Robin's Career Capsule
As a kid I always dreamed of being a DJ, but I gave up on it once I was in high school and knew I wasn’t going to college.  At 19 I gave my life to the Lord and soon found there was a Christian radio station going on the air and they needed volunteers.  It helped cement my new faith when I found the verse that says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4.  That was WJLF in 1990 where I went from volunteer DJ to a full-time employee and stayed for about four years before leaving to get a “real job” but just couldn’t stay away.  I did a few months in a secular radio group and co-hosted an old-time radio program on Classic 89 in Gainesville for two years.  But ultimately the Lord led me to the place that’s been my home since January 2001, serving as the General Manager at 91.3 Hope FM WHIF in Palatka, Florida. 

1. Tell us about your role at WHIF, your responsibilities etc... ?

I’m on the air in the mornings, oversee the day-to-day operations including music, programing, donor relations, promotions and anything else that needs to be done.  Although I love radio, we are a ministry first and a radio station second.  I tend to be busy doing more ministry and outreach than anything else....probably why my inbox is always overflowing!

2. How has WHIF evolved since you joined them?

For the first few years I was the only employee, and sometimes went days without any calls or visitors.  When WHIF signed on the air in 1996, it was as a satellite network affiliate.  In 2005 we added the slogan “Hope FM” when we made the switch to a new automation computer and programming everything ourselves.  The following year, we saw a tremendous amount of growth in listeners and donors.  Now we’re blessed we three full-time people.  All our on-air personalities are local people and most of them are volunteers.

3.  What is the best programming advice you've been given? The worst??

The best would be the help from Chuck Finney in tightening up our music schedule.  We had thousands of songs in rotation!  We sound so much better now.  The worst wasn’t really advice, but the decision to air a few hours a week of Southern Gospel music because of a few vocal people in our community that said they’d support it if we aired it.  Turns out they didn't and it just made other people turn the radio off!  Now we stick to one format!

4. Regarding your career, what are you most proud of?

Being able to make a difference in people’s lives.  We live in a small town that tops the list for negative statistics, low income and limited resources.  It seems like hope is one thing lacking in our area and I’m honored to be part of imparting hope to people that need it.  Besides that it would be the focus of being intentionally local to our community so that listeners know we live here too.  When we made that switch in 2005 things really exploded and recalling that success makes me smile every time I think of it. 

5. What is the one thing you must have to do your job every day?

Prayer!

6. Where will future air talent come from?

Our listeners.  I don’t know about other stations but it seems a discussion the last couple of years has been regarding grooming the younger generation to one day fill our shoes.  Right now we have an absolute shining star on the air and in the production room, a young lady named Shayna, that came to volunteer as a summer intern.  Another amazing young lady is on the air in the evenings, Kristen, who started volunteering in the office as a child coming in to stuff newsletter envelopes with her mom and sisters.  We don’t have professionally training airstaff, we have local people that love being a part of what we’re doing and it’s working well for us.

7. Do you feel syndication is good or bad for Christian radio?

I think it fills a need and there’s room for getting Christian music and programming out in many ways.  For us, local is key.  It seems like everyone is isolated in our society now, each of us with our own smartphone or satellite dish choosing our entertainment and only connecting remotely.  Being a part of the Body of Christ means really knowing each other and staying connected in-person.  I feel our station helps foster those opportunities by being a part of the local community.

8. Who are your radio heroes and influences? and why?

Chuck Finney - we've used his services to help our station but he's been more of a coach to me than just a consultant.  At the first Momentum event he used part of his short time on stage to pray for those in the audience rather than try to sell his services.  I knew he was someone we could work with, putting ministry before everything else.

Melissa Montana - she continues to do great things at her station! Every chance I've had to talk with her at CMB events I walk away feeling inspired to go back and do great things at my station as well.