SCHMOOZIN' NOTES
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Lock Scholar and WJPZ Alumni Association Board Member Mina Llona ('08) has been promoted to Associate Format Manager at SiriusXM Radio, programming SiriusXM Love. In addition, she was also named Producer and On-Air Talent for an upcoming show with the legendary Grandmaster Flash, "Grandmaster Radio".
Tony Renda ('95) has founded Velocity Radio Management, designed to protect and grow the value of radio stations. Check out all the details at www.velocityrm.com.
Steve Donovan ('95) has a new gig: tune in to see him host cable network NESN's new Red Sox trivia game show, "In the Batter's Box", weeknights at 6PM.
Mike Tierney ('90) is now VP of Broadcast Operations at Boston's adult alternative WFNX (101.7), part of the Mindich family’s multi-media Phoenix operation. Boston is only Tierney’s latest major market stop: he's programmed in New York and Seattle and was a VP of music programming at VH1.
New York's Z100-based radio personality and Banquet 24/7 keynote speaker Elvis Duran is going into syndication via Premiere. The move, which comes 13 years after Elvis' debut on mornings at Z100, expands his audience dramatically. It also gives Premiere a new East Coast-based morning show, and opens the door to future West Coast opportunities. Premiere EVP of Affliate Marketing Julie Talbot says, "Elvis has used his experience to create a top-rated and widely-acclaimed program that appeals to listeners everywhere."
WJPZ Alumni Association Treasurer Dan Austin ('97) and his wife, Jennifer, are proud to announce the arrival of Sidney Caroline Austin. Sidney was born December 17th at 7:52am in Syracuse, NY. She is doing well, is excited for a great 2009, and is set to make a brief appearance at Banquet 24!
In September, Lock Scholar and WJPZ Alumni Association Communications Committee Co-Chair J.T. Compeau ('07) was promoted to Senior Analyst, MEC MediaLab at Mediaedge:cia in New York City. His new role includes expanded responsibilities with the agency's largest client, AT&T, as well as increased direct interaction with clients and account planning teams.
Richard Washington III ('02) is the producer of Fox News Edge, the 11PM newscast at WAGA in Atlanta. Prior to this, he was the Producer of the 6PM newscast at WBTV in Charlotte, NC.
Dave Gorab ('93), John McDermott and Frank Raphael are all keepers at the management level of the merged Sirius XM, in the division that falls under the purview of Senior VP of Talk and Entertainment Jeremy Coleman. Gorab is VP of original talk. McDermott is VP of comedy and entertainment. Raphael (former PD at WCBS, New York and an ABC Radio Networks veteran) is VP of news and operations.
Funny man Steve Donovan ('95) rejoins the WXLO-FM Morning Show in Worcester, MA.
Matt Friedman ('94) has been named Detroit Regional Chamber's 2008 Volunteer of the Year. Click here to read the press release!
Steve Bunin ('96) is now the weekend morning anchor for ESPN's SportsCenter.
Veteran radio programmer Mike Tierney ('90) was recently quoted in a New York Post article about summer songs of 2008. The K-ROCK program director's pick was Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl".
Zev August ('98) and his wife recently welcomed baby daughter Lilah into the world. Zev is currently a producer at CNBC.
Mike Couzens ('11) is behind the microphone handling the play-by-play for the Falmouth Commodores in Westchester County, NY. The gig is part of his internship program with the baseball team.
Jeff Donaldson ('91) has been promoted to Public Relations Director at Elias/Savion Advertising. In his new role, Jeff will devise and implement PR strategies for all clients and supervise the public relations team.
Jana Fiorello ('02) has re-entered the radio biz as a promotions assistant at Emmis New York's WRXP-FM. WRXP relaunched in March as New York's New Rock Experience.
Rich Goldner ('87) is now News Director at FOX5 in San Diego. Rich now oversees all news operations for the only fully digital station in the city.
WJPZ favorite Benjamin I. Green ('85) invites you to check out his "Where I've BEN!" series, highlighting his travels and meet and greets with people from all over. Experience it here!
Former WJPZ music director Mary Thayer ('06) is now working in the online marketing department at Capitol Records.
Josh "Josh Diamond" Abrams ('91) executive produced and played bass guitar in two music videos about EMC Global Services, available on YouTube. The two videos were created as part of a "Guitar Hero"-themed trade show booth at EMC World 2008. Josh is Senior Marketing Program Manager at EMC in Hopkinton, MA. Check them out here and here!
In June, Maureen "Mo" Cooper (Hinman) ('99) relocated to Houston, TX where she is a traffic and news reporter for Traffic.com, on Cox Radio's KHPT, KKBQ, and the Biz Radio Network. Her voice over business continues at www.maureenvoice.com.
Great news for two current 'JPZers! DenaLa'uren Drost ('09) and Joel Godett ('09) become the 13th and 14th WJPZ staff members to win the prestigious Bayliss Radio Scholarship. Dena is the Z Morning Zoo Producer, and Joel is a member of the WJPZ Sports team. Read the press release here!
WJPZ favorite Matt Friedman ('94) recently had some one-on-one time with the Tribune Company's Chief Innovation Officer and industry legend Lee Abrams. Click here to read the text of their online chat!
Damian "Governor D" Redman ('95) recently accepted the PD job at WZRT-FM in Rutland, VT.
Donna Raheb ('85) is the author of the children's book The Adventures of Henrietta Ham: Meet Henrietta. Check out her character's adventures here.
Lock Scholar Romina "Mina" Llona ('08) is now working as a Music Coordinator at Sirius Satellite Radio.
In May, former WJPZ Alumni Association Treasurer Jordan Guagliumi ('95) was promoted to Saga Communications' Interactive Sales Director. Jordan's role will be to partner with each market to generate new Interactive sales success. Click here to read the press release.
Steve Donovan ('95) can be seen in an online ad for Bottomline Technologies, a payment management company. Click here to see him in action!
WJPZ Alumni Association President Jeff Wade ('97) was featured in the News/Talk section of the "10 Questions" feature on AllAccess.com April 1... the same week as former WJPZ jock Brett "Spike" Eskin ('99) was featured in the Rock section. Click here to see what Jeff has to say about how WJPZ shaped his career! (You'll need to register to read both features.)
Envision Radio Networks President and CEO Danno Wolkoff ('86) was the 2008 recipient of the Rockwell Award at the Conclave Learning Conference on Friday, June 27th. The Rockwell Award is an annual recognition by the Conclave that acknowledges the accomplishments of individuals that have made great contributions to the broadcasting industry.
Harry Wareing ('99) spent a few months this spring as the boss at AAA WHEM-FM in Hampton, NY while his PD Lauren Stone was on maternity leave.
WJPZ Alumni Association Board Member and Alumni Representative to the WJPZ Board of Directors Matt Delsignore ('02) heads to where it all began as he takes an anchor/reporter position at Pittsburgh's KDKA-AM, otherwise known as America's first commercial radio station.
In May, WJPZ Alumni Association Treasurer Dan Austin ('97) went behind enemy lines and became General Manager of Citadel's Syracuse cluster, which includes 95X, and Z89's favorite target, 93Q.
In March, Josh Wolff ('03) accepted a position at CBS Radio's Atlanta cluster as their Creative Services/Imaging Director.
Scott Taylor ('93) was promoted in January to Senior VP/Operations at Katz Media Group. In this new role, he will focus on strategic growth opportunities for the company, including the integration of new clients. Read the press release here.
Jen Nycz-Conner ('95) and her family were featured on an episode of "Take Home Handyman," which aired January 12th, 2008 on TLC.
Scott Greene ('93) is now a teacher at Windsor Locks Middle School in Windsor Locks, CT.
Mark Verone ('95) and Rachelle Hardy ('95) announce the birth of their first child, Andrew John Verone, on October 24th, 2007
Dan Frigolette ('05) performed in the NYC Big East Friends Comedy Show at the Broadway Comedy Club in New York City.
James Baxter ('87), an editorial writer with the Edmonton (Alberta) Journal, was awarded a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University
Lock Scholar Romina Llona ('08) was featured on the front cover of the Fall/Winter 2007 edition of Syracuse University Magazine as a recipient of the Betty and Dean Wolcott Endowed Dean's Scholarship.
Dan Austin ('97)- the current WJPZ Alumni Association Treasurer- was elected to represent youth formats on the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council on December 7th, 2007
Rich Goldner ('87) has been promoted to News Director at KTLA-TV, the Tribune-owned CW affiliate in Los Angeles. He's been the Executive Producer of the late news for the last year, and previously spent three years as the Executive Producer of the morning newscast there.
Clear Channel Katz Advantage upped Jeanne Schad ('94) from Account Director to VP/Director, Marketing Advantage in its Los Angeles Office in October. Jeanne has been with the company since 2004, when she joined as an Account Manager.
John Ambrogne ('02) married Shannon Garrison on October 26th, 2007 just outside of Orlando, FL. He is currently an Executive Producer for Central Florida News 13
Dave Peterson ('02) married Amy Wilfong on September 22nd, 2007 in Millis, MA
Congratulations to Father David “Happy Dave” Dwyer ('86) for landing the Sunday 7pm - 10pm slot on Sirius Radio’s Catholic Channel. After years on JPZ's Crazy Morning Crew, Fr. Dave now hosts The Busted Halo Show.
Michael Tetuan ('98) joins Prism Public Affairs in Washington, DC
Lock Scholar Jeff Kaczmarczyk ('06) is now an Executive Assistant in the marketing department for the Travel Channel, now part of Cox Communications in Silver Spring, MD
Pam Hill Rekow ('90) received the 2005 Chairman's Award at the Hartford Financial Services Group and the 2006 Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America in the public service-business category for being part of a team that developed Playbook for Life, a publication designed to help new college graduates make smart financial decisions.
J.R. Whalen ('89) was recently named Digital Content Manager at CBS Radio, and is now responsible for online content on the web sites of all the CBS-owned news and sports radio stations.
Craig Carton ('91) debuted September 4th, 2007 on "Boomer and Carton in the Morning" with veteran CBS Sports broadcaster and ex-NFL quarterback, Boomer Esiason. The show airs on Sports Radio 66 WFAN-AM, New York from 6-10 AM- a slot formerly filled by Imus.
Emily (Zizza) Almas ('00) and her husband Dan welcomed their first child, Nicholas Daniel Almas on August 10th, 2007. He was 9 lbs., 15.8 oz.
Jen Nycz-Conner ('95) and her husband Chris welcomed their first child, Alexander Charles Conner on August 23rd, 2007.
Kendall B. Lamar ('92) has picked up duties as the Public Address Announcer for Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids
Rich Ruggiero ('89) moves to the Windy City as VP of Communications & Public Affairs for Comcast
Ralph Aversa ('07) aka "Ralphie" takes over nights at Top 40 WBHT - Wilkes-Barre after spending time at WWHT in Syracuse
Pete Deibler aka "Kane" ('97) married Natasha Gutierrez on April 27th, 2007
Bridgette McIntyre (Yee) ('00) married Dan McIntyre on May 12th, 2007 in Wickliffe, OH
Beth Cohen (Berlin) ('02) married Matt Cohen on May 13th, 2007 in Baltimore, MD
Tracey Turner (Chilandese) ('00) married Robert Turner on June 16th, 2007 in Albany, NY
Bette Burchell (Kestin) ('93) married Michael Burchell on June 16th, 2007 in Staatsburg, NY
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