Board of Directors

Board Chair • Sandi Brown, JOY FM (St. Louis)

Sandi Brown is the President of JOY FM and BOOST in St. Louis. In addition to launching JOY FM in 2001, Sandi has worked in CCM radio for 35 years. She and her husband Mike have been married for 33 years and have 3 children.

Vice Chair • Bill Sammons, WKNZ (Salisbury/Ocean City)

After stints in mainstream radio and TV, Bill built and operated Delaware’s first-ever Christian radio, WXPZ, back in 1990. In 2010 he helped launch WKNZ, 88.7 The Bridge, a 25,000 watt non-comm in Southern Delaware. The Bridge has since added frequencies in Maryland and New Jersey, serving most of the Delmarva Peninsula and South Jersey. Bill also owns and operates a video production company called Watermark Productions, specializing in corporate and non-profit video production. Bill is married and has 5 children and 2 grandchildren.

Secretary • Janet Cherry , K-LOVE & Air1

Janet cherry is Chief Operating Officer of Educational Media Foundation (also known as EMF Broadcasting), which governs K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks, WTA Media, AccessMore podcasting, EMF Publishing and more. Prior to joining EMF Broadcasting, Janet owned her own consulting firm and served on staff in leadership roles within consumer software organizations and non-profits, with a focus on organizational development, human resources, and general management. Janet and her husband, Jeff, have served together in ministry for nearly 30 years in areas of youth ministry, small group leadership, and marriage mentorship. They have two grown sons and have recently added a daughter-in-law to the mix.

Executive Director • Michelle Younkman, CMB

Originally from Tulsa, Michelle Younkman has worked with radio & records in some capacity since 1988. She was invited to join the Christian Music Broadcasters team in 2011 and currently serves as the Executive Director for Christian Music Broadcasters. Michelle and her husband Dave have 3 children and live in Little Rock, AR.

Members

Matt Austin, KCBI (Dallas/Ft. Worth)

Matt Austin is the GM and VP of Operations for KCBI, Dallas/Ft Worth. Matt began his career in general market radio in Lexington, KY. In 1997 he joined WAY-FM as Network Program Director and then SE Regional Manager in Nashville. Matt moved to KCBI in December of 2012 where he has enjoyed working with a world-class team. He has a passion for discipleship, reading (especially on leadership), travel and baseball. Matt is married to Denise, and they have seven grandchildren!

Scott Herrold, SOS Radio Network (Las Vegas)

Over the past 20 years, Scott has worked with  mainstream and Christian radio stations like 96.3 WDVD/Detroit, 93.1 WDRQ/Detroit, 100.3 The Kross/Tulsa and the SOS Radio Network, serving Las Vegas and 35+ other markets. Aside from his programming and on-air responsibilities, Scott is at the Christian radio forefront of integrating various media platforms and apps. Scott is one of the founders of Creative Cardio Showprep, helping to challenge and empower creativity for Christian radio personalities. For the past 7 years, Scott has also served on the Momentum Leadership Team.

Troy Kriechbaum, Encouragement Media Group (Tyler)

Troy’s passion for pointing people to Jesus through Christian music shaped his formative years and he got his start in radio spinning vinyl from DeGarmo & Key, Petra and Rez Band on the Baylor University station. Over three decades later, he serves as President/CEO of Encouragement Media Group in Tyler, Texas. Encouragement Media Group includes KVNE (CCM), Lift Worship (Worship), Fuzión (Spanish Christian Music), The Well (Bible Teaching) and Evergreen (Christmas).  Troy married Teresa, his college sweetheart, 29 years ago and they have two married children, a college student, a high schooler and a precious grand girl.

Chris Lemke, WCSG (Grand Rapids)

Chris began his full-time radio career 35 years ago at WCSG/Grand Rapids, serving as on-air host, PD, GM and now Executive Director. For better than 20 years, he’s mentored other persons/stations in programming, fundraising and management. In 2011, Chris led the charge in restructuring and retooling Christian Music Broadcasters, serving as CMB’s interim executive director and board chairman. Chris loves long walks, cooking and gardening. He and his bride of 33 years, Susan, live in Grand Rapids where Chris is presently pursuing his masters in organizational leadership. They have six children and one grandchild.

John Owens, Blue Ridge Broadcasting

John Owens began his radio career during high school in Florida working in Country radio. He gave his life to Christ in Providence, RI, when he was doing mornings at WCTK and continued in that format until he was called to be the Network PD and Morning Show Host for the Family Life Network, NY & PA, 1997-2008. He then served as Operations Manager of 89.7 WMHK, Columbia, SC, from 2008 until EMF purchased the station in 2014. Since 2015, John has served as General Manager of Blue Ridge Broadcasting, The Light FM, with studios located in Asheville, NC. John and Tamara have been married for 28 years with three sons, two daughter-in-law’s, two grandchildren and four Compassion kids. John was named one of “The 30 Best Managers in Radio”, Radio Ink, October 2020.

Joe Paulo, KSBJ (Houston)

Joe Paulo has been President & Chief Executive Officer of Hope Media Group (a family of brands including KSBJ, NGEN Radio, Hope On Demand and Special Events) since 2018. With an extensive background in media and leadership, he began at KSBJ as Vice-President of Operations in 2017 after serving at Educational Media Foundation (K-LOVE/Air1) as the Director of Donor Stewardship and Communications. He led a division of Columbia International University as Director of Broadcasting until 2014, overseeing the growth of successful radio stations in Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC. Joe has also provided volunteer leadership at the board of director level for other nonprofits such as Youth Commission International and Christian Music Broadcasters. He earned a Master’s Degree in Business with honors from Liberty University in 2014. In addition to speaking on leadership, fundraising and media, Joe and his wife, Kelly, have hosted or spoken at numerous marriage and parenting events to share their passion for marriage, parenting and adoption. Joe and Kelly have been married for 30 years and have three daughters and two sons.

Jason Sharp, Northwestern Media

Since graduating from Olivet Nazarene University in 1993, Jason Sharp has devoted his life’s work to the calling placed on his heart at the age of 18, to passionately serve God through the ministry of Christian radio. Jason and his family followed that call in 2007 when they relocated from Tennessee to Minnesota in order to be a part of the Northwestern family. Jason currently serves as Sr. Vice President for Media. Jason, and his wife, Julie, have been married for 24 years and they have two children, Haley and Carson.

Todd Stach