CMB Industry Shout-out – Mike Couchman

“Shout out to Mike Couchman! I promise I’m not name-dropping; I know everybody likes to give him a shout out. But for real, Mike gave me my first post-college radio job. We grew up at the same church in Lansing, MI. I had been working in television when he was a PD at the local CCM station. I used to bug him to play more classics from the 70’s and 80’s like Petra and the Imperials. He would always shoot me down. Then one day I half-jokingly said, ‘If you’re not going to play my classics, then why don’t you just hire me to do an all-request oldies show?’ To my surprise he said yes, and just like that I was back behind the microphone. That led to some voice tracking opportunities and eventually I left television to work full-time in radio and I haven’t looked back since. Recently, I had the opportunity to reconnect with Mike for a minute at the CMB Summit in Charlotte and it reminded me of how fortunate I am to have crossed his path so many years ago. I’m extremely thankful for where I am today, in part because of his influence. Thanks, Mike!”