Temple Terrace names sole broadcast technician 2026 Employee of the Year

Brian Hill received the Temple Terrace Employee of the Year award at the City Council meeting on Oct. 20. Mayor Andy Ross presented the honor to the city's digital communications technician. The selection recognized Hill's work in managing audiovisual, recording, and streaming operations for the municipality.

Hill is the only city employee assigned to these technical functions. His duties cover advisory board meetings, staff training sessions, and special events. He typically arrives at town halls three to four hours before the broadcast begins to set up cameras and equipment. After the meeting concludes, he spends another one to two hours packing up the gear.

The award caught Hill by surprise, though he had previously been named Employee of the Month. He attributed the recognition to the visible effort he puts into his role. “They really see the time that I put into doing what I do here,” Hill said. He noted that his wife and children were the first people he told about the honor. His family, he said, was very proud of him.

Hill has worked with Temple Terrace for about three years as a full-time staff member. He first connected with the city while employed by Tampa Bay Community Network, a community access channel contracted to handle city broadcasts. Hill performed the on-site technical work for that contract. He later established his own business and retained the city as a client before a staff opening led to his full-time position.

Live broadcasts present technical challenges that require immediate problem-solving. Hill recalled one meeting where delayed audio forced a difficult choice. He could not fix the issue without shutting down the system and interrupting the proceedings. He returned the next day to investigate the root cause of the malfunction.

Among his preferred assignments is filming the Fourth of July parade. Hill enjoys watching residents gather to celebrate the holiday. “I don’t know what it is, but it always brings a smile to my face,” he said. The physical demands of covering the parade inspired him to start running. He now completes 5K races and is preparing for his first 10K.

Hill lives in Tampa with his wife and three teenagers. He spends his time away from work cooking dinner and helping his children with homework. He described his primary motivation as delivering information to residents. “I love being able to bring them the information they desperately need at times,” Hill said.