Colleen Brown
President and CEO
Fisher Communications

In our business, innovation is critical. It's what keeps television and radio thriving in an age when viewers have more news and entertainment choices than ever before.

At Fisher Communications, we're leveraging the power of technology to meet the ever-changing needs of consumers and better serve our business partners. In a time where consumers are increasingly demanding personalized and mobile content, we have transformed our newsrooms and adapted our sales strategy to meet the changing environment in which we're operating. This includes providing our reporters with iPhones and equipping them with Streambox streaming and video transport solutions in order to better share information in a 24/7 news environment, as well as creating new platforms to deliver our content to consumers, whether they are in their living rooms or watching on their laptops, slates or smart phones.

For example, we have launched more than 125 community websites - attracting more than 1,800 advertisers, including local businesses that otherwise would never have the opportunity to purchase ads on our television or radio stations - and are also actively working to roll out local mobile video in the near future. These new initiatives are aimed at deepening our stations' ties to the community and providing us with diversified revenue opportunities to help our company grow.

If your business is like ours - always looking for the "next big thing" and trying to stay on the cutting edge of broadcast technology - then I'm sure I'll see you November 7-9 at the National Association of Broadcasters' Futures Summit in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

As a member of NAB, I believe this is one of the most important events offered each year. Where else can you gather with other top-level broadcast executives from across the country to witness the future technologies that will shape our industry?

I never miss an opportunity to hear Brian Cooley - the editor-at-large at CNET. He will be at this year's event, and is one of the best technology presenters because he knows what his audience wants to see and how to make it interesting and applicable to our business.

New technology is redefining how consumers get their local news and information. And we have to be prepared to seize the opportunities in front of us and on the horizon.

If you have not yet made plans to attend this year's NAB Futures Summit, I strongly encourage you to register today. This three day conference is money well spent, and you will leave with strategies to help your stations seize new opportunities to advance in today's competitive marketplace.

Colleen Brown is president and CEO of Fisher Communications. She has spent 30 years in the broadcast business and is a former board member of the National Association of Broadcasters.