Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio, Inc. has named Deborah Parenti the 2025 recipient of its Frances Preston Trailblazer Award. Parenti is president and publisher of the Radio, TV & Broadcast Conference Division at Streamline Publishing.
The Trailblazer Award is MIW’s highest honor and recognizes women who champion and create opportunities for other women in radio. The award is named after longtime Broadcast Music Inc. president and CEO Frances Preston.
MIW presented the award to Parenti on Monday, April 7 during its Lipstick & Lobster Dinner at Maggiano’s, with a public recognition following at 10 a.m. Tuesday on the Main Stage at the 2025 NAB Show during the We Are Broadcasters session with Curtis LeGeyt.
Parenti oversees Radio Ink, Radio + Television Business Report and several industry events, including Forecast and the Hispanic Radio Conference. She began her career at WING in Dayton and later held leadership positions at WDJX in Louisville and WWSN (now WMMX) in Dayton, becoming the first woman to manage a station in that market. She went on to lead American Radio Systems’ Dayton group, launching one of the first consolidated sales platforms, “Radio First!” She also managed WXTU-FM in Philadelphia and served on the board of Vox Radio.
Breaking barriers
Parenti is a National Radio Hall of Fame inductee and a former board member of the Alliance for Women in Media, the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation and the Radio Hall of Fame’s nominating committee. Her recognitions include a Broadcasters Foundation of America Leadership Award and a Gracies Leadership Award.
MIW board president Sheila Kirby said, “Deborah has not only broken barriers in radio but has also consistently paved the way for women to follow. Her leadership, vision and advocacy continue to shape the future of our industry.”
Parenti said, “I am incredibly humbled to receive this honor from MIW, an organization that has done so much to elevate women in radio. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with and mentor talented women, and I remain committed to fostering opportunities for future generations.”
She joins a list of past recipients that includes Corinne Baldassano (2024), the late Laurie Kahn (2023), Michelle Duke (2022), Christine Travaglini (2019), Julie Talbott (2018), Mary Quass (2017), Beth Neuhoff (2016), Kim Guthrie (2015), Diane Sutter (2014), Weezie Kramer (2013), Caroline Beasley (2012), Ginny Hubbard Morris (2011), Lynn Anderson (2010) and Erica Farber (2009).
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