A friend of mine and former drum student, Colin Fite, is a sophomore at Grace Community School and asked me to fill out a questionnaire about my job for a career day project.
I’ve opted to share it here in case anyone may be interested. Even if nobody’s interested, I’ve opted to share it here.
(Maybe Lois will like it.)
1. Where did you go to college or technical training and what year did you graduate?
I majored in music at Miami University in Ohio, and Speech Communications at LSU in Shreveport, TJC, and UTTyler. I am 20 hours shy of a bachelors degree and just a few fries short of a happy meal.
2. What degree(s) or certificate do you hold?
Associates Degree in General Studies at TJC, the John Phillip Sousa Award from Colerain High School in Cincinnati, and I won a spelling bee once.
3. How did you choose your career?
After over a decade of toiling in factories, I decided to pursue a career more suited to my strengths. So I flipped a coin between Car Pool Kareoke and Christian radio.
4. How would you describe a typical day at your job?
We get up before God, (JK) dive into a vat of coffee, and start at 5am. We begin preparing the morning show, gathering content that will hopefully engage listeners on a relational and spiritual level. We start the morning show at 6, and talk after every two songs for about a minute at a time. The direction of the morning show can change quickly depending on phone calls and our conversations. It is a lively 4 hours. At 10am I take a brisk 20 minute walk. Then begins a series of meetings, preparation for future shows, and/or public appearances. Typically we’re done by 1pm, but that often will vary. Then a nap.
5. What personality qualities are most important to be successful in your career field?
Strong faith, extroverted, good communicator, team player, and it helps to be a little weird, but in a friendly way.
6. How do you think this job will change in the next five years? The next 10?
In 5 years: The job will continue to change with technology. Many thought radio wouldn’t survive the computer age, with all the other music listening options available, but live and local radio continues to thrive when it is done well. In an age where negativity is so prevalent in media, as long as there’s an emphasis on an encouraging message with a quality product, pointing people to Jesus and connecting our community, there will be a market for excellent broadcasters. In 10 years: I’ll be retired.
7. If you could go back to the beginning of your education/career, would you do anything differently? I would have stayed in school and church. And I would have moved to Texas sooner.
8. Who is your role model and why?
There are people in the industry I admire and respect, like on air hosts Brant Hansen from the nationally syndicated Brant and Sherri Oddcast, and Earle Bailey from Sirius XM. Also men of faith like my boss Troy Kriechbaum and former boss Dan Bolin. But my ultimate role model is Jesus. I decided if I really want to emulate someone, why not the perfect person? Even though perfection is beyond my human ability, He always gives me something to strive for. (Honorable Mention; Colin Fite)
9. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about your career?
Stay in school and church. Be willing to work whatever job and whatever hours. Put others before yourself. Go to bed early.
10. How has your faith played a role in your educational/career choices? I’d only been a Christian three years when I started in Christian radio, so I basically grew up in the faith on the air. One good thing is we’ve always been required to read scripture on the air every hour, so much of that has stuck with me. It’s interesting living out a Christian life in public. Sometimes it opens you up as a target for criticism, but there are so many blessings and fringe benefits. Once, I got to meet Carrie Parsons!