Slated for induction are (alphabetically) 7NEWS’ Byron Barnett, retired Channel 38 General Manager Dan Berkery, KISS 108 radio personality and host of TV’s ​“Dining Playbook” Billy Costa, Western Mass News TV Anchor Dave Madsen, Cramer Productions Founder and Chairman Tom Martin, WBZ Radio ​“NightSide” host Dan Rea, Boston Red Sox TV analyst Jerry Remy, Former Chairman and CEO of Greater Media, Inc. Peter Smyth, and recently retired WBZ Radio News Anchor Diane Stern. Martin will receive the Hall of Fame’s ​“Pioneer Award,” which is presented to individuals or organizations for their pioneering contribution to broadcasting.

Hall of Fame President Peter Brown, Principal of Peter Brown Communications, called this year’s inductees ​“an extraordinary group of broadcasters with impressive credentials. Each person stands alone for his or her outstanding contributions, and together they represent some of the very best in the radio and television industry across the state.”

The Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame honors the industry’s most noteworthy members from Massachusetts, commemorates their achievements and contributions to broadcasting, and preserves their work for future generations. The Hall of Fame conducts a nomination and selection process in March and April of each year to induct individuals who have made major contributions to Massachusetts broadcasting and broadcasting in general. A permanent Hall of Fame exhibit with plaques representing all past inductees is on display opposite the Akillian Gallery on the Canton campus of Massasoit Community College.

Here is a biographical sketch of the 2017 Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductees…

A 1964 USA Olympics Hockey Team, two-time Boston College All-American, and Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame 2017 Pioneer Award-winner Tom Martin spent five years as a CPA at Arthur Anderson and was subsequently hired by Cramer Electronics in 1966 as a corporate controller, later shifting gears to become national sales manager in the multi-national company.

When in 1979 the company was acquired by Arrow Electronics, Tom took out a loan to purchase the firm’s budding audio/​video equipment sales division and, retaining the Cramer name, called the new venture, beginning in 1982, Cramer Productions. He noticed that many companies were still using slides and overheads when they could be taking advantage of then-new video production technology.

Now, Cramer operates out of a 70,000 square foot former warehouse in Norwood, MA, modified to be a state-of-the-art studio for their brand experience agency. Powered by their team of 150 people, Cramer produces meetings and events, experiential marketing, and video for global brands.

Martin considers it an essential part of Cramer’s mission to contribute to nonprofit and charitable causes. Over the years, Cramer’s team has helped organizations such as Mother Caroline Academy & Education Center, The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Massachusetts Hospital School and Catholic Charities, to name a few.

Over the years, Martin Served as Executive Producer as Cramer earned a reputation for producing great sports documentaries, including an incredible four New England Emmy Award winners: Boston Red Sox: 100 Years of Baseball History, Boston Globe: Behind The Sports Headlines, The Banner Years (a Boston Garden retrospective and The Story of Golf which enjoyed the unprecedented feat of being broadcast nationally on three different networks (PBS, CBS, and The Golf Channel).

In addition, Cramer produced Home Run Heroes (a tribute to legendary Red Sox players), Ray Bourque: The First 20 Years which premiered at Boston’s Symphony Hall, Harry Agganis: The Golden Greek (PBS) and a 50-year retrospective of New England’s famous Beanpot Hockey Tournament (NESN).