The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is excited to induct eight accomplished television leaders into the prestigious Gold & Silver Circle Society.

The Gold Circle is an honor society for television professionals who have spent 50 or more years in the industry, and the Silver Circle honors those who have 25 or more years of experience. These industry veterans have built a strong reputation throughout the Southwest region through influential leadership abilities, exceptional professional achievements, compelling visual storytelling and extensive public service.

“We are extremely proud of this year’s Gold & Silver Circle Society inductees,” said Doug Mummert, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter president. “These individuals represent the best of the best in our craft and industry. This is a true honor to be proud of and a pinnacle moment for them and our organization.”

The 2022 Gold & Silver Circle Society inductees are:
Al McCoy (Gold), Phoenix Suns, Phoenix: Dubbed the dean of NBA play-by-play and now in his 50th season as the voice of the Suns, McCoy holds the NBA’s longest consecutive run as a team broadcaster. McCoy first hit the air during a 1972 preseason game and is now an indelible part of the Suns brand. In 2021, Phoenix Magazine readers named McCoy the best play-by-play announcer for the 23rd consecutive time.

Brian Cisek (Silver), AZTV7, Phoenix: Cisek is the original creative services director and production manager at AZTV7. Cisek began his television career in New York where he worked at Staten Island Teleport and WLIG. In 1995, Cisek joined FOX 10 Phoenix working as a master control, tape, and audio operator. He then joined KUTP and the new United Paramount Network as a promotion’s producer and line-producer for the Phoenix Suns. Since 2002, Cisek has worked at KAZT-TV (AZTV7).

Parker Harms (Silver), KOB-TV, Albuquerque: Harms accepted her first TV job at KOAA in Colorado Springs, Colo. After a couple years of producing award-winning creative work for an agency in Dallas and freelance writing for WXYZ in Detroit, Harms moved back to Colorado for a short radio stint. In 1983, Harms landed a marketing job at ABC affiliate KOAT where she worked closely with news directors to blend marketing and public service efforts with the news product. Harms is currently the creative services director at KOB-TV.

Bill Anderson (Silver), KRQE Media, Albuquerque: In 1979, Anderson was a marketing intern at WITI-TV, and eventually that position turned into a job offer. From holding job positions of floor crew, news crew, production manager, director of promotion and operations, and station marketing and operations manager, Anderson learned the full spectrum of television station jobs at WQOW in Eau Claire, Wis.; KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and WGGB in Springfield, Mass. He received his first GM posting in Tallahassee, Fla. at WTWC-TV and then transferred to WGME in Portland, Maine, and finally landed at KRQE in Albuquerque, N.M. in 1999. Since then, he has expanded the operation into a four station “quad” configuration which includes KRQE (CBS), FOXNM, as well as KWBQ and KASY—all known as KRQE Media.

Eduardo Ayala (Silver), KPHO/KTVK, Phoenix: Ayala started his career in television at the age of 15 at KYMA in Yuma, Ariz. as a part-time production tape operator. Ayala went on to become a technical director and director of the evening newscasts. At age 18, he was promoted to production manager leading the production and creative services staff. At the age of 20, Ayala moved to Tucson, Ariz. where he worked as a photojournalist at KOLD and chief photographer at KGUN. He was recruited to the Phoenix market by KNXV as a photojournalist, then promoted to investigative and special projects. Ayala is currently an investigative producer and photojournalist at KPHO/KTVK and an Arizona State University adjunct professor teaching videography and editing at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Paul Horton (Silver), KPHO-TV, Phoenix: Horton has done thousands of live shots in Arizona and considers the Valley his forever home. Horton was the morning meteorologist and host of the CBS 5 morning show for nine years. Horton now brings you the weather forecast on Good Evening Arizona at 4 p.m., helps host The Extra Point sports show each evening and does a weekly segment for the Pay It Forward program that highlights people doing great things in our community.

Gilbert Parra (Silver), KTVK, Phoenix: From Parra’s first job at the age of 17 at a Yuma television station to over 25 years at KTVK in Phoenix, he has continued to be an asset to the television community. Parra has shot and edited stories across Arizona and has established himself as the go-to helicopter photographer. Now, as Good Morning Arizona’s Chief Photographer, Parra supervises about 10 news photographers every morning, while still working in the field every day on both sides of the camera.

Jose Teposte (Silver), KYMA, Yuma: Teposte began his broadcasting journey at the local NBC affiliate right after high school. In over 25 years at KYMA, Teposte has held a dozen different jobs from floor director to photographer to news operations manager, but his biggest contribution to broadcasting are the people he has helped along the way. Many careers were launched and flourished because he took the time and interest to guide young broadcasters along the right path.

This year, the Gold & Silver Circle Society ceremony will take place in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. For more information about the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, visit http://www.RockyMountainEmmy.org.

About The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter
NATAS is a professional service organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of television and the promotion of creative leadership for artistic, educational, and technical achievements within the television industry. The Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter, formed in 1959, represents Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and El Centro, Calif.