After nearly 40 years in the broadcast television business, Mike Vrabac, Vice-President and General Manager for KSHB-TV/KMCI, Kansas City’s 41 Action News Station, announced his retirement today. He joined the NBC affiliate in 2010.

“There are advantages to being 62 years old: you qualify for Social Security and you’re at a point in your life where you can see the window closing, and still have a chance to do things that are stimulating and interesting, including time with grandchildren,” said Vrabac.

Vrabac has had two tours of duty totaling over 28 years with E.W. Scripps, the station’s ownership group.  Under his leadership, KSHB added 6.5 hours of news per week, saw its news ratings increase, and next week the station will add 5 hours of local programming when it brings back “Kansas City Live,” a locally produced lifestyle and entertainment program that aired on the station from 2005-2008.

A University of Kansas Journalism graduate, Vrabac helped build the Scripps station in Tulsa, KJRH, serving as its General Manager for four years before moving to Kansas City in 2010.