College
My radio career began at Kansas State University when I got involved with The Wildcat 91.9, KSDB. I started out hosting a midnight specialty show, and after getting my feet wet, I started working with the web, sports, news, talk and promotions teams. I realized that radio was what I wanted to get into, so I made sure I got as involved as possible. After less than a year, I was selected as the Program Director. I oversaw a staff of students as well as my own executive staff. In addition to the normal PD tasks, I crafted a proposal for Student Government to start converting 91.9 onto the HD platform. While the Student Government denied our request for funding, I learned a great deal about HD radio and the effect it has (both good and bad) on the world of terrestrial radio.
New York City
During college, I was an on-air DJ for Power Hits 97.5, KJCK, in Junction City, Kansas. I began as a weekend jock, and soon was the temporary daily night jock. Eventually, my term had to end as I left Kansas for my internship at WABC in New York City. This was a dream come true. My main duties lied with The Sean Hannity Show, where I did a lot of audio production as well as daily research. Because I wanted to get as much exposure as possible, I also worked with Curtis & Kuby in the Morning and The John Gambling Show. I had an incredible time in New York City.
Kansas City
The semester before I graduated college, I worked for Cumulus in Kansas City. Each weekend, I drove from Manhattan to Kansas City to produce weekend paid programming, engineer syndicated shows and produce the local Kris Kobach Show on KCMO Talk Radio 710. This career ended after graduation and when I received an offer for a full-time job at Entercom Broadcasting as the Digital Content Manager.
I managed the digital content over eight station websites. I exclusively managed three websites, and did the video content for all eight. I also worked with a team to develop websites and online marketing for sales clients. Besides my full time job, I started hosting a weekly talk show, 980 At Night, on NewsRadio 980 KMBZ. This lasted just under seven months when I was offered to do the overnights seven days a week on 98.9 The Rock, KQRC.
Back to…New York City
After my internship with WABC, I always wanted to get back to New York City. Fortunately, I was able to do that after I was offered the position of Team Leader of Digital Operations for Citadel Broadcasting. I manage all the digital and interactive assets for 95.5 WPLJ-FM and 77 WABC-AM. Besides the day to day operations of the station websites, I help keep our social media presence alive and fresh. I do a lot of video production, too, for both stations. One video that I helped create and have fully produced is called “Simone on the Street” (77 WABC). An episode of SOS:
I work closely with our general sales managers, promotion directors and program directors to ensure that the on-air brands are represented perfectly and executed correctly online and in any new media assets.
Currently I am the Assistant Program Director/Web Program Director for 77 WABC and www.WABCRadio.com.
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I love radio; it’s as simple as that. And through all of my experiences, I have learned that radio doesn’t end with the on-air broadcast…It lives on to its listeners via the Internet and in the form of new, digital media. Radio isn’t dead, and it is far from dying…But it must adapt to the new digital world.