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 People 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!

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 nearly 40 years ago at WCSG/Grand Rapids, serving as on-air host, PD, GM, and Executive Director. He left WCSG this past spring to form Lemke Media Partners and pursue his passion of mentoring and coaching other persons/stations in programming, fundraising and management. Additionally, Chris led the charge in 2011 to restructure and retool Christian Music Broadcasters, serving as CMB’s interim executive director and board chairman for the next two years. Chris loves long walks, cooking and gardening. He and his bride of 34 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.

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, Vida Unida 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.

As if serving one community isn’t a privilege, BOOST RADIO served six in 2021. In January, BOOST reintroduced themselves to St. Louis when they moved from a translator to a full-power signal. BOOST hit the cold streets with weekly “Sweet Stops;” the first 95 listeners to show up got free treats. BOOST team members served as the official DJs for two different Polar Plunges with the Special Olympics in February; nearly $200,000 was raised from hundreds of brave swimmers. March was when BOOST grew into Chicago! To celebrate, the station delivered deep dish pizza to listeners in St Louis and Chicago. BOOST RADIO renamed April 1 to April Fuel’s Day and had DJs pop up at random gas stations in both markets to buy gas for strangers. Spring & Summer brought BOOST to Minneapolis, Portland, OR, Pittsburgh, and Fayetteville, NC. The station brought their new friends Pop Up Parties for their backyard BBQ’s and open houses. BOOST supplied food, party favors, and custom mixes for dozens of winners nationwide. During the late summer and early fall, the station partnered with Out of the Darkness for suicide prevention walks. Across all BOOST markets, nearly 10,000 walked together. During the holidays, the station teamed up with rapper Thi’sl & the Salvation Army for the Full Ride Toy Drive. BOOST listeners filled a storage locker & U Haul full of gifts for children in need. 2021 was a year BOOST hit the streets and empowered its audience to bless others in their communities.

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At Hope Media Group, the passion for Christ and the city of Houston shine in its efforts to mobilize the community to do good works so that more people can experience God’s love. After Hurricane Ida, generous KSBJ and NGEN listeners raised over $276,000 with God’s Pit Crew, sending 684 KSBJ Team Help Crews to Louisiana and sponsoring the distribution of 2,711 Blessing Buckets. KSBJ listeners also provided 20,000 bottles of water for fellow Houstonians after the winter freeze, and over 2,450 KSBJ and NGEN listeners participated in our annual Blood Drive with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center saving more than 7,000 lives. A ministry committed to prayer, KSBJ formed the Greater Houston Prayer Council (GHPC), unifying 48 prayer groups across the city with an interdenominational, multi-ethnic, and multi-generational focus. KSBJ was also a beacon of joy to the community serving 3,000 cups of Blue Bell ice cream last summer and handing out 4,175 Easter Crosses for listeners to display as a reminder that “He is Risen.” During the holiday season, 91.7 Vida Unida blessed 100 families with Thanksgiving meals, and KSBJ listeners fulfilled the Christmas wishes of 9,315 children under the care of Houston CPS in partnership with Be A Resource. Beyond loving their neighbor, caring KSBJ and NGEN listeners sponsored 1,233 Kenyan children through Compassion International. In a year of unforeseen challenges along with the enduring effects of COVID-19, Hope Media Group listeners served as the hands and feet of Jesus like never before.

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KCBI shares Jesus’ love and transforming power in Dallas-Fort Worth, inviting listeners to join the station in serving the community. KCBI Outreaches blessed nearly 67,000 individuals in 2021. In February, KCBI listeners provided 25,000 bottles of water to people in DFW whose water supply had been contaminated after an unprecedented winter storm disrupted power for several days. Later that month, nearly 1,300 women gathered for KCBI’s HeartStrong Faith Conference in Dallas to worship, pray and grow. Speakers included bestselling author Margaret Feinberg, podcaster Tara-Leigh Cobble, and theologian Nika Spaulding. Through KCBI’s Summer of Service, listeners donated over 13,000 meals, along with 9,000 Bibles, to community members still struggling with the COVID pandemic. Another 350 KCBI volunteers served at local ministries on our Summer of Service Day. They assembled 1,000 Love Boxes for women facing unplanned pregnancies; prepped backpacks, sorted clothing and distributed food to those in need; and prepped nearly 2,000 shoes for kids whose parents otherwise couldn’t afford them. Thanks to listeners’ generosity, KCBI distributed more than 32,000 Bibles to Texas prisons, human trafficking ministries and humanitarian ministries in 2021. Listeners purchased sonograms for pregnancy centers, which helped save more than 5,500 babies from abortion. They provided 38,000 bottles of water, along with 500 Bibles, to victims of the devastating tornadoes that swept through Kentucky in December. And throughout 2021, listeners offered more than 21,300 prayers for requests through KCBI’s Online Prayer Center. KCBI is grateful to God for the opportunity to impact DFW and beyond with Jesus’ love and transforming power.

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Life 102.5 has a heart for Madison! For the 4th year in a row, during Valentine’s season, Life 102.5 invited listeners to share the love of Jesus with children and families receiving care at the Children’s Hospital. Listeners generously provided 2,234 Lego kits for the children. Afternoon host Summer Shepherd interviewed Dr. Melissa Mork on her award-winning podcast, “No Seriously, How Do I Do This?” Their conversation inspired the station’s “Embrace Play” giveaway, supporting families’ mental health during the pandemic. Life 102.5 provided a week’s worth of experiences for listeners, including art classes, game nights, and more. Morning Show host Dave Conour joined Team World Vision and rang two full marathons to bring attention to World Vision’s efforts of providing clean water to children and families around the world, Dave’s many miles provided 260 families with clean water for life! Life 102.5’s 21st annual Shoebox Gifts for Kids drive collected more than 1500 Christmas boxes of school supplies, hygiene items, toys, and winter clothing for children in Dane County. It was the station’s largest year yet. Amanda Brooks, Morning Show co-host and host of the weekly program “Faith & Life Today” focused on giving voice to women’s health, family and children’s issues in Madison including, education, marriage and divorce, immigration, and social justice. Life 102.5 had a wonderful year of reaching families, through children, with the love of Jesus. That’s why in 2022, Life 102.5’s outreach goal is focused on helping the most vulnerable children and their families in Madison and Southern Wisconsin.

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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.

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2022 Membership Exclusives

January – 2022 Calendar
February – Social Series for Holy Week
March – Virtual Radio Station Field Trip
April – Book
May – Mediabase Webinar
June – Surprise at Momentum
July – Exclusive Momentum Content
August – Virtual Peer Networking Gathering
September – Fall Fun Box
October – Techsurvey Webinar
November – Noisemaker Promotions Vol 2 Book
December – Christmas Surprise 

*subject to change

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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