10 Questions with ... Gino Flores

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I've have been fortunate enough to survive 17 years in the same market, for the same group, on the same station! I began in April 2000 as a part time college student helping in promotions/on air. After 6 months, I went from parttimer to being the night jock on the #1 station in town. In 2003, I added Promotion Director duties while still maintaining nights. A year later, I moved to afternoons and kept that slot until the morning position opened up in 2008. When the company restructured in 2009 my Promotion Director duties were taken away and all promotions were consolidated to one Marketing Director for the cluster.

In 2010, I was asked to become APD by then PD Kelly "Boogie" Brandt. I remained APD until April of this year when I was promoted to PD of KZFM. Then only a month later I assumed PD duties of sister station KKBA after the passing of Rudy Ramos Garza.

I'm sorry, did you say to keep it brief?

1. What got you into radio?

I was actually trying to get into television news so I decided to major in Communications with a minor in Political Science. Part of the degree plan was to do some radio for the campus station. That was my first experience with a mic. I also worked at a gym part time. That's where I met my future program director. My coworker told him that I was a DJ for the college station. He asked for a demo. The rest as they say is history.

2. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up

I had aspirations of being an attorney. Even in college some of my poli sci professors urged me to pursue a career in law. It didn't turn out that way but I've had a great career none the less. I'm still down for a good debate so before you call me on your song just know I'm ready! :)

3. What's the best thing about spending your radio career at the same station?

Knowing the audience like they are all family and friends. I can truly say this is MY city. I was born here. I was raised here. I went to college here. I've spent 16 years on the radio here. I truly know this market. These are my people. I think it makes my job a hell of alot easier.

4. What might be the downside?

The only thing that bugs me at times is will I ever be as good as a Michael Martin, or a John Ivey? These are major market guys, programming geniuses but they made moves to get to the top and learned along the way at each stop. I haven't gone down that road, yet.

5. Isn't KZFM coming off of a big Fall 2016 book? How did you do and what to you attribute the success to?

YES! We actually had a Spring 2016 book where we were #1 in the market. This Fall 2016 book was another big one. We finished 2nd up to a 7.5 from 6.8 12+. This is a great group of people that I am proud to lead. We are live mornings, middays, afternoons and nights. We still use live part time jocks on weekends. Plus, we have R Dub with Slow Jams and we utilize DJ Grooves and his mixshows as well. Our imaging is fire with Dr. Dave Ferguson as voiceover guy and our boys from The MixGroup handling the imaging duties. Just a great package.

6. In addition to being the PD, you're also the morning guy at KZFM. How do you balance your time and who is on the morning show with you?

I am actually the Operations Manager overseeing all three of our brands within Malkan Interactive. I program KZFM and our new active rocker KKBA plus help guide our News/Talk KEYS-A. On air, I have a morning show along with my road dog, Erika on KZFM. I also, track Middays on KKBA. It's alot of duties but I get up early and I get it done. I am a list maker and it really helps. But I would be lying if I said I didn't have a lot of help. Erika, my morning co-host, is also my Music Director. She schedules all of KZFM and handles a majority of it's tasks. I also have a superb Promotions Director, Daniel Luna. He keeps me on top of promotions and remote schedules. These two people are diamonds and will one day go on to bigger and better things.

7. What's your favorite song on the station right now?

LOL. hmmm...Right now we are playing a record by Play N Skillz, Wisin, Frankie J, and Leslie Grace called "Si Una Vez". It's a remake of an old Selena song. Not Gomez! The original Selena. This record would not work anywhere else besides a Latin market like Corpus Christi. But that's what makes us so unique! Bad and Boujee, Fake Love, Black Beatles, all the rhythm stations play those songs but we also take care of the market with that latin flavor that makes us one of a kind.

8. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

Scary question. I would probably go back to school before anything else. Get a degree in a field where you actually MAKE MONEY!

9. What would probably surprise most people about Corpus Christi?

Corpus has alot of beauty to it. Many people who visit don't get to see all of what Corpus has to offer. I've had many friends come visit to be surprised at how gorgeous the bayfront is at night. The cost of living is fairly inexpensive and the food is good!

10. You're deeply into Muay Thai/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Which record promotion executive do you think has untapped Mixed Martial Arts potential?

LMAO. Great question! I trained in Muay Thai for 7 years and now most recently have spent a couple years in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I believe Franco Iemmello from RED has some pent up aggression just waiting to be put to good use!

Which actor would play Gino in at movie about KZFM? Who would portray Erika, your MD and morning co-host?

Vin Diesel, of course. Can't you see the resemblance? I'm talking about the bald head!!! ;) Erika would be played by Amy Schumer or some smartass comedian. Always talking s**t!

It's still early in 2017. What would you like to do better in 2017?

Listen more. Speak less.