debt, fixed income derivatives, syndicated financial products and treasury management for selected clients across the broadcasting, cable, publishing and media industries, including Nexstar Broadcasting. Mr. Carter began his banking career in 1980, serving for five years in various roles in Corporate and International Banking at a predecessor to JPMorgan Chase.
Mr. Carter earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in 1980 and is an active member of his community.
Brian Jones
Executive VP, Chief Operating Officer Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Brian Jones became Executive Vice-President & Co-Chief Operating Officer for Nexstar Broadcasting Group in May 2008. He has operating responsibility for the Nexstar owned or operated television stations located in the states of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, California, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Nevada, Missouri and Iowa. Before that, he served as Senior Vice-President and Regional Manager for Nexstar since 2003.
Mr. Jones came to Nexstar from CBS owned KTVT (CBS) and KTXA (IND) in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas where he was Vice-President & General Manager for seven years. Prior to that, he was Station Manager and held various Sales management positions at KTVT, Sales positions at MMT Sales Inc., KXAS (NBC) Dallas-Fort Worth and News positions at KLBK (CBS) Lubbock, Texas and KXAN (NBC) Austin, Texas. Altogether, he has 34 years of experience in the television industry.
Mr. Jones served as the Chairman of the FOX Affiliates Association Board of Governors and also served as Chairman of the Texas Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors. He is a member of the FOX Affiliates Association Board of Governors and the National Association of Broadcasters Small Market Advisory Committee as well as the Southern Methodist University School of Journalism Advisory Committee. Jones also served as a board member of the CBS Affiliates Association.
Mr. Jones has been married to Lauren for the past 26 years and has three sons, Austin 23, Trent 20, and Brock 17. In his free time, he shares all of their activities in school, sports and life.
Elizabeth Ryder
Executive VP, General Counsel & Secretary
Elizabeth Ryder joined Nexstar Broadcasting as Senior Vice President and General Counsel in May 2009. In this role, Ms. Ryder oversees all legal matters for the Company and its portfolio of stations. Ms. Ryder came to Nexstar after serving as Vice President – Legal Affairs for First Broadcasting Operating, Inc. Prior to that, Ms. Ryder was Counsel at the law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Washington, D.C., where she handled legal and regulatory matters for numerous broadcast clients, including Nexstar Broadcasting.
Ms. Ryder received her J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law.
Brett Jenkins
Executive VP, Chief Technology Officer
Brett Jenkins joined Nexstar from Media General where he was Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, overseeing the company’s IT and engineering functions for both broadcast and digital businesses. Prior to Media General, he was Vice President Chief Technology Officer of LIN Media from 2011 to 2014. He has held technology positions at ION Media Networks and executive positions for Thales Broadcast & Multimedia and Thomson.
Early in his engineering career at Thales, Mr. Jenkins managed modulator and exciter technology and development for what was then the new digital broadcast TV standard. He was the lead US engineer in a global team responsible for the development of Digital Adaptive Pre-correction technology. Thales received an Emmy award for pioneering this technology in 2003. Mr. Jenkins currently serves on the Board of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC), an international, non-profit organization that develops standards for digital television.
Blake Russell
Executive VP, Station Operations and Content Development
Mr. Russell was appointed the company’s Senior Vice President of Station Operations in November 2008 and promoted to Executive Vice President in 2018. Prior to that, he served as Vice-President of Marketing & Operations since October 2007. In 2004, he was Vice President & General Manager of Nexstar’s KNWA (NBC) and KFTA (FOX) television stations in the Ft. Smith/Fayetteville, AR market. Working with Nexstar’s General Managers and Senior Corporate Staff, he is responsible for the conception, execution and implementation of the company’s strategic and content initiatives, special projects and capital budget. Mr. Russell’s Operational oversight includes the areas of Marketing, News, Engineering, Information Technology, Production, and Promotion.
During Mr. Russell’s nineteen years with Nexstar, he has been instrumental in building, re-launching and re-positioning stations throughout the company . He plays a key leadership role in the continuing evolution of the company to a multi-platform, local content and service provider as well as Nexstar’s regional hub strategies. Altogether, Mr. Russell has 28 years of experience in the television industry.
Andy Alford
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Andy Alford was promoted to Senior Vice President and Regional Manager in August of 2017. Mr. Alford has oversight responsibilities for the stations and digital properties in the Southeast Region encompassing Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi. Prior to his promotion Mr. Alford was Vice President and General Manager of WFLA-TV and WTTA-TV, Tampa’s NBC and MyNet affiliates and held that position since 2014. Before moving to Tampa, Andy served as Vice President of Sales for Media General. While in that role he initiated and managed sales strategies, and developed sales training plans for the company. Additionally, he was responsible for managing the business relationship with the national rep firms and worked on the transition teams through corporate mergers. Concurrently he held the position of Vice President and General Manager of WTEN-TV, an ABC affiliate, in Albany, NY and operated WXXA-TV, a Fox affiliate, under a shared services and joint sales agreement with Shield Media.
Prior to Albany, Andy spent a total of seven years at WGCL-TV in Atlanta, most recently as Vice President and General Manager. He has also served in broadcast management roles in the Orlando, FL, Syracuse, NY and Rochester, NY markets.
Andy grew up in Rochester, NY and began his television career in sales at WHEC. He has been involved in a number of industry and community organizations, including the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Heart Walk Cabinet for The American Heart Association Tampa Bay, Board of Directors of Make-A-Wish, Georgia Association of Broadcasters, The Southeast Chapter of National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement for Northeastern New York.
Andy has been married to his wife Nancy for over 30 years and has a son and daughter; Max and Katy.
Doug Davis
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Doug Davis joined Nexstar Broadcasting as Senior Vice President and Regional Manager in January of 2017. He has oversight of station operations in Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Prior to joining Nexstar, Mr. Davis served as President and General Manager of WAVY/WVBT, the NBC/FOX duopoly in Norfolk, Virginia from 2005-2016. He served as Station Manager of WVBT from 2000-2005 following his role as Local Sales Manager of WAVY from 1995-2000. A graduate of Duke University, Mr. Davis began his career at National Video Center in New York from 1984-1989 before holding Account Executive positions with Cox Cable and WVEC in Norfolk from 1989-1995. He is a Past President of The Virginia Association of Broadcasters and former board member of the FOX Affiliate Board of Governors. He is a long-serving member of the Development Advisory Board of Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and remains active in many community organizations throughout southeastern Virginia.
Diane Kniowski
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Diane Kniowski was appointed Senior Vice President and Regional Manager January of 2017. Prior to her appointment she served as Vice President and General Manager of WOOD TV, WOTV and WXSP in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1999. In addition to that role, she acted as a Regional Manager with Media General overseeing stations in Michigan and Indiana. Ms. Kniowski has worked in the capacities of Media Buyer, Media Planner, National Sales Manager and General Sales Manager. Her career highlights include putting a cable-based Sports Channel on the air in West Michigan, bringing free Detroit sports to the western side of the state. Ms. Kniowski currently serves on the ABC Board of Directors and serves as the ABC Board liaison for the ABC Marketing Association. She is the past chair of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters and has served on the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Foundation Board, American Women in Radio and Television, Grand Rapids Economic Club, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and Children’s Miracle Network Board at Helen Davos Children’s Hospital. She was recognized in 2009 as a top 50 Woman of Achievement in Western Michigan.
Julie Pruett
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Julie Pruett was appointed the company’s Senior Vice President and Regional Manager of West Region Markets in September 2013. From 1997 through August 2013 Ms. Pruett served as Vice President/General Manager of KFDX-TV serving the Wichita Falls, TX and Lawton, OK, market. Ms. Pruett was also responsible for managing Nexstar’s relationship with Mission Broadcasting’s KJTL and KJBO under a joint operating agreement. Ms. Pruett served in sales and various management positions at KFDX, having been with the station since 1989. Ms. Pruett also worked in the agency side of the business, developing and implementing marketing plans for multiple clients.
Altogether, Ms. Pruett has 24 years of experience in the television industry. Ms. Pruett currently serves on the Board of the Texas Association of Broadcasters and is a board member of Union Square Federal Credit Union. She is a past member of the Sheppard Air Force Base Military Affairs Committee, United Regional Health Care Foundation Board and Fund Development Chair, was appointed to the United States Air Force Air Education Training Commanders Group, a board member of United Way of Greater Wichita Falls, and Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce Board and Executive Committee Member.
William Sally
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
William Sally joined Nexstar Broadcasting on September 17th, 2013 as a Senior Vice President and Regional Manager. In his current role, Mr. Sally will oversee station operations in 12 television markets in Nexstar’s East region including New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Maryland and Alabama. His responsibilities include generating revenue strategies across Nexstar’s multimedia platforms, while evaluating and improving operating efficiencies. He has an industry reputation as an innovator.
Prior to joining Nexstar Broadcasting, Mr. Sally had been Vice President and General Manager for Newport Television in Albany at WXXA. He held the same position for Smith Broadcasting in Burlington, Vermont, at WFFF and WVNY. Mr. Sally has held various management level positions in sales including while in California at KEYT in Santa Barbara. He began his television career in 1978 in Utica where he later became Sports Director/Anchor at WKTV.
Mr. Sally has been active with many professional organizations including sales advisory boards at ABC and FOX. He is well respected for his philanthropic work and good citizenship in the communities he has lived.
Theresa Underwood
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Theresa Underwood was appointed the company’s Senior Vice President and Regional Manager on April 1, 2015. From 2000 to 2015 Ms. Underwood served as Vice President & General Manager of WSYR-TV. Ms. Underwood served in sales and various management positions at WSYR, having been with the station since 1992. Ms. Underwood also worked in the agency side of the business, developing and implementing marketing plans for multiple clients. Underwood currently serves on the Board of the New York State Broadcasters Association, serves as Chair for the Communications Committee of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and serves on the on the Advisory Board for the Golisano Children’s Hospital. She is past Chairman of the Board for the New York State Broadcasters Association and worked in support of Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Miracle Network, Make- A- Wish Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Red Cross. Underwood was the recipient of the “40 under “40 award presented by Leadership Greater Syracuse and honored at the sixth annual Women in Business Award in 2006.
Mike Vaughn
Senior VP, Regional Manager Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Mike Vaughn was appointed Senior Vice President and Regional Manager January of 2017. Prior to his appointment, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Nexstar’s local television operation KARK and associated digital operations in Little Rock, Arkansas from 2011 to 2016. Mr. Vaughn was also responsible for managing Nexstar’s relationship with Mission Broadcasting’s KLRT and KASN under a joint operating agreement. Prior to that, he was Vice President and General Manager of KNWA and KFTA and associated digital operations serving Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Arkansas from 2008-2011. From 2005-2008 Mike served as Director of Sales overseeing both sales departments in Fayetteville and Little Rock, Arkansas. Mike started his career with Nexstar in sales and various management positions at Nexstar’s facilities in Springfield, Missouri.
He has been in the television industry for more than 23 years. Mr. Vaughn has been very active in local community involvement, including business groups and volunteering with youth sports organizations. Mr. Vaughn and his wife have two children and enjoy cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks and following their children’s sporting activities.
Randy Bradford
VP, Financial Operations
Randy Bradford has served in the role of Vice President of Financial Operations since 2014. Mr. Bradford has responsibility for financial planning and analysis, risk management, treasury management, employee services and assists with mergers and acquisitions. From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Bradford served Nexstar by managing the company’s station management relationship with Four Points Media and as the company’s Manager of Financial Operations. Prior to Nexstar, Mr. Bradford served in various senior management roles including Chief Financial Officer of Independence Media, Controller for Healthvision and Director of Finance for Chase Medical. Mr. Bradford has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Terri Bush
VP, Human Resources & Associate Counsel
Terri Bush joined Nexstar Broadcasting on June 7, 2010 as Associate Counsel and Director of Human Resources, and was promoted to Vice President in June 2015. She leads all aspects of the company’s human resources functions including employment, employee relations, training and benefits. Ms. Bush came to Nexstar after serving in various human resources leadership roles in the hospitality industry, first with Harrah’s Entertainment and then Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. She received her J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and is a member of both the Louisiana and California state bar associations.
Patrick Cusick
VP, Controller
Mr. Cusick is responsible for oversight of all accounting, tax and financial reporting activities including Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC) filings, certifications and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and documentation, as well as managing the audit function and relationship. In addition he conducts internal and industry analysis to support the Company’s goals for organic and M&A growth.
Mr. Cusick brings 23 years of accounting experience to his position at Nexstar including six years with the Company. He joined Nexstar in August 2010 as the Company’s Assistant Controller. He served as the Company’s Controller since January 1, 2013 and as the Vice President Controller since April 1, 2014. From 2006 to 2010, Mr. Cusick was an Assurance Senior Manager at a nationally recognized accounting firm, managing audit engagements for public and private mid-market companies and he previously held positions with two big four accounting firms. Mr. Cusick earned a Masters of Accounting from University of Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting also from University of Florida.
Dione J. Rigsby
VP, Technology
Dione J. Rigsby joined Nexstar Broadcasting as Vice President, Director of Technology in March 2013. Mr. Rigsby previously served as Vice President, Director of Engineering for Newport Television where he was responsible for engineering and information technology oversight for the broadcasting group. Prior to joining Newport, he served as Chief Information Officer, Assistant Director of Engineering for Clear Channel Television.
Richard Stolpe
VP, Engineering Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Richard Stolpe has served as our Vice President, Director of Engineering since January 2000. Prior to that time, Mr. Stolpe served as Director of Engineering from 1998 to 2000. Prior to joining Nexstar, Mr. Stolpe was employed by WYOU from 1993-1998 as both Assistant Chief Engineer and Chief Engineer.
Mark Turner
VP, Station Operations Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
Mark Turner joins Nexstar from Media General where he served as Vice-President of Station Engineering and Operations for Media General since November 2014. Prior to that, he served as Vice-President of Broadcast Technology for Media General beginning in April of 2011, Vice-President of Technology for Media General Digital beginning in September 2007, and Director of IT for Media General Broadcast beginning in January 1988.
Prior to his broadcast career, Mr. Turner worked as a design engineer in the aerospace industry.
During Mr. Turner’s twenty-nine years with Media General, led initiatives to automate or improve operations including news production, master control, traffic and graphics.