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10 Questions with ... John Illk
June 26, 2020
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started in radio as a part time board operator at WOOD Radio in May 2004 after taking Phil Tower's Intro to Radio Class at Aquinas College in Fall 2003. I worked my way up from a once a week overnight board operator to being able to fill in for the Program Director when I left WOOD in April 2010. Next was working at the Talk Radio Network Operations Center in Central Point, Oregon (near Medford) as a Production Tech until June 2011. After TRN fired me before i could fire them, I was then on the beach until December 2011, when I reunited with Phil Tower at WOOD Radio.
1. What got you into radio in the first place? Why radio?
Well, radio had to knock on the door three times for me to answer. First was winning a poster and getting a tour of AM 1280 Radio AAHS when I was in second grade. Second was winning the "take Angi Taylor to prom" contest from KDWB's Dave Ryan in the Morning in my senior year of High School. The third knock was that I needed to pick up a half semester class and Intro to Radio look like a good class to take.
2. You handle producing and operations at your cluster. Take us through a typical day for you: What do you do from wake-up to the end of the day?
First of all, the best part is that not every day is the same. Usually a part of my day will involve problem solving, a/k/a "putting out a fire," which is one of my favorite parts. The daily duties involve everything from checking the station automation, website, keeping social media up to date, daily and weekly imaging, producing a live sports broadcast on multiple nights (when we had sports), and just making sure all the pieces that make the station sound good are running. Last, on Saturday mornings, I produce the Flowerland Garden Show with Rick Vuyst where we have "open lawn Saturday" and a "kick in the plants."
3. I've run into you at several conferences over the years; while most of the radio conferences are on pause, let's reflect a little. What would you say has been the thing of greatest value that you got from attending radio conventions like The Conclave?
Expanding my network and knowledge base. To survive and thrive in this business, it's who you know and what you know. I thought I knew a lot when I went to my first Conclave in 2007, but after that first conference I knew I had much more to learn.
4. Looking at the industry overall, are you optimistic about radio's future (post-pandemic, that is) or negative? Where do you see things going for the medium?
I'm positive overall, because people have rediscovered audio the last few years via podcasting and the pandemic. I hope we will see that radio will be more about personality and lifestyle than just playing music and commercials.
5. Speaking of the pandemic, how has the iHeart Grand Rapids cluster adapted to the situation? How much remote broadcasting has there been, who's been going to the studios all along, and where do things stand now? How close to business-as-usual are you now (mid-June 2020)?
First of all, our Market Manager Tim Feagan, VP of Programming Dave Taft, Chief Engineer Rich Bass, and IT Director Marc Hill were able to set up all of our talent with the ability to work remotely if the building we work in was shut down. Most if not all our of Monday through Friday hosts haven't had to host their shows from home, and still came in to the studio every day. I have been working every day from the studios, and it was great, because I'm not the biggest fan of working from home. We are still having most of the non-programming staff still work remotely for the time being.
6. Who have been your influences, inspirations, and/or mentors in the business?
First of all, I wouldn't be in this business without my "radio Godfather" Phil Tower, who has helped guided me through my career so far. Also Ryan Wrecker has helped me learn everything from running a sound board to career advice. Josh Leng has also taught me much about this business, especially since he has worked in local and syndicated radio. Valerie Geller has taught me what you need to know to have a successful show, which I then relay to all the talent I have produced.
Also (in no particular order and sorry if I missed someone), Mary Walter, Rick Vuyst, Angie Vuyst, Perry Michael Simon, Dave Taft, Steve Kelly, Bob Kaser, Phil Azoon, Jim Cutler, Dawn Cutler, Victor Lisle, Kim Lozano, Brian Holmes, Doug Montgomery, Jon Justice, Rita Cosby, B.J. Shea, Conrad, Steve Versnick, Kelly Iris, Greg Moceri, Gabe Hobbs, Dom Theodore, Justin Barclay, Scott Stanley, Kelly Doherty, Mary Kronkowski, Gary Allen, Rick Beckett, Tony Brooks, Will Sterrett, Lori Lewis, J.R. Muller.
7. Of what are you most proud?
I'm proud of the success of every talent I have produced and the many producers I have trained over the years. I'm also proud of the many Michigan Association of Broadcasters awards that I helped win for the stations.
8. What's your career goal? Where do you want to be in ten or twenty years?
I would love to be a consultant working with people and brands on their media strategy.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________.
...people and coffee. Usually Tim Horton's or Biggby Coffee.
10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career so far?
The most important was from Jon Justice, and that was to not burn bridges. It's because that bridge may help you get that next gig.
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