Here’s What Some Of Radio Connection’s Graduates Are Doing
Fulfilling a dream he has always had, Radio Radio Connection graduate Keith Shall just picked up a gig doing Sports commentary for basketball on Pennsylvania’s WSBA 910 am. Keith will also be doing production work for the station.
Only 8 weeks into the program, student Debbie Kohn got a major On-Air job with popular New York Radio Station WLIR. Referred by her mentor, Sam Greenfield, Debbie spent the anniversary of 9/11 reporting live from ground zero, interviewing surviving fire fighters, family members of victims and NYPD that were involved in the tragedy. “It was an extremely rewarding and exciting experience,” says Debbie. “I could not get over how quickly I was able to get my goals met and in motion with the Recording, Radio, Film Connection program, doing exactly what I always dreamed of doing.”
Graduate Howard Parker just signed to the Don Buckwald Agency in New York City to do voiceovers for major movie trailers. You can hear him on the trailers for the Steven Speilberg movie “Minority Report,” as well as Spiderman. And he’s been selected as the voice of the Travel Channel!
Los Angeles’ number 1 party station, Power 106 FM, tapped Radio Connection student Andrew Webber for the production department. Andrew is handling copywriting and commercial production.
Chris Garrison had a dream: to be a sports announcer for a major network. Now his dream has come true! Through his Radio Connection mentor, Sam Greenfield, Chris has landed an On-Air Sportscasting position with ESPN Radio in New York.
After graduating from Columbia College with a Communications degree, Ken Young, a 24-year-old student from Denver, Colorado couldn’t get a job. One week after signing up for the Radio Connection program, Ken landed an On-Air job at Jones Radio Network — a major chain of commercial radio stations.
Legendary 25-year Philly radio veteran Doug Henderson trained Radio Connection student Marco Rosario for seven months at WDAS, before making a call to his friend at WNJC 1360 AM Radio in Philadelphia. That call netted Marco a full-time On-Air position which includes some Production and Copywriting.
Christopher Zurbach trained under Jason Jeffries at KIEV Radio in Los Angeles, which led to Jason hiring Christopher in the Production Department of the station. “I was lucky to find that Christopher through Radio Connection,” says Jason. “Thank you.”
Phil Loomis would like to thank Radio Connection for saving him the US $15,000 he almost paid the local broadcasting school. After completing the program, Phil was hired by Cadillac Jack at 106.7 FM in Detroit, Michigan, where he is doing “overnights” full-time for the station. Not bad considering Phil never even saw the inside of a real radio station until six months ago.
Two months into the Radio Connection course, Charles Reid, Program Director at WPEZ in Macon, Georgia, hired Neil Woodall to do Board Op for Remote Broadcasts. A few months later, Neil was advanced to a full-time position working Middays On-Air for the station’s classic rock format.
Ted Sohier, Operations Manager at WQED Radio in Pittsburgh, PA was so impressed with Chris Smith’s final demo tape that he walked it across the hall to the station’s News Director — who hired Chris on the spot as a part-time Newscaster.
Greg McQuaid has been hired to co-produce the morning show on San Francisco’s #1 rated station: Live 105 KITS FM. “It was an easy decision,” says Lester Temple, Production Director. “Greg was already interning for the station and the morning team loved having him around. We didn’t want to see Greg go off and work for one of our competitors. I can’t recommend your Radio Connection program enough,” adds Les.
Jeff Garcia of KPWR, Power 106 FM, Los Angeles has hired Jeffrey Chung to work in the Production Department doing Digital Music Editing and Voices for the station’s commercials. Jeffrey is the second Radio Connection student KPWR has hired in less than a year. How does one get their first job in radio in the #1 market in the country (Los Angeles)? “By being in the right place at the right time,” explains Garcia. “The Radio Connection concept makes perfect sense.”
When John Hampton, Program and Music Director at KSTN in Stockton, California took his summer vacation, he hired Radio Connection student Raymond Alicaba to cover his shift. According to the Station Manager Raymond did such a good job he was hired to work for the station on a full-time basis.
Only two months into the program, Andy Ridgely has been hired by Susan Browning as a Traffic Anchor with Metro Networks in Manhattan. “With over 20 years experience in the radio broadcasting field I’ve seen nothing but problems with traditional broadcasting schools and even colleges,” complains Browning. “Your one-on-one approach is what drew me into being interested in your program. Thank you for rekindling my love for the business by teaching one of your students.”
Jay Sampson has landed a position with The Hawk 98.1 FM radio in Binghamton, New York, in Sports Broadcasting. Jay was hired on the spot when William Berg, the Production Director, introduced Jay to the Sports Director and played him Jay’s demo tape.
Although she had not yet completed the Radio Radio Connection program, Teresa Locke was hired by her mentor Jerry Mullins, Creative Director for Clear Channel Radio in Austin, Texas. Teresa is a News Anchor at the noon, 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. slots for the station.
Rick Barker of KRUZ 103.3 FM in Santa Barbara, California hired student Aaron Butler. “Aaron is hard working, has integrity and is such a delight that when the postion came open, I had to hire him,” says Barker..
Mike Lee announced that he had hired his student, Bashea Brown, to do full-time overnights on-air at the Superstation Alive 95 FM serving the Cleveland and Chattanooga, Tennesse area.
Sam Newton of Simmons Media Group radio in Albuquerque, New Mexico has hired Mark Damiera as a part-time Board Op for Simmons’ AM Talk Radio station — despite the fact that Mark is only on lesson 8 in the course and still has a long way to go before graduating!
WMMS Cleveland radio’s Mark Pennington has hired John Cupo as the station’s Assistant Program Director. “Teaching John here in the actual working environment is part of the reason I chose to hire him,” says Mark. “We got to know John and that bond made the decision easy.”
After graduating from Columbia College with a Communications degree, Ken Young, a 24-year-old student from Denver, Colorado couldn’t get a job. One week after signing up for the Radio Radio Connection program, Ken landed an On-Air job at Jones Radio Network — a major chain of commercial radio stations.
As a mentor in your program I’m pleased to announce that Radio Connection student Eric Dimaggio has been hired on to do weekends for our station, Z90, 90.3 FM Radio, San Diego,” report Jason Wagers (Kid Jay). “Eric has a tremendous future ahead of him and I’m glad I had the opportunity to get him started in the game.”
Jerry was such an excellent student and a fast learner that it was no surprise to me when after just a few months into your program he has joined the ranks here at WLAN Radio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania,” boasts Bill Taylor, WLAN Program Director. “It is a great feeling to help him on the road to his radio career.”
“Steve Whitaker was immediately hired on for a part-time Air Shift here at the station,” says Tim Kelly, Production Manager for WHPT Radio in Tampa, Florida. “I have a lot of pride in Steve. This has been a great experience for me.”
Two months into the Radio Connection course, Charles Reid, Program Director at WPEZ in Macon, Georgia, hired Neil Woodall to do Board Op for Remote Broadcasts. A few months later, Neil was advanced to a full-time position working Middays On-Air for the station’s classic rock format.
Scott Sampson completed his course at KWJJ Radio in Portland, Oregon, and his mentor Craig Lockwood has hired him to do Commercial Production for the station.
