Even though I'm an old guy, I'm still hip to the new technology. Granted...I don't know how to use it, but at least I know it exists. I think that internet radio, HD (when the owners wake up), and mobile devices are the wave of the future. My friends at Jacobs Media recently released Tech Survey VI with some fascinating information about Smartphones, Apps, Pandora and more!

Click here to check it out!

We want to welcome two other grads, Joe Bove and Jeff Hastedt, to our facility with their 6 Internet Radio stations. They founded JB Media Group and we are delighted to have them "down the hall". They will be using our current students as interns to help run their stations and launch an internet station for the school. Welcome guys!

Very glad to have one of our favorite grads, Billy (Billy the Kid) Green, back in town...well sort of. Billy can be heard from 7 to Midnight on 106.7 The Beat of Detroit doing his usual great show...from Dallas! In addition to his show on the Dallas station, he manages through the magic of technology, to entertain folks in his home town.
You can even leave him shout outs on his cell @ 248-324-5851.

 Among the many great things about my job are chances to attend award ceremonies. A few weeks ago, I attended the Michigan Associated Press Broadcasters award banquet, where 13 of our grads won various awards. Many won multiple awards!  Thanks to all for making us proud.  The following SHS Grads won!!!!

·      Pat Batcheller – WDET Detroit

·      Andrew Green – WSJM Benton Harbor – 4 awards

·      WSJM – General Excellence for News – Class 3 Radio

·      Lindsay Smith – WGVU Grand Rapids – 2 awards

·      Rob South – WKAR East Lansing

·      Bob Mundie – WWJ Detroit – 2 awards

·      Tony Ortiz – WWJ Detroit

·      Stefanie Mills – WWTV/WWUP – TV Cadillac/Traverse City

·      Corey Adkins – WWTV/WWUP – TV Cadillac/Traverse City – 4 awards

·      Dennis Krainiak – Fox 2 Detroit

·      WHMI in Howell won for General Excellence 
   
Jon King – News Director – 6 awards
    
Jessica Matthews – 4 awards
    
Mike Marino

This have been picking up this time of year and it all makes me look forward to the future. NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters) is this week. Although I didn't attend, I'm amazed at all the new technology I'm seeing come out of the conference. Check out their web videos when you get a chance.

Not adverse to technological advances ourselves, Specs Howard School is testing a new system for an alumni network. It is our own social network. Specs Howard Grad Central lets you network and reconnect with your classmates and other graduates. Registration must be approved before you can post.

Speaking of grads, Chris Fillar (RTV 17-08) just took home a MAEB gold award for his Specs Spotlight and landed an awesome job! He is now the Sports Director for a Clear Channel cluster in Parkersburg, West Virgina. He does hourly sports news reports for three stations, plus three other sister stations in Wheeling, WV. That’s not it…also podcasts, voice work, station remotes and high school sports play-by-play/color commentary! Way to go Chris!

Finally, I had to share this last bit of news for all of the students interested in film production. The word around town is that there are film projects starting in Detroit this summer. The Michigan Production Alliance is a great organization to join if you’re interested in working in the film industry. The MPA has access to information about location scouts, crews and producers from around the country. Take advantage of a great resource by becoming a member of the MPA today!

Keep in contact with me on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter. I love to hear updates from grads!

Congratulations to the Specs Howard students and graduates who won awards from the Michigan Association of Educational Broadcasters.

• Katie Brown – Gold, Production
• Nick Morris – Silver, Production
• Nicki Anderson – Gold, Production
• Steve Wiseman – Gold, Production
• Shalen Franchini – Gold, Production
• Lyrena Ogburn – Gold, Production
• Bryan Gehris/Zachary Miller/Adam Zeleck – Silver, Talk Show
• Shalen Franchini/Jamison Shaw – Silver, Talk Show
• Garret Shaw/R.D. Van Houten/Casey Lambert – Silver, Talk Show
• Manson McCann – Gold, Interviewing
• Kris Warthen – Gold, Interviewing
• Brittney Tate – Gold, Interviewing
• Chris Fillar – Gold, Interviewing
• Jane Jones – Bronze, Production
• Chris Fillar – Gold, Production

Curt Hauer is a recent graduate of RVF05-09 and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He has worked his way into 96.9 WBTI/Q Country 107! He’ll be on-air Sundays at WBTI, weekdays on a temporary basis from 1p to 4p at Q Country, and filling-in at both stations. Following the advice of Specs Howard School, he practices his craft during overnights three days a week.I thought I would update you on my job situation and thank you for giving me such an incredible education. Curt says, “It’s a crazy schedule but I love every second of it and why would I sleep when I can take advantage of airtime and develop my skills.” What a concept!
 
This is how Curt made it happen…
“My luck began five months ago when through networking I met Laura Luchtman. I asked her a few times about interning and she saw that I was sincere about my goals. I had a theory that if I could get an internship at a small market radio station I would get more experience.

Laura whom is now the morning show co-host at Qcountry, brought me in and kicked my butt. She is amazing… she went out of her way to break me in. I was there to help her out but a majority of the time she was training or critiquing me…

I would lock myself in the prod studio and track for hours on end. I would keep going until I got kicked out or almost passed out. I also begged to do anything involving commercial production…

I can’t thank you enough for being so honest and upfront about everything. I did everything you said plus some. So there you go… there is no mystery in getting on the right path.”

RADIO UPGRADES

As we continue plowing along the 21st Century, Specs Howard School is committed to upgrading the facilities to reflect what’s happening in our related industries. The school has made serious investments in the video/film facilities, so it’s only fair to do the same in the radio studios. Over the past 40 years, we’ve gone from turntables (to those unfamiliar with the term…they played records), to cart machines, to CDs, to mini-discs, but now they are all gone! Specs Howard School has completed the conversion of all 21 practice studios to a central server eliminating the need for equipment that clutters the radio studios.

We owe a big THANK YOU to our Chief Engineer, Bob Burnham, who worked with the folks at Enco to “git ‘er done”. (FYI - Several of our grads work for Enco). We also can’t forget the contributions of our Director of Operations, Tom Profit, who oversees virtually everything that has to do with upgrading our facilities.

I was very honored to be asked to join the Michigan Production Alliance Board of Directors. This organization is made up of people involved in the Video & Film industries in Michigan.

The Michigan Production Alliance Mission is as follows…

• To encourage and enhance the professional quality of our members.
• To promote the use of the State of Michigan as a location for commercials, corporate video, feature films and live shows.
• To develop cooperative relationships with other organizations within the state for mutual benefit.

I will be serving on the membership committee and encourage everyone in the video/film industry to join. Even if you’re not an industry professional, but would like to become one, you’re welcome to join.

The website is http://www.mpami.org and contains more information about MPA. Check it out for meeting times, dates and agendas. The next meeting is Thursday, February 18th at 6:00pm. This meeting will focus on talent, including everything from how to be an extra, to on-set etiquette. What about joining the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), reading a teleprompter and what is this thing called "the Ear"?

Full membership is only $50.00 and the student rate is $35.00.  If you can't commit to joining, the non-member fee to attend a meeting is only $5.00.  The learning and networking opportunities offered by the MPA are the best for those wishing for a career in film or video.

I will be serving on the membership committee and encourage everyone in the video/film industry to join. Even if you’re not an industry professional, but would like to become one, you’re welcome to join.

Major congratulations to two of our favorite grads, and members of our Hall of Fame, on the births of their children. Best wishes to Glenda Lewis on the birth of Kamerian Diana Hall and to Grandma Diana. On New Year’s Eve, Sari Zalesin gave birth to Laila Rose just before midnight. Sincere congratulations to them and their families.

Finally, it’s always a delight to be “friended” by grads on Facebook, and see that they’ve listed Specs Howard School under their education. If you haven’t done so yet, please add Specs Howard to your profile, so we can acknowledge all of our great talent out there!

Andrea DeLyon graduated in 2002 and has been on the road of success. She worked in Lansing for six years at WILX TV and progressed from Production Assistant to Technical Director. She rang in the New Year with an exciting new position as an Operations Technician for the ESPNews Department. Andrea credits Specs Howard School and staff for her professional journey. “Tell everyone to never give up and keep trying. Soon you will be where you want to be, as long as you put the effort into it. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.” Thanks Andrea!

25 years can fly by in this business. Gerry Gava just celebrated his 25th year anniversary with CTV Globemedia. He started his career in radio, and after a couple years, he took a chance on an up and coming sports channel in Toronto. Gerry was able to grow with the company and turn it into thepowerhouse it is today. Congratulations Gerry!

In other news, we’ve made big changes in our Placement Department. For openers, we’ve changed the department name to Career Services, to reflect the progress we’ve made. We’d like the new name to represent our willingness in helping students and grads make their careers successful. Last year, Barbara Jones joined the team as our Graphic Design Career Services Advisor. Barb is a Specs Howard graduate working on her master’s degree with years of experience in Cable TV and Radio. 

After the first of the year, Nicole Bonneville came aboard as the Career Services Administrative Assistant.  Nicole is a Specs Howard graduate and is working on her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. She has spent most of her career in radio promotions. Brent Carey is our most recent addition. He attended Central Michigan and graduated from the Broadcast and Communication Arts program. He brings years of experience as on-air talent and several positions as Program Director in Michigan and Ohio markets. 

Of course the veterans also remain, including: Kevin Scollin, The Director of Career Services; Katie Peters, Internship Coordinator and Advisor; Denise Lippert, Advisor; and yours truly…Dick Kernen.

Please keep in contact! I'm on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.