(Blog originally posted on Friday, June 1, 2007)
This week it's Bermuda. You never know where the long-haired leaping gnome will show up!
As I come kicking and screaming into the beginning of the 21st Century, it seems appropriate to start my own blog, in addition to my MySpace page, so here goes…
My blog will be used to talk about the many, many successes of our grads (whose names appear in red) and the amazing developments that are occurring in electronic communications.
Brad Richter, Denise Swope & I recently visited Fox 2 Detroit and met with VP of News Dana Hahn and Senior Web Producer Dennis Kraniakto explore a mutually productive relationship.
Several of our students are currently interning for myfoxdetroit.com and have made such a positive impression on the station that it has led to discussions on a closer relationship. It's also helpful that both Dana & Dennis are grads! We'll keep you posted as we finalize details.
My sincere congratulations to Program Director Jerry Tarrants (JT) of Grand Rapids on WGRD’s phenomenal Arbitron rating book. Stations doing Alternative Rock formats seldom succeed to the level that WGRD has. JT -- with great help from morning show hosts, Free Beer & Hot Wings -- has achieved, according to my research, the best numbers of any station doing alternative rock in the country. And most amazing, in Grand Rapids??? Nice job.
WYCD Promotion Director Lydia Reinberger & Operations Manager Tim Roberts both took time out of busy schedules to let us know how pleased they were with the more than 60 volunteers that Katie Peters sent them to help with the Downtown Hoedown. This is a huge event and demands a tremendous amount of organization and a whole lot of work. From the staff and faculty of the Specs Howard School, a very big “THANK YOU” to all the students who participated.
Looking for a role model for success? Let me recommend recent grad, Cecilia Jackson. While she was in school, she worked a number of internships, including two feature films, Univision’s Informando taped here at the school, and the Golden Cassette Awards Banquet & Ceremony hosted by MCA-I.
After graduation, Cecilia began searching various websites for a position in TV News. She found one at KLKN-TV in Lincoln Nebraska, the State capitol. She had a friend who lived there and after the station expressed an interest, she flew in and interviewed.
As she was preparing to fly home on a Friday afternoon, she got a call and was offered the job. She said, "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I'm learning so much, it's more like school than work!"
I love it.
There was a great article in the 5/30 edition of the Detroit Free Press about the re-opening of the Motor City Casinos’ 60,000 square-foot, $275 million, permanent facility. The casino now features a radio bar with VJs from … you know where.
We are delighted that all the VJs are grads and congratulate Michelle McCullough, Myra Wilson, Amanda Fiolek, Joe Palmer and Program Coordinator Nicole Breanne on their new positions. Another job market for our grads … yeah!!
In addition, two grads from the last century, Dave Shank and John Stewart have been working for Motor City Casino since it opened several years ago. Specs Howard graduate and former instructor, John Stewart, has been in charge of the audiovisual department. His right hand audio man is Dave Shank, another graduate and former instructor. Grad Martin LaCombe handles the lighting side.
I'll be away for a week. Let me know what you think, and if you have a story, please email me!
Signing off,
Klue-Bus Kernen