IN 2006 the Norman D. Leebron Young Leaders Award went to WMMR Account Executive Matt Rovine (L) and WBEB Events Manager Tim Davis (R).

The Norman D. Leebron Young Leaders Award were given for the first time at the 2005 Philadelphia AIR Awards -- to WIP Promotions Director Dan Fein and WXTU Account Executive Katie Holahan, pictured above with Mary Meder, President of Harmelin Media (L) and Carol Leebron (R).**

The March Dimes AIR Awards deeply appreciates the generosity of Joanne Harmelin and Harmelin Media for their role in establishing the Norman D. Leebron Young Leaders Award.

** (Annual winners are nominated
in writing for this honor by their
General Managers as specified by
the creators of the award, and
selected by the March of Dimes
AIR Awards Board of Governors
from all nominations received.
Nominations for the next Norman
D. Leebron Young Leaders Award
are welcome year-round. For info
please contact Jamila Patton of the
March of Dimes of Southeastern
Pennsylvania: 610-945-6050 or email
jpatton@marchofdimes.com.)

A message from AIR Awards Board member Joanne Harmelin:

Harmelin Media has been a proud supporter of the March of Dimes for many years. And now there’s a special reason for that support: the Norman D. Leebron Young Leaders Award.

On my first day on the job as a junior media buyer, the first radio rep to call on me and wish me well was Norman Leebron. I was overwhelmed, which of course, was obvious to Norman. He took the time to reassure me that it would all work out, and that in his opinion I had what it would take to do well.

I never forgot that first meeting. It was the day I became one of the hundreds, if not thousands of young people in advertising and media that Norman mentored and advised over the years, first as a colleague, and later as an instructor at Drexel and Temple Universities.

This connection with young people was Norman’s passion, his gift and his joy. Through the decades I continued to rely on Norman’s friendship and his wisdom, until he passed away in April 2005. At that time his family, Harmelin Media, and the March of Dimes created the Norman D. Leebron Young Leaders Award to honor his memory by spotlighting the Philadelphia radio industry’s best and brightest young people.

I am proud to honor his memory and to join with all of you in supporting this worthy cause, the March of Dimes. Thank you Norman…and thank you, March of Dimes.
11/9/05

Joanne Harmelin and Norman Leebron in the late 60's.