10 Questions with ... Wes Poe

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started in 1998 in Nacogdoches, TX at KJCS after going to broadcasting school in Phoenix, AZ. From there stops in Phoenix, San Diego, Kansas City, San Diego again, Monterey, and then back home to KC. Being the Program Director so close to my home town is like having my cake and eating it too. The only thing that would make it better is to take a consistent lead in the ratings here. And I have every confidence with my team that goal is within reach.

1) Congratulations on everything, especially your recent marriage to Kristi! What's it like to be a newlywed, and also program a major market radio station?

Being married is great, Kristi is "the one" and is my partner in every sense of the word, and the decision to take on the program director role was something we discussed at length before accepting, because it requires a lot more of my time. The opportunity is a once in a lifetime thing to program in my hometown and I'm glad she understands and accepts the responsibility.

2) You are a native of the area correct? What are the advantages of programming near your hometown?

I am a native Kansan, Ottawa is where I grew up and where we live now. The benefits are many, having my friends and family I've known since I was a little kid around is great and keeps me very grounded. And also gives me a mini focus group of people who are very blunt and don't have an agenda.

3) You started your career in Nacogdoches, TX at KJCS. Why there, and what was that experience like?

I took the job there because they were the first ones to take a chance on a greenhorn just out of broadcasting school. I was doing remotes after a week of being there and the term sink or swim was defined by that place. It was great place to start a career, and helped form a strong foundation for where I am now.

4) Did you grow up with the desire to be in radio? What jocks did you love to listen to growing up?

Radio was something I was interested in, but not my only interest. After working in retail all through high school when I graduated I took a job as a retail rep for Nabisco, and I was driving from store to store working 12 hour days and driving 700 miles a week. I thought "sweet those guys only work 4-5 hours a day in air-conditioning." I used to listen to my current afternoon guy Shotgun Jaxon when he was doing nights on Q104, and all the jocks at Q104 and they were a big reason I decided to get into the biz. They made it sound like the coolest job in the world.

5) You programmed KTOM/Monterey for several years-was it hard leaving the ocean for the Midwest, or was it great to be able to come home?

I did enjoy the West Coast very much and miss a lot of friends in Monterey and San Diego. However it wasn't hard to leave. I used to see my parents about every year and a half now I see them every couple of months because they're retired in TX and they get up here often, not to mention being very close to Kristi's folks. Being home is the best, and I would trade the ocean, any day of the week for it. I'm sure there are a ton of folks out there that would do the same thing.

6) With so much to do, how do you find time to listen to new music-because you seem to listen to everything?

It's not easy, the obvious stuff jumps out and slaps me in the face, but I give credit to tenacious promotions folks for tracking me down by whatever means necessary to get me to listen, and also PROMO MPE for saving me the trouble of loading CD's in my cd player that sits across the room. "FYI, Labels/Artists I don't need hard copies anymore, I do all of my music digitally and don't plan on going back to cd's anytime soon so save a buck or two if you want, on product and postage to me. The only exception is full albums. When I get time I pop those into the CD player and let them roll.

7) What do you and Kristi do during your time off? Do you both have family there?

All of Kristi's family is here and we spend a lot of time with them. My family is more scattered and see them as often as we can make it work. We camp a lot with friends, I tinker on my old Chevy truck and we've been doing a lot of home improvement projects, we're currently in the process of building a detached garage. I look forward to a day when we're done with the majority of home improvement stuff, if there is such a thing.

8) What new artists are you really high on these days?

There is huge talent out there now, Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, Scotty McCreery, The Farm, The Band Perry and I wonder who is going to be the next big thing. It is really nice to see folks like Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert doing so well and moving their careers to the next level, they'll be our next batch of superstars and the fact that they're attracting the younger end of the audience is very promising for the format.

9) Who have been your strongest mentors both in and out of radio?

My Parents first and I had many friends in this business both records and radio, John Marks, John Cook, Chris Loss. I'm getting used to living in a small town again and Kristi's father Charlie is a successful local business owner in Ottawa and spending time with him lately has been an education also.

10) What kind of great stuff do you have planned for the fall at WDAF (The WOLF), can you share with us?

We always have our acoustic Christmas Concert in December to benefit the Salvation Army and I'm getting close to putting the finishing touches on the line up, and outside of that we're gearing up for the winter months and wrapping up 2011 strong.

1) You have a dog named Willie? What kind of dog is he and is he a huge Willie Nelson fan?

He's a beagle lab mix, or "beagador" Look them up on-line, they're good looking dogs and we got him as a shelter puppy at Wayside Waifs here in KC. He loves Willie, and his favorite song is "Bloody Mary Morning" He is a bit of a lush.

2) What would be your TV guilty pleasures-what are you into this fall?

The Closer, NCIS. There is a new one called "Person of Interest" on CBS it's awesome, if they can keep the plots as good as the first two episodes I'm hooked. Beyond that Family Guy and American Dad, and the Power Block on Spike.

3) Favorite guilty pleasure meal?

Good pizza, and OK Joes BBQ