It's always been fascinating to discover where our grads end up, but this is a new level of amazing. In the past month, I've heard from 3 grads working in Alaska! Two work for New Northwest Broadcasters (four-station group ) in Anchorage, and another is at KTVF-TV in Fairbanks.
Matt Hoag is the morning host at KXLW-FM and promotion director for all four Northwest stations, and Erika Bowman is the production director for the group. Mark Rojas began in radio as a producer at WNIC, and spent several years on-air at WSAQ-FM in Port Huron before joining the army. He was honorably discharged in Alaska and saw a classified ad for a master control operator at KTVF, and decided to apply. When the chief engineer saw that he had graduated from Specs Howard, and had a radio background, he was hired. All three were quick to credit their education and training at the SHS were the key to getting them started.
Last week, I had the pleasure to attend the Detroit Economic Club luncheon at the Detroit Marriott. The guest speaker was President and CEO of PBS, Paula Kerger [far left in photo]. I attended the event with several students and Specs Howard School's own CEO, Jon Liebman [second right]. I'd like to thank everyone we had a chance to meet and talk with.
Attention broadcasters in training! I have three very important dates for you. Mark your calendars!
PA Bootcamp
Saturday, October 4, 9 AM – 1 PM
This enormously popular training session for future production assistants is hosted by the Michigan Production Alliance and returns to Specs Howard for one day only. The registration fee is $10 for students with ID and includes the seminar, light snacks and beverages and access to the production handbook. Click here to pre-register.
MAB Job FairThursday, October 16, 4 PM – 7 PM
Michigan Association of Broadcasters is hosing a job fair at Specs Howard School. Radio and TV stations will be collecting resumes and you’ll have a chance to speak to management about opportunities. Bring a stack of resumes and dress to impress your potential future boss. Click here for more information.
The BCBC - Broadcast Career Builders ConferenceSaturday, November 8, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM
The BCBC is being held on the west campus of Lansing Community College and is sponsored by the MAB Foundation. It will feature panel discussions and guest speakers from radio, television and video production to talk about how to develop your broadcasting career. Register before Oct. 24 and pay only $20 (after 10/24 it shoots up to $35). Rates are per person. All sessions, lunch and handouts are included. Click here for full details.
Grad Chris Chynoweth has been keeping busy. Chris is an editor at Mad River Post and among many other projects has worked on several music videos over the years. This latest one (below), for a track called The Streets by the artist The Unknown Soldier, is actually his directorial debut. He edited it too, of course. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Chris' work, check out his website. His work is always incredible.
MICHIGAN FILM UPDATE
Among the numerous films being shot in our fair state is All's Faire inLove, which is being shot in Holly and at least 3 of the production crew members are Specs grads -- Leonora Vukdedovic, Chuck Nelson andPete Atkinson. The film stars Owen Benjamin and Christina Ricci. Way to go guys!!
FROM THE MAIL BAG
From: Grad Arturo Santiago
Hi, Dick!
I'm not sure where I was the last time I spoke to you. Maybe I was still in Seattle, reporting for KING TV. In 2005, I moved to Denver to report and be the weekend morning anchor for KCNC, the CBS O&O. Unfortunately, as I was about to sign a new contract this past spring, CBS ordered a large number of layoffs and I was among them.
The good news was that my agent, Liz Hart with Napoli Management in Los Angeles, had already been looking and pounding the pavement for several months and I had a few offers on the table. I am, as you now know, the main anchor for KCOY, the CBS affiliate for the Central Coast of California. I also expect within the next couple of weeks to be named managing editor.
It is a small market and a lot of what I do beyond anchoring is coaching and mentoring reporters and producers who are new to television news. I find this role to suit me as I inevitably age and mature. I attended Specs Howard in 1994. From the day I started to this very moment, I have never been happier... life has been nothing short of an adventure and living it has been a dream.
I have reported on the worst "man" has to offer. Unspeakable violence. I have reported on earthquakes, been in the middle of several riots, been live with Mount St. Helens starting to spew ash right behind me, flew in a helicopter chasing orca whales, drove a speed boat at 100 mph, been up close to wildfires, mudslides, avalanches, floods. I've watched families say goodbye as their loved ones left for war. I’ve watched when those loved ones came home. And I’ve watched when they didn't come home. I was on the air in Seattle, when the planes crashed into the Twin Towers on 9-11 and spent the day reporting on the chaos and worry that gripped the nation from coast to coast.
Through it all, I have been transformed from a cocky want-to-be who first sat in front of you in January of '94, into a thoughtful and passionate voice of authority. You helped to set me off on this path. I can never be grateful enough. Thank you, Dick. And thanks to all of you at Specs Howard.
One of the things Kevin Scollin and I talk to grads about is the relative unimportance of market size. Most people don't take us seriously so I thought many of you would perhaps "get the joke" if it came from an actual person who's had the experience. Success does not create happiness; happiness creates success.
From: Grad Mike Sinclair (Weiner)
RTV-4-87
Dick Kernen,I want to take a minute to thank you for your continued help with my roller coaster radio ride. I don't know if you remember but about four and a half years ago, I called you up. I was working at WWCK in Flint and looking for a change. You mentioned WTCM in Traverse City was looking for an afternoon guy. You also made it a point to tell me not to let "market mentality" affect my thought process. I reluctantly sent them a package and didn't know what to expect. Jack O'Malley called me up and we set up the interview.
From the minute I drove past the Grand Traverse Bay, I knew it was an area I would LOVE to live in. I took the job and I have been here ever since. I can honestly see myself retiring here. It is BY FAR, the greatest experience I have ever had in radio. I love the people, the area, the station, everything. I even met the LOVE of my life here and I'm proposing to her this weekend.
I can't thank you enough for the job lead. I can't believe it's been 21 years since I graduated Specs! The good news is, I'm 41 but everyone thinks I look and act 30 so radio is keeping me young (haha) and the people here seemed to have ridden the clue bus a time or two because we are number one and they don't try to fix it when it isn't broken! What a great place to be. Thanks again!
By the way, Mike's girlfriend said yes to his proposal. My sincere congratulations to the two of them.
'Til next time--
UK
