10 Questions with ... Flick

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started at the CC cluster in my hometown of Youngstown, OH, worked my way up to the night show within two years, and was hired at the returning B94/WBZW Pittsburgh. I made the move across the street to 96.1 Kiss/WKST after almost two-and-a-half years. I have now been here since March '10 ... and love it!

1) What led you to a career in radio?

I knew some people in radio, so I'd been exposed to "the bug" early on. I caught it. There's no cure ... not even a rubbing cream.

2) What is your favorite part of the job?

I love programming. Being a jock was my first passion in the business, but I think we sometimes forget that everything we do on the air has the possibility of improving the day of our listeners, even if it's just in a small way. Someone could be having the worst day of their life ... they hear their favorite song on the air, they feel a bit better. How cool is that?!

3) What's the coolest promotion you've EVER been involved with?

I know it's done in other markets, but last Christmas season was my first one here and my first "Stuff-a-bus." Add together the collective dedication of our staff, especially Mikey, Bob and our promotions director Amanda, with the connection the promotion has to our listeners, and the stories you'd hear about husbands being overseas fighting for our country, writing to their wives saying "make sure you take some toys down this year," and you've got something that should make anyone take a few steps back. I was in awe of that equation.

4) What artist would we be surprised to find on your iPod?

Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra. Seriously, do we have entertainers anymore like we did with guys like him, Dean, Sammy and Gene Kelly?! (Doesn't hurt that Gene was a Pittsburgh guy.)

5) Could you give us a little insight into your on-air staff?

I'm lucky to work with some of the most naturally creative and hard-working people I've ever met in my life. The Freak Show (Mikey and Big Bob) have no off switch. They're hilarious on the air, and they're just that funny in the hallway. That's just who they are. Tall Cathy ... is tall. It's not just a clever name. She also happens to be completely relatable on-air, driven, eager and constantly plugged into what's going on in the market. Scottro is nothing but dedicated to the cause, the uber-team player.

6) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?

There are way too many guys who I think are mega-talented, and I like them because not only have I been able to learn from them by listening, but I've been lucky enough to get to pick their brains over the years. Kasper (WAKS), Jagger (WKTU), Toby Knapp (WIHT), to name a few...

7) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?

I don't feel like I've "worked" a day in it ... and I've never had two days that were the same. There's always something going on. We're all lucky to do this for a living.

8) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Work hard. It pays off ... and you've still got more to learn.

9) What advice you would give people new to the business?

Learn everything you can and make sure you have a life outside of the business. The things in your personal life are going to be fuel for the fire.

10) What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?

It's dying? Did it leave me anything in its will? I think it's a matter of perspective. I've never seen it as dying. I think it's evolving with the technology and the way our listeners consume not just music, but content in general because of that technology.

For someone vacationing in your market, what one thing would you say they "must see?"

A Primanti's sandwich. Fries, cole slaw, tomato all on the sandwich. It might take some years off your life, but you're going down with a smile ... and a slightly strained belt.