2010 Hall of Fame Inductees

Specs Howard School of Media Arts is celebrating its 40th anniversary by honoring five extraordinary graduates who have significantly contributed to the media industry and an exceptional faculty member with a place in the school’s Hall of Fame.

The six new 2010 inductees were determined online – five through nominations submitted to the website and a Specs Howard School panel and the sixth based on a “Popular Vote” from a list of 20 candidates.

“As we celebrate our 40 years of providing students with hands-on training to build successful careers in multi-media, we knew it was time to recognize the extraordinary individuals who are making great strides in their industries,” said Lisa Zahodne, president and COO of Specs Howard School. “Not only are our graduates making names for themselves in radio, they also are successful in the television, film, graphic design and digital media industries.”

The 2010 inductees are:

Jim Bell
Staff Award
Chief Radio Instructor, Specs Howard School of Media Arts

A graduate of and now a Chief Instructor for the Specs Howard School’s radio program, Jim Bell is well known by students and faculty for his 30 years of commitment to the school’s education and instructor training programs. He is responsible for training all new faculty members to the radio program, renown for its hands-on teaching methods.

Jay Hudson
Popular Vote Award
Music Director/On-Air Personality, 89X

Rocking the metro Detroit and Windsor airwaves at 89x (88.7 FM) every weeknight from 7-11 p.m., many listeners do not know Jay Hudson also serves as Music Director for the eclectic alternative rock station. He is responsible for building the station’s play list; exploring new music, artists and trends; meeting with record reps; and deciphering research.

Tommy Brunswick
Director, Producer and Writer, Owner of Motor City Nightmares, Skull House Pictures & The Skeleton Factory

Within the last decade Tommy Brunswick has produced and directed 11 feature films, one of which she wrote, and supervised special effects for nine of them. A strong advocate for women in film, Brunswick currently has films in release around the world and is co-founder of Motor City Nightmares, Michigan’s annual International Horror Convention and Festival.

Eric De Fino
Motion Graphics/Animation, Owner of Raygun

Eric De Fino’s unique background in visual arts and media – from live action to motion design, art direction, animation, music videos and entertainment branding – spans the continental U.S., Europe, Australia and Latin America. His company Raygun, with offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles, specializes in dynamic storytelling for television, film, Internet and the music business.

Jeff Gesler
Project Manager, Joseph Productions, Inc. (JPI)

Anyone who has witnessed a close-up replay during a Red Wings or Detroit Tigers game on the JumboTron has seen the work of Jeff Gesler. With management offices at JPI, Comerica Park, Joe Louis Arena and the Ford Motor Company Conference and Events Center, Jeff manages technician teams providing complete production, technical and telecommunication support for tape, film and live events.

Al Johnson
Planning Editor, FOX 2 News

As Planning Editor for FOX 2 News, Al Johnson is responsible for prioritizing, researching and coordinating news coverage for metro Detroit, handles all “major event” coverage logistics for the station and books studio guest segments and musical performances for the #1 rated FOX 2 morning newscast. Al also helped establish the “Problem Solvers” investigative unit.

The new 2010 inductees join the 37 other members of the Specs Howard Hall of Fame alum, which include: WRIF’s Anne Carlini and “Screamin’” Scott Randall; WJR’s Lloyd Jackson; WXYZ’s Glenda Lewis; WYCD’s Linda Lee and WJBK-TV’s Jackie Paige.

Courtesy of Tanner Friedman