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 currently the Chief Transition 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. After serving as Chief People Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Janet agreed to oversee a three year transition project to relocate the California based Headquarter Team to a new EMF Headquarters located in Franklin, Tennessee. 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 became grandparents in January, 2023.
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 eight grandchildren!
Tim Dukes, Hope Media Group
Tim Dukes spent 24 years in secular media and markets that include Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, and Tampa before answering God’s call to vocational ministry in 2011. After four years in para-church work, he joined WayFM as General Manager of its new station in Dallas-Fort Worth to combine his media and ministry experience and added regional responsibility in 2019 for Way Media properties in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Indiana. In 2020, Tim was promoted to Chief Operating Officer and added interim CEO responsibilities a year later. When Way Media and Hope Media Group merged in May 2022, he became the new organization’s COO. Tim and his wife Susan were married in 1989 and live in Dallas, as does their adult daughter, Macy.
Dave Gordon, Life 88.5 (Kansas City)
Dave has served Northwestern Media as Station Manager in Kansas City since launching Life 88.5 in 2013. Previously, Dave led Bethesda Christian Broadcasting as Executive Director and Salem Communications’ San Antonio cluster as Market Manager. Additionally, he served with broadcast teams in Chicago, Tulsa, and Terre Haute. Dave’s passion for uplifting others is infectious. Dave and his bride, Kerry, have two adult sons and a grandson who calls him Poppy.
Grant Hubbard, Grant Hubbard LLC (Nashville)
Grant Hubbard began his Christian radio career in 1982 as a part-time disc jockey in Nederland, Texas. From that job, he graduated to a full-time on air position in Monument, Colorado. Through the years, he filled many different roles in radio, Mid-day announcer, Afternoon drive, Music Director and, finally, Program Director. In 1990 Grant moved to Nashville to work as a radio promoter for the biggest label in Christian music, Word Records. In 1997 Grant accepted a position at Sparrow Label Group, eventually to become Capitol Christian Music Group, as Sr. Director of National Promotion, and one year later was promoted to Vice President of National Promotion. In 2019 he departed Capitol Christian Music Group and went out on his own to begin and build Grant Hubbard LLC. He is working in that capacity today, consulting record labels, promoting songs and working with artists to help them reach their maximum exposure and success through Christian radio.
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 (14 years) in Tyler, Texas. Encouragement Media Group includes KVNE (CCM), Lift Worship (Worship), Fuzión (Spanish Christian Music), The Well (Bible Teaching), Modo Vida (Spanish Bible Teaching) and Evergreen (Christmas). Troy married Teresa, his college sweetheart, 30 years ago and they have two married children, a college student, a high schooler, a precious grand girl and a grandbaby on the way.
Chris Lemke, Lemke Media Partners (Grand Rapids)
Chris began his full-time radio career 40 years ago at WCSG/Grand Rapids, serving as on-air host, PD, GM, and Executive Director. He left WCSG in June of 2021 to work with stations around the country, mentoring and coaching other persons in programming, fundraising and management. In 2011, Chris led the charge to restructure and retool Christian Music Broadcasters, serving as CMB’s interim executive director and board chairman for the next two years. He was honored by CMB in 2019 when he received the Industry Achievement award. Chris loves long walks, cooking and gardening. He and his bride of 35 years, Susan, live in Grand Rapids. They have six children, two of whom are married, and five grandchildren.
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.
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 moved to Minnesota in order to be a part of the Northwestern family. Jason currently serves as Sr. Vice President for Media, overseeing all of Northwestern Media’s properties and brands.
Life 102.5 has a heart for Madison! For the 4
Spirit 92.9 continued its commitment of blessing the central Minnesota community through intentional service projects. As the pandemic affected another year, station listeners rose to the challenge of uplifting and encouraging those feeling loss, loneliness, or burnout. Thanks to the help of generous listeners and business partners, Spirit 92.9 raised more than $8,000 in an online tip jar that blessed the staff at 19 local restaurants returning to work full time with huge tips during the Big Tip promotion. The restaurant workers were grateful for the visibility and appreciation. Numerous area teachers nominated by their students and families received special honor at the end of the school year with flowers and $500 VISA gift cards as part of “Thank A Teacher” organized by Spirit 92.9. In the fall, Spirit 92.9 partnered with two local ministries and provided free holiday meals to the community. During the ‘More Than A Meal’ event, the station worked with community members who donated enough to provide 6,000 meals and give help to people in need. Station team members also prepared and served meals together at the local homeless mission. At Christmastime, 11 community members wrote Spirit 92.9 and shared the story of someone they believed deserved some extra joy due to personal hardships. The individuals received $1000 to bless that person during Spirit 92.9’s Share The Joy promotion. Phone calls were made to hundreds of listeners to offer prayer and encouragement. Prayer support and a personal response is offered all year long.
Jim Campbell, Founder & Network President of Radio Training Network, Inc. began his radio career in commercial radio in Tennessee in 1964. In 1966 he moved his family to Lakeland, Florida to attend college, and upon graduation he joined the staff at First Assembly of God Church where he and the church launched in the mid 1970s the first Contemporary Christian Radio Station in the nation, WCIE-FM. The station grew in both market impression and influence not just in Lakeland, but around the country inspiring others to follow Jim’s lead. In 1989 Jim left the church and founded Radio Training Network, Inc. (RTN) and over the next 30+ years, he oversaw the acquisition and development of 40+ stations plus translators. With 130 team members, RTN stations serve the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Missouri. These stations are well recognized in their respective markets thanks to the servant leadership of the staff, aggressive marketing, and a commitment to a strong emphasis on Jesus first. At present RTN has some two million listeners each week on air and approximately the same number online.
Andrea Kleid is a 24-year veteran of radio and records. She began her career working in Christian radio at WNLT in Cincinnati, and then moved onto WAY-FM in West Palm Beach working in programming and promotions. Her next stop took her to JOY-FM in Tampa where she served as the Promotions Director. In 2004, Andrea moved to Nashville to begin her music industry career in radio promotion under Grant Hubbard at Capitol CMG. In 2008, Andrea became the Vice President of Promotion at Word Label Group where she led one of the most successful and influential radio promotion teams in the Christian music industry. Through her signature brand of honesty, passion for Christian music, and focus on relationships, Andrea developed a reputation for successfully launching new artists’ careers including for KING and COUNTRY, NEEDTOBREATHE and Francesca Battistelli. This year, Andrea celebrates her fifth year as the President of her own company, Boxer Poet. An advocate for both radio and artists, Andrea continues to zealously host conversations around further representation for women and people of color on Christian radio.
Jason Sharp has a rich history with CCM radio and leadership. His early years at WONU/Chicagoland and The Bridge/Delaware gave flight to his passion for great programming and innovative promotions. As Program Director of WCQR/Johnson City and eventually the network PD for Positive Alternative Radio, Jason’s influence grew across the industry. In 2007, Jason joined the team at Northwestern Media as Program Director and then Station Manager of KTIS, Minneapolis/St Paul. In 2015, Jason furthered his formal education and earned his master’s degree in organizational leadership. Applying his leadership knowledge and skills to work, he now serves as Senior Vice President of Broadcasting at Northwestern Media’s 23 stations in 14 markets across ten states that service 1.5 million listeners each week. Jason also served Christian Music Broadcasters, first as a charter member and eventually as the lead of CMB’s educational track at Momentum for more than ten years. He then served as the organization’s board chairman from 2017-2020. Jason continues to inspire others within Christian media toward excellence and compassion through a Christ-centered attitude, education, and practical application.
In 1972, while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Orlando, Johnny Stone dreamt of a second kind of “air force,” that of radio. He took an overnight position at WDIZ-FM, the station where Z88.3 now stands. In the past 50 years of his career, Johnny’s work and personality raised the bar for other programmers in markets ranging from New York City, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego, Tampa, Atlanta, Tucson, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. During his stint as Program Director and Morning Show host at Star 99.1 New York, his team won the NAB Crystal Radio Award and CMB Station of the Year. Presently, Johnny serves as afternoon host with his wife, Stacey, at 91.9 WGTS in Washington D.C. winner of the 2021 NAB Marconi Award for Religious Station of the Year. Owner of StoneStudios, LLC. and as a 22-year veteran in Christian media, Johnny mentored several on-air talents. Today, along with his on-air role at WGTS, he mentors college students at CMBU, teaching and modeling the belief that “you have to win in the hallways to win on the airwaves.”
Lisa Williams was called to Christian radio while praying in 1990. She walked into KCVO in Camdenton, Missouri and started on the air that same week. Over the past 32 years, Lisa served in various roles in on-air, programming, fundraising, and station management at radio stations and networks including K-LOVE, Z88.3, Star 99.1, KCVO, and KCWN. As an on-air personality, Lisa earned several number one ratings in several markets and was the recipient of three industry awards. Lisa now serves as the Network Talent Coach for Northwestern Media, owner of 23 stations in 14 markets across ten states that service 1.5 million listeners each week. While at Northwestern, Lisa hosted the nationally syndicated show Life with Lisa Williams from 2016-2021. She stepped away from the show to focus on coaching more than 90 on-air talents, encouraging and nurturing them to shine the light of Christ through excellent radio. When she’s not coaching talent, Lisa helps stations raise money for their operations. She also hosts a Facebook group for women on-air in Christian radio called GodsRadioGirls and helps facilitate their annual retreat.