Adam's Career Capsule
Born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Moved to the United States to attend college in the late 80’s. My first start in radio was working on air overnights for the college station. Between my sophomore and junior year I married my beautiful wife Yulonda; and in 2014 we will celebrate 23-years of marriage. 1994 my fulltime radio career began at KCJH in Stockton California as their Promotions Manager and evening host; and for the next eight years I learned many aspects of radio including programming, promotions, production, traffic, donor relations and music rotation.

In 2006, we moved from California to Tucson, Arizona to work with Randy Carlson and Family Life Communications; in 2008 I was appointed the Director of Network Programming for Family Life Radio serving 38 communities across America.

I’m blessed to work alongside some great people each and every day and feel privileged to have such a great team of professional both on and off the air. So here’s a shout-out to a GREAT TEAM: Peter Brooks, Shannyn Caldwell and Dennis Hutchinson in the morning; Bill Ronning and Julia Taylor in the Midday’s; Johnny and Stacey Stone in the Afternoon; our off air support staff: Joel Davis Assistant P.D., Amy Phillips Content, Matt Elkins Production, Mike Spiva Promotions and Events and Steve Tanner with Intentional Living. You guys, and gals, are the best.   

1. Tell us any recent changes (news) at Family Life Radio...

Over the last 18-months the Family Life Radio Programming Department has buckled down and focused on 3 areas of consistency: Brand, Format and Personalities. For several years we allowed our Family Life Radio brand to blend and or compete with our brands blurring who we really are. So in all of our campaigns/events and imaging we ensured that the brand stood out and was the focal point.

Although we didn’t change our format we did look for “roadblocks.” Why was the listener tuning out we found those roadblocks and eliminated them.

We invested more into our talent, evaluating talking segments, created clocks that allowed more music and less talk and only did campaigns that engaged the listener. We increased our talent pool to include Johnny and Stacey Stone in the Afternoons and Midday’s with Julia Taylor, to our already talented team of Peter and Shannyn in the Morning and Midday’s with Bill Ronning. By adding these new voices and personalities to the existing teams we improved the experience on FLR all day long.

In making these changes and being consistent on brand, Family Life Radio’s cume has been trending upwards over the past year and continues to see improvement.

2. What is the best programming advice you've been given?

“Take the first exit.” It’s something we all know but not always easy to execute. I also use the phrase in program management and developing strategy.

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

There is no “One Thing” I’m proud, my whole career has been a journey. Decades of friendships, developing a culture and format and cultivating a winning team.

4. What is the ONE thing you must have to do your job every day?

Focus … your talent is only as good as those who keep the on air strategy moving in the right direction. If you’re P.D. can’t effectively communicate the brand and format and your next move then there’s no focal point for the department and everyone does his or her own thing.

5. Where will future Christian radio air talent come from?

The short answer is I don’t know. But I do know what we’re looking for; its real life communicators.

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

Is it inevitably good or bad? Small to medium markets are selling off their stations because they can’t afford to stay on the air. Syndication offers great product in Christian Music to the masses for less.    

7. Generally speaking to the industry what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio?

This is not an obstacle; I guess it can be if you’re not paying attention. STAYING RELEVANT.

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

To name just one person that has influenced my radio career or who in my life is a “radio hero” would be unfair. There are some many people over the past 26 years that have and continue to speak into my life. So I’ll do my best to mention a few. Brent Randall, Jon Hull, Michelle Younkman, Linda Myers, Paul Martin, Chris Lemeke, Peter Brooks, Stan Moser, Dick Jenkins, Johnny Stone, Darrel Isaacs and my wife Yulonda. Everyone has shaped the Program Director that I am today.