What is your life verse and why?
Galatians 2:20. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” This is the verse that keeps me focused on the fact that “it ain’t about me!” I am not the reason I am here, Jesus is. I am not the one that can make things happen, Jesus is. I am not the one who saved me, Jesus is. And it helps keep me grounded in the power of what Christ did for me on the Cross.
Have you ever had a side hustle or considered having one?
I have actually had a little side hustle for more than 20 years. I buy things at thrift stores, yard sales, or online, and resell them on eBay. It started with personal items back in 2000, and then sports cards and memorabilia. Before long, I was buying and selling vinyl LPs, and now pretty much anything… In January, I started really pouring it on, to see if I could make enough to pay for our family vacation to Hawaii in June. It was quite the challenge, but in less than 6 months I earned more than enough profit to pay for everything! It is all about the hustle for me, way more than what I sell. I will sell anything that makes money… stuffed animals, shoes, clothes, books, hats, electronics, pots and pans… anything! In just over 20 years, I have sold 2182 items on ebay, with a total gross sales to date of over $37,000. It is so much fun, even my wife and kids get in on the action now!
What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Team meetings! I absolutely LOVE my team and I am an Enneagram 7, so I thrive on the team being together. Especially in the past 18 months, with everything being virtual, I have loved the fact our team connects together at least for a little while every single day to celebrate the day’s wins, connect, and share info. I truly think it has helped our team stay connected personally in a way that has helped us be so successful.
What’s the most unusual place you’ve fallen asleep?
I was a weekend jock for the Top40 station in Birmingham (I-95) and worked overnight every Saturday night/Sunday morning from like Midnight to 6am. One week, on Sunday after work, I went to a family function with my then girlfriend, and then headed back to the station around 8pm to run “American Top40 with Casey Casem” which was still on LPs back then… I made the mistake of laying my head down on the counter by the board while I waited for the 15 minute segment to play before my next break… and ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. I woke about 20 mins later to the PD calling the hotline to wake me up and tell me we had dead air! He was mad, and the next day chewed me out for it… then proceeded to tell me about the time he too had fallen asleep on the air… and then all day the DJs all told me their stories. (seems it was a right of passage of sorts…) And to this day, I can never ever even hardly close my eyes in a radio studio for fear of that happening!
What TV family most reminds you of your own?
For sure the Simpsons. I am built like Homer, have a great job I love, and my family is awesome like them too. My wife Tina is super caring, thoughtful and kind just like Marge. Eli is precocious, energetic and creative like Bart. And Naomi is smart, together and talented like Lisa.
Is there any product that you couldn’t live without?
iPhone. I mean it does everything. It is a phone, still and video camera, encyclopedia, map, email, internet. Everything! I can do virtually everything for work, my eBay side hustle and more on it… I am pretty sure I could ditch my laptop before I could get rid of my iPhone.
Who do you admire most in the world?
wow. That is a big tall order right there. Most in the entire world… hmmm. If I am completely honest, I would have to say my wife Tina. She is beautiful, she cares for everything so well, from our family, our animals, her garden and our home. She is incredibly talented (photographer/artist), and she has an amazing spirit about her all the time. I do not know where I would be without her.
(and she puts up with me, so you know she is a saint!!)
Which of your personality traits are you most proud of?
As an Enneagram 7, I would say that I am most proud of the fact I love to meet and talk to people. I tend to never meet a stranger, so if we haven’t met… say hello next time you see me! ?
What’s on your bucket list?
I have thought about this one a lot. I do not think I have a bucket list. I would love to travel and see places and am always looking for the next fun adventure (like Hawaii was last month) but there is nothing I have to do… I just want to make sure I am doing with my awesome family and great friends… then no matter what we do it will be fantastic!
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Believe it or not, Nashville is the place I have always wanted to live. I grew up in Birmingham and had family here and loved visiting… plus the music business is here. I think this is it. We can just visit all the other fun cities.
Jeff Cruz
VP of National Promotion / Provident Label Group
CMB Member Since 2013
Jeff.Cruz@pmgsonymusic.com
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.