Vice President, Chief Technology Officer

Andy Laird is vice president, chief technology officer and is responsible for the engineering and IT solutions that enable viewers and listeners to enjoy the broad array of programming available at our television and radio stations. Andy knew from early in life that he wanted to work with technology and sound. His study of music and relentless pursuit of perfection have given him the reputation as one of the industry’s true “golden ears.” He is passionate about creating the ultimate user experience through technology.

In 1966, after postgraduate work at the University of Denver, he began his broadcast engineering career at Denver’s KWGN-TV. In the fall of 1967 he became the chief engineer of KLAK AM/FM also in Denver. He left Denver in 1972 to become chief engineer of KDAY in Los Angeles. In 1987, Heritage Media Corporation acquired KDAY and shortly thereafter he joined Heritage as vice president of engineering, radio. In 1998 Laird joined Journal Broadcast Group in Milwaukee as director of engineering for the radio division. In January of 2001 he was promoted to vice president, radio engineering.

Laird is recognized by the Society of Broadcast Engineers as a Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer. He co-authored the Society of Broadcast Engineers/National Public Radio echnologist Training Manual, has served as an industry volunteer on the NRSC DAB Subcommittee since 1992 and chaired the Test Procedures Working Group of the DAB Subcommittee.

Laird has a Bachelor of Science degree in physics with math and music minors. He was a columnist for Radio and Records Magazine and the Gavin Report. During his career, Andy has directed or designed more than 100 broadcast recording studios and station facilities.