Silver Circle Class of 2024 Announced

Induction Luncheon: Saturday, November 23, 2024 Basque Cultural Center, South San Francisco

The San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is excited to introduce The Gold & Silver Circle Class of 2024. The Gold & Silver Circle is an honor society of individuals who have been actively engaged in television broadcasting for 50 years or more for the Gold Circle, or 25 years of more for the Silver Circle. Members must have made a significant contribution to their local television markets and distinguished themselves within the industry and the community. Silver Circle inductees are elected by current members of the Silver Circle, and the Gold Circle by the Chapter Board of Governors. 

Seven new members will be joining the Silver Circle: John Breedlove, Photographer, KCRA Sacramento; Kristine Hanson, Meteorologist, KCRA/CBS 13/KTXL/KGO/KTVU/ KRON/ former sportscaster/Reporter, KCRA; James Huntington, Assignment Manager, ABC7 KGO; Mike Krukow, Broadcast Announcer/Analyst, NBC Sports Bay Area; Duane Kuiper, Broadcast Announcer, NBC Sports Bay Area/SF Giants; Mike Lowry, Photographer, J Com Inc./CBS 13, Sacramento; and Lisa White, Vice President and News Director, CBS Bay Area KPIX. This will bring the Silver Circle that started in 1986 to 304 members. 

The Gold Circle started in 2002 now has 30 members with no addition this year.

Edie Lambert, Anchor, KCRA Sacramento (Silver Circle Class of 2018), will serve as our Master of Ceremonies.

The induction ceremony will take place at luncheon held at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco on Saturday, November 23, 2024. Reception at 11 a.m., lunch at noon and the ceremony at 1 p.m. The NATAS collegiate scholarships for 2024 will also be awarded at the luncheon. 

Tickets may be purchased on the chapter website emmysf.tv or call the Academy office at 650-341-7786.

Photos and bios of each inductee follow: 

SILVER CIRCLE CLASS OF 2024 

 

John Breedlove – News Photographer, KCRA/KOVR, Sacramento

Photojournalist John Breedlove has been making television for 43 years. He works for Hearst Television at KCRA Channel 3 in Sacramento. Starting at the station in 1998, he’s qualified to operate SNG/ENG trucks. He also holds a private pilot certificate with an instrument rating for single-engine aircraft and is an FAA-licensed drone operator. Before KCRA, Breedlove worked as a photojournalist for CBS 13. He started as a news photographer at KMPH in 1980 and hasn’t stopped since. Breedlove is known as an all-around nice guy. He’s the first to reach out and help someone in need and support or mentor other photographers at KCRA. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University.

Kristine Hanson – Meteorologist, KCRA/CBS 13/KTXL/KGO/KTVU/KRON/

former Sportscaster/Reporter, KCRA

Decades. That’s how long Kristine Hanson has been working in TV in our region. She started her career at Sacramento station KCRA Channel 3 doing weather. She eventually attained a meteorology degree from San Francisco State University. She also holds degrees from Sacramento State University in Communication Studies and Theatre Arts. After presenting weather at the NBC Affiliate in Sacramento for many years, Hanson became a sportscaster at the station. She left KCRA in the late 1980s and went on to deliver weather at various other stations, including KTVU, KGO, and KRON. She is a master gardener and hosted the series “The Dirt on Gardening” for the DIY Network.

James Huntington – Assignment Manager, ABC7 KGO

The heart and pulse of the newsroom is the assignment desk. And that’s where James Huntington hangs his hat daily at San Francisco station KGO ABC 7, where he’s been since 2003. Huntington works as Assignment Manager, overseeing breaking news, daily assignments, and dispatching crews. Prior to the 20 years he’s been at KGO, Huntington was a news producer in Los Angeles at KCAL-TV/KCBS-TV. He then took a job as managing editor at KNBC-TV. After that, Huntington began producing newscasts at KABC. His TV background has breadth and depth. He’s been working in the industry since 1975, starting at KBFW in Bellingham, Washington, where he was a reporter, anchor, and news director. Huntington uses his knowledge to help others, often mentoring individuals to help them move onward and upward. Co-workers consider him a very special individual as he directs crews and oversees the newsroom assignments.

Mike Krukow – Broadcast Announcer/Analyst, NBC Sports Bay Area

Mike Krukow enters his 30th season in the television booth, analyzing and providing colorful stories and content as a sportscaster for NBC Bay Area Sports. Nicknamed “Kruk,” he was a professional baseball player before beginning his broadcasting career. As a starting pitcher, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants, and was hailed as an All-Star in 1986. In 1990, Krukow became a television and radio broadcaster for the Giants. He’s the other half of the popular “Kruk and Kuip” duo, with his dear friend and former teammate, Duane Kuiper.

Duane Kuiper – Broadcast Announcer, NBC Sports Bay Area/SF Giants

The other half of the dynamic duo “Kruk and Kuip,” Duane Kuiper bonded with Mike Krukow while teammates playing for the San Francisco Giants back in the early 1980s. They’ve been sitting side-by-side in the booth calling baseball together for decades now. As a former professional baseball player, Kuiper got the nickname “Kuip,” which has stuck. He began television and radio broadcasting for the Giants in 1986 while still a player, hosting his own radio show on KNBR. Kuiper is known for using a deep voice when a player swings and misses, when a dramatic play is made, and when he calls home runs. It is distinctive. When the game is over, Kuiper says, “And that’s the ball game!”

Mike Lowry – Photographer, J Com Inc./CBS 13, Sacramento

He strives for perfection, and it shows. Mike Lowry is a 10-time Emmy® Award recipient who worked for CBS 13 in Sacramento for more than 30 years. He left KOVR13 in 2019 and began working for J Com Inc. as a photographer. Lowry is comfortable in the field and has covered U.S. Presidents, Super Bowls, celebrities, gang members, and everyday people. He loves news but thoroughly enjoys his new job photographing and editing long-form programming. Around the newsroom at Channel 13, Lowry possessed a fine sense of humor and was always willing to jump in and help another photographer or staff member when needed. His editing skills are top-notch. While he’s always a team member, he’s also an excellent solo storyteller. He tackles the interview or story in front of him with gusto. As he quotes on his LinkedIn page, “Replace the Fear of the Unknown with Curiosity.” That’s who Lowry is.

Lisa White – Vice President and News Director, CBS Bay Area KPIX

Lisa White prides herself on managing a newsroom where people love to work. She was named Vice President of News at CBS Bay Area KPIX in 2022, having been assistant news director for more than two decades. Prior to joining KPIX in 2000, White spent 10 years with KRON San Francisco, where she was a news producer, then promoted to managing editor and ultimately news director. She also spent six years as a producer at KING TV in Seattle. White is a graduate of Vassar College. As news director, she hopes to build on the station’s legacy in news and community service.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

EDIE LAMBERT, Anchor, KCRA Sacramento (Silver Circle Class of 2018

Edie Lambert anchors the 5, 6:30 and 11 PM newscasts on KCRA 3. Prior to anchoring, Lambert covered hundreds of stories in the Sacramento region as a general assignment reporter. Highlights of her career include an interview with President Barack Obama, part of which aired on NBC Nightly News; and covering the Scott Peterson trial for KCRA and MSNBC’s The Abrams Report. Lambert started in television in 1990 working in Santa Barbara at KEYT where she stayed five years. While in college studying political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Lambert landed her first paid job in journalism as an anchor and reporter for KTMS-FM, a news/talk format radio station. Growing up, Lambert lived around the world, traveling with her marine biologist parents. She lived in Japan, Bermuda, Hawaii, Sweden, and France. Her background set her up as a community activist involved in a variety of social causes including breast cancer research and awareness, lung health, and domestic violence. Her work has been recognized with an Emmy® Award, numerous nominations and Associated Press citations. Lambert serves on the board of directors of the Sacramento Press Club, co-chairing the scholarship program and mentoring the next generation of journalists. Her favorite volunteer project is reading to local children to promote literacy.

LUNCHEON

The festivities at the Basque Cultural Center, 599 Railroad Avenue, South San Francisco start at 11am with a no host reception followed by the presentation of the 2024 collegiate scholarships at noon. Lunch follows with entrée’s: Veal Roast Au jus, Salmon with Champagne Sauce, or Vegetarian Pasta. Wente Vineyards 2022 Riva Ranch Chardonnay and 2021Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon will be served. Along with a house salad, dinner roll, and Chocolate Mousse for dessert.  

The Induction Ceremony start as dessert is served. A champagne Toste with 2018 Blanc de Nor Sparkling Wine from Benovia Winery will honor all the members of the Gold & Silver Circle.

$20 of each ticket is a donation to the NATAS Scholarship Fund.

Purchase tickets by November 15th and save $10. $85 and $75 members, $95 & $85 after November 15th.

LINK TO PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

LINK TO PURCHASE A TABLE OF TEN

Program Salutations: Full page, Half page, Business Card. E-mail or call Darryl.

Darryl Compton

Executive Director

National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

San Francisco / Northern California Chapter

darryl@emmysf.tv

(650) 341-7786