2025 Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inductees
Tom Mogush
Former Owner of WMQT and WZAM, Taconite Broadcasting,
(Ishpeming/Marquette)
Tom Mogush’s career in radio spans nearly five decades. Following his early days playing college hockey and announcing play-by-play in North Dakota and Minnesota, Tom eventually landed in Marquette, Michigan, where a chance interview at a Northern Michigan University hockey game led to his first job in commercial radio. He built his long legacy at WMQT, WZAM, WCUP, and WGLI, first in sales, then as station manager, and eventually owner.
Known for his impactful mentorship, community service and leadership, Tom served over a decade on the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Board of Directors, including as Chairman in 2010. He spearheaded initiatives like a $60,000 radiothon to provide local fire departments with lifesaving tools, co-authored the book Accidental Magic, and founded the Upper Peninsula Radio Broadcast Alliance (UPRBA).
From Frozen Fours to Harlem Globetrotters events and beyond, Tom has brought energy to the airwaves and to Marquette during every step of his career, where his efforts have helped shape economic and broadcast development in Northern Michigan and beyond.
Jeff Gilbert
Automotive Reporter and Journalist
WWJ-AM, Audacy (Detroit)
With 50 years in broadcasting, Jeff Gilbert is one of Michigan’s most revered radio journalists and a premier automotive reporter known nationwide. Based at WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit, Jeff’s familiar voice can also be heard on the CBS Radio Network, anchoring his signature “Car Chronicles” series and covering auto events and shows around the globe. He currently serves as President of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards.
From 1990 through today, Jeff has been a fixture at WWJ, shaping auto industry coverage while also contributing to breaking news, including ground-level reporting from all three sites of the 9/11 attacks. A past president and longtime board member of the Michigan Associated Press, Jeff has helped train, mentor and inspire journalists across the state for decades.
He has won numerous awards from the AP, MAB, RTNDA and other organizations for his journalism.
Inducted into the the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2024, Jeff continues to innovate, adding video to his reporting and staying at the forefront of the industry he’s helped define.
A native of Pittsburgh, Jeff and his wife, Dr. Cheryl Kovalski, live in Northville. Their son, Dr. Christopher Gilbert is a neurology resident in Grand Rapids.
Chris Warren
General Manager
Midwestern Broadcast Company (Traverse City)
Chris Warren has led Midwestern Broadcasting Company with resilience, innovation and a deep commitment to community-focused radio. A University of Michigan graduate, Chris began his journey in broadcasting as a young man immersed in the legacy of Les and Ross Biederman. As General Manager of Midwestern Broadcast, he’s played a critical role in growing the company into a regional media powerhouse.
For the past two decades, Chris has skillfully guided Midwestern through major challenges, including the financial aftermath of 9/11, the 2008 real estate collapse and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, always maintaining a steady hand and strategic vision. He led the high-profile acquisition and revival of competitor WKLT in 2019 and continues to strengthen the company’s market presence.
Chris has also been involved with the MAB for many years, serving as MAB Board Chair in 2015. He was also appointed by the Governor of Michigan to the Governor’s Talent Investment Board in 2013.
Continually recognized for his balanced leadership style and for blending business acumen with creative insight, Chris and his wife Julie are also active members of the Traverse City community, embodying the local spirit that defines Midwestern Broadcasting.