10 Questions with ... Don Buettner

1. Would you please share a brief synopsis of your 37-year career journey though radio, from start to present?

I started as a part-time, weekend jock on the local, small-town Rock station, WKKI in Celina, Ohio on my birthday in 1982, that changed formats a few months later to a satellite-delivered AC format. I stayed on and got promoted to full-time. The owner eventually sold that station. We reunited a couple of years later at another nearby AM/FM combo in Spring 1988. We then moved the FM to Fort Wayne, Indiana that Fall in what became 98.9 The Bear, where I was the MD and Overnight jock for eight years. I came to STAR (known then as simply "WLAB") in November 1996 after tiring of playing Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam and AC/DC.

2. At what point in your life did you know you wanted to be in radio? Did anything or anyone influence that epiphany?

The sixth grade! My brother Mike helped me create a fake station in my room. We even had our own weekly Top 20 chart. Around that time, I'd heard a 52-hour documentary called "The History of Rock and Roll," which only built my passion for pop music history. I can't leave out Casey Kasem and the original "American Top 40."

3. Did you grow up listening to Christian radio? What was the music that shaped your life's soundtrack?

My first exposure to Christian music was while at my first station in the early 80s. The Sports Director hosted a live, weekly two-hour CCM show on Sunday mornings. I would often come in on Sundays to get caught up on work or board op if he taped the show ahead of time. One of my earliest song memories is Amy Grant's "Straight Ahead" album. A typical show usually consisted of Amy, Keith Green, Randy Matthews, Andrae Crouch, Rich Mullins and some song called "Friends" that got played a lot.

4. What could you see yourself doing if you weren't in radio?

Working for the National Football League in the broadcast division. Or operating a chain of Dairy Queen restaurants.

5. You've been producing and programming the weekly syndicated program Keep the Faith for 10 years now. What about your role with KTF has been most valuable to you and how has it made you better?

I value the fact that so much of the content we feature on Keep The Faith is impacting lives. It's amazing the stories we get from listeners all over the world. Personally, there have been numerous pieces and features that helped me through some dark times in my own life, more recently.

6. What are a few career highlights so far that immediately come to mind? Can you recall a time when your professional life was particularly discouraging and feeling rock-bottom?

I used to heavily dislike our industry awards (mainly from the GMA days). But I have to admit, it's been a highlight to have won multiple "Station of the Year" awards since the creation of CMB. A "discouraging" time would have been when STAR was put up for sale (in the open market), but then it turned in to a "highlight" when we won the bid to purchase it.

7. Who are the people you've leaned on most during your time in radio?

The team here at STAR have been wonderful in giving me such great support since my life took an unexpected turn a couple of years ago. Through that, and through some meaningful friendships formed out of DivorceCare. So many of my record label friends have also been there just to "listen" more than anything and that has also meant a lot.

8. Fort Wayne is one of the few small/mid-sized markets supporting more than one local, chart-reporting, Christian radio station. How have you seen Star 88.3 best continue to thrive amongst local competition from year to year?

We're still learning, but we put a lot of energy into things that we hope provides value to listeners, whether it's content between the songs, or visiting with a listener in their home as part of our "Give Love" initiative. What are the experiences we can create that will cause our listeners to say, "Yes, I want to be a part of that. That's why I support the station financially."

9. What are some of the most memorable radio singles that have released throughout your tenure at Star 88.3?

Yikes! I'm in my 23rd year here! Okay, let's see: "I Can Only Imagine," "Butterfly Kisses," "Redeemer," and "How Great is Our God." Let's not forget "Cartoons," or "Big Fish!" More recently, "Do It Again" and "Stand in Your Love." To name just a few.

10. What in your life matters most to you in 2019?

For my 13 year-old daughter Zoe to see Jesus in me! We've walked through some dark times together in recent years.