Elizabeth Braham Spencer,
Executive Director
Since Elizabeth Braham Spencer arrived at Naperville Community Television, Channel 17 (NCTV17) in 2002, she has substantially increased the depth and quality of programming and business practices. She brought her Emmy award-winning knowledge to Naperville, and as Executive Director has led the way for NCTV17 to become true community television, featuring diverse programming that educates, informs, preserves, entertains, assists, and celebrates the people and places of the vibrant Naperville area community.
Executive Director
Since Elizabeth Braham Spencer arrived at Naperville Community Television, Channel 17 (NCTV17) in 2002, she has substantially increased the depth and quality of programming and business practices. She brought her Emmy award-winning knowledge to Naperville, and as Executive Director has led the way for NCTV17 to become true community television, featuring diverse programming that educates, informs, preserves, entertains, assists, and celebrates the people and places of the vibrant Naperville area community.
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Spencer has significantly expanded the scope of NCTV17 programming. She serves as Executive Producer for both “Naperville News 17” and “Naperville sports Weekly.” Each show earned a National Communicator Award in 2009. She also serves as host of the popular show “Business Connection” which marks its fifth year in 2010. Dozens of business leaders have had the opportunity to sit across from Liz on this engaging program.
Spencer’s award-winning documentary production background has been instrumental as she has led the production of numerous local historical documentaries. Two were awarded Illinois State Historical Society Awards. Her commitment to preserving local history has resulted in numerous “forever” pieces that are not only serving as educational tools but are also preserved at Naper Settlement. The dedication to documentary production and digital preservation was further recognized as Spencer and NCTV17 were inducted into the Naperville Heritage Society’s Distinguished Heritage Hall of Honor.
Spencer has initiated numerous partnerships which includes Zezan Data Center and NCTV17 resulting in NCTV17 becoming one of the first television stations in the country to offer simultaneous video streaming of all its programming. NCTV17 is also proud to work in partnership with organizations such as Naperville School District 203, Naper Settlement, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the DuPage County Bar Association.
Education is a key component of the NCTV17 mission and Spencer’s dedication to the next generation of broadcast professionals is ongoing. Deeply committed to teaching and mentoring young people, she began NCTV17’s highly regarded internship program in 2002. The program has since grown significantly and includes both high school and college interns. Many students have gone on to pursue careers in television production, broadcast journalism, or communication at larger organizations including CNN and ABC.
In 2010 Spencer was awarded the Naperville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in the Educator category for her commitment to education.
Additionally, Spencer serves as Adjunct Faculty at North Central College. Through this partnership, Spencer teaches television production. The partnership is expanding the College’s current TV/video/broadcasting curriculum.
Spencer also led the way for Election Coverage including Candidate Forums to inform voters ahead of the election; as well as Election Night Coverage. In 2009, Spencer and NCTV17 were honored with the 2009 League of Women Voters Rosemary Martin Democracy in Action Award for their commitment to informed voting and the television election night coverage focused on the Naperville area races.
She was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of Excellence by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association, recognized by the Naperville Jaycees for Distinguished Service, and honored with a Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business “Women Who Inspire” award. She is a Past President of KidzKabaret and former trustee of KidsMatter.
Prior to coming to NCTV17, Spencer received many accolades including an ACT (Action for Children’s Television) Award where she won over “Sesame Street” and an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Arts & Sciences for a LIVE awards show.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Hope College and a Master of Science degree in Communication Management form Northwestern University.
Spencer holds the highly valued combination of experience in both television production as well as business practices. As Executive Director of NCTV17, she leads and inspires a gifted staff that shares her commitment to quality television production.
Spencer’s award-winning documentary production background has been instrumental as she has led the production of numerous local historical documentaries. Two were awarded Illinois State Historical Society Awards. Her commitment to preserving local history has resulted in numerous “forever” pieces that are not only serving as educational tools but are also preserved at Naper Settlement. The dedication to documentary production and digital preservation was further recognized as Spencer and NCTV17 were inducted into the Naperville Heritage Society’s Distinguished Heritage Hall of Honor.
Spencer has initiated numerous partnerships which includes Zezan Data Center and NCTV17 resulting in NCTV17 becoming one of the first television stations in the country to offer simultaneous video streaming of all its programming. NCTV17 is also proud to work in partnership with organizations such as Naperville School District 203, Naper Settlement, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the DuPage County Bar Association.
Education is a key component of the NCTV17 mission and Spencer’s dedication to the next generation of broadcast professionals is ongoing. Deeply committed to teaching and mentoring young people, she began NCTV17’s highly regarded internship program in 2002. The program has since grown significantly and includes both high school and college interns. Many students have gone on to pursue careers in television production, broadcast journalism, or communication at larger organizations including CNN and ABC.
In 2010 Spencer was awarded the Naperville Jaycees Distinguished Service Award in the Educator category for her commitment to education.
Additionally, Spencer serves as Adjunct Faculty at North Central College. Through this partnership, Spencer teaches television production. The partnership is expanding the College’s current TV/video/broadcasting curriculum.
Spencer also led the way for Election Coverage including Candidate Forums to inform voters ahead of the election; as well as Election Night Coverage. In 2009, Spencer and NCTV17 were honored with the 2009 League of Women Voters Rosemary Martin Democracy in Action Award for their commitment to informed voting and the television election night coverage focused on the Naperville area races.
She was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of Excellence by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association, recognized by the Naperville Jaycees for Distinguished Service, and honored with a Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business “Women Who Inspire” award. She is a Past President of KidzKabaret and former trustee of KidsMatter.
Prior to coming to NCTV17, Spencer received many accolades including an ACT (Action for Children’s Television) Award where she won over “Sesame Street” and an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Arts & Sciences for a LIVE awards show.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Hope College and a Master of Science degree in Communication Management form Northwestern University.
Spencer holds the highly valued combination of experience in both television production as well as business practices. As Executive Director of NCTV17, she leads and inspires a gifted staff that shares her commitment to quality television production.
