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Rob's Career
Capsule
Rob’s
start in radio began as a homeless teenager, addicted to drugs and
alcohol. A youth pastor who reached out to him during this time
introduced me to WCIE in Lakeland, Fl.
One
year later he became a volunteer DJ at WLPJ in North Tampa. God was
using Rob to help others the same way WCIE helped him. Easter Sunday
1988 he began a part time shift at WJIS in Sarasota, Florida. It was
here that he learned how to do radio. By January 1989 he became the
full time overnight announcer. In the years to come he became better
versed in radio. The job duties performed were Traffic Manager,
Production Director, Program Director, Station Manager and now
Network Operations / Program Director for His Radio in the
Carolina's and Georgia.
Today
in the Christian radio industry he’s known as the DJ who lost a ton
of weight and become healthy. Five years ago Rob weighed 308lbs. A
year and a half later hi is 140lbs thinner. To date Rob has run 5
Marathons, 4 triathlons, countless 5k, 10k, ½ marathons, biked
through 3 states with Mark Schultz, biked another 1,755 miles to
Austin, Texas for cancer research and wrapped up the last 90 miles
riding with Lance Armstrong and the Livestrong challenge and has
biked 336 miles for a local homeless shelter through the mountains
of North Carolina. He has even won 1st place in his age
group in many of these races. Now, Christian artists and radio
personalities call him in search of inspiration to become healthy.
1.
How has His Radio evolved over the last few years?
We’ve grown in many ways. Our
personalities are becoming real people on the air sharing about
their life of faith and connecting with people who listen. We’re
very active on Facebook and Twitter to connect with people we’re
they are in life. And we’re listening more clearly to what people
want to hear and don’t want to hear on the radio. We’ve jumped into
HD radio providing both a Youth and Praise channel.
2.
Has His Radio
made any changes due to economic situation, been affected in any
way?
Thankfully our support is stable. Like
other stations we had to work harder during our Fund Drives. Our
staff remains in tack and we look closely at every line item to make
sure every expense is a need.
3. How
does His Radio connect locally with markets?
This is very import to us. Every market
we’re in has their own stop-set material twice an hour. Our on air
talent has 3 local breaks every market an hour. Three of the seven
markets have local staff that remains active in the community
through our His Radio Heart & Soul Patrols. This year we’ve made it
a point for our talent to connect with people in all of our markets.
We’ve taken more trips this year to be were the people are and press
flesh. It’s been very beneficial in our growth.
4.
What criteria do
you require for a song to be played on His Radio?
It's got to be a
great song! Connect with our target our demo. Artist’s lifestyle
reflects one as a Christ Follower. Song must have recurrent
potential. Also, for the song to remain on His Radio it must test
strong with our Music Advisory Panel and research.
5. What
kind of promotions work best for Christian radio?
Hands down for His Radio it’s been the
promotions that generate stories. We recently were able to connect a
daughter and her mother to many miles for them to connect in person.
Our friends at PLG worked with us at a Third Day/Jars of Clay
concert for a family reunion. Mom was flown in to Greenville. The
entire family went to the concert for a family reunion and ate with
Third Day! It was touching and reached the heart of every listener.
6.
In your opinion
what are the biggest obstacles facing Christian radio today?
I tell you the obstacle that got in my
way. Not living life. I became disconnected to where real people
were in their personal lives. I pretended to know that I knew what
was going on. Once I personally GOT A LIFE that I began to connect
in a deeper way on the air. Now I’m out of my safe bubble and
comfort zone and reach out to non-Christ Followers in circles I’ve
never dreamed I’d be in. Seeing real life in front of my eyes
give me more passion for what we do as Christian Stations. I think
more strategically with promotions, the format, music, imaging, on
air talent, ect….. We have by far arrived. But, every day we take
steps to move forward to be a station that is Belonging, Relevant,
and Community
7.
What do you
believe is the primary role of the Christian radio air personality?
My friend John Frost shared with me this
one fact – we’re about “Stories and Songs”. I’m continuing to learn
how to tell the story rather than announce a fact. I’m learning to
connect with life as a Christ Follower. People need to hear real
people walk through their journey of faith with the same ups and
downs as they face. Once we’re raw and real about whom we are in
Christ and understand the importance of living a life of
significance then we’ll connect. Our on air talent will continue to
be just another voice if we don’t get a life and be willing to be
vulnerable to share how we’ve overcome adversity and live our simple
triumphs in front of people. Then we’ll connect.
8.
What (if any)
Christian radio stations do you consider as innovators today?
Those who think strategically have my
utmost admiration. The stations willing to share and help others
grow and become strong are top in my book no matter market size.
9. Where
do you see Christian radio in 5 years?
My hope is that we’ve become community
to the markets we serve in connecting with real life with people who
have hopes and dreams and desire to grow in their personal faith in
Christ. I’d love to see our format grow to become in threaded into
the fiber of the cities we serve and have real relationships with
the people who chose to listen.
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