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 sat 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.
Nancy Wiersum,
Community Development Director
Nancy Wiersum is a long-term supporter of Naperville Community Television and had spoken and written on NCTV17’s behalf prior to joining the staff in August of 2005. Since that time she has significantly raised NCTV17’s profile in the community.
Community Development Director
Nancy Wiersum is a long-term supporter of Naperville Community Television and had spoken and written on NCTV17’s behalf prior to joining the staff in August of 2005. Since that time she has significantly raised NCTV17’s profile in the community.
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She brought the Business Membership Plan from concept to successful implementation resulting in dozens of Business Members. The membership provides consistent financial support for NCTV17 while bringing many new faces to the Channel 17 screen. Now in year five, the program continues to draw new members, as well as renewed membership through “The Encore Club.” Wiersum also manages sponsorship and grant activity for Naperville Community Television. The sponsorship program for the award-winning weekly programs “Naperville News 17” and “Naperville Sports Weekly” have proven to be a consistent source of revenue while providing extensive marketing exposure for the sponsoring organization.
Wiersum represents Naperville Community Television at a variety of events in the community. Her marketing and revenue-producing efforts contributed to Naperville Community Television being named as the 2008 Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Wiersum’s commitment to the Not-for-Profit community extends to the monthly talk show “Spotlight on Naperville: Community That Cares” which she hosts. Dozens of NFP organizations have appeared on this flagship program. She also served as the 2009 Chair of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Not-for-Profit Committee.
In 2010 Wiersum was honored with the Naperville Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellowship Award for her commitment to Not-for-Profit efforts.
Wiersum lends her writing expertise to Naperville Community Television through press releases and all forms of written communication. She is the Editor of Studio 17, NCTV17’s e-newsletter. Additionally, Wiersum is a regular monthly columnist for Positively Naperville.
She is also an accomplished voice-over artist. She has recorded voice-overs for numerous NCTV17 packages, and narration for projects such as the documentary Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: The Martin Mitchell Mansion Story.
Wiersum earned a Communication degree in Radio-TV-Film from Northwestern University, with honors. She also has a Master’s of Education degree from Loyola University in Adult Instructional Management, with honors.
Her background includes fundraising experience at Lyric Opera of Chicago where she served as Vice-President of one of their chapters. She organized numerous chapter events and helped staff the WFMT Operathon Fundraiser.
Wiersum is a 22 year resident of Naperville. She is an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she served on the Church Council Executive Team, on their Communication Team, and Youth Advisory Team.
Wiersum represents Naperville Community Television at a variety of events in the community. Her marketing and revenue-producing efforts contributed to Naperville Community Television being named as the 2008 Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Wiersum’s commitment to the Not-for-Profit community extends to the monthly talk show “Spotlight on Naperville: Community That Cares” which she hosts. Dozens of NFP organizations have appeared on this flagship program. She also served as the 2009 Chair of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Not-for-Profit Committee.
In 2010 Wiersum was honored with the Naperville Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellowship Award for her commitment to Not-for-Profit efforts.
Wiersum lends her writing expertise to Naperville Community Television through press releases and all forms of written communication. She is the Editor of Studio 17, NCTV17’s e-newsletter. Additionally, Wiersum is a regular monthly columnist for Positively Naperville.
She is also an accomplished voice-over artist. She has recorded voice-overs for numerous NCTV17 packages, and narration for projects such as the documentary Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: The Martin Mitchell Mansion Story.
Wiersum earned a Communication degree in Radio-TV-Film from Northwestern University, with honors. She also has a Master’s of Education degree from Loyola University in Adult Instructional Management, with honors.
Her background includes fundraising experience at Lyric Opera of Chicago where she served as Vice-President of one of their chapters. She organized numerous chapter events and helped staff the WFMT Operathon Fundraiser.
Wiersum is a 22 year resident of Naperville. She is an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where she served on the Church Council Executive Team, on their Communication Team, and Youth Advisory Team.
