10 Questions with ... Mia Mance

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I have been blessed to live out all of my radio dreams from starting as an intern for FOX Sports at the University of Arizona, where I worked with Fox Sports West Anchor Sean Mooney who had radio shows and a TV show. I got to do game day crew coverage with ESPN/ABC for University of Arizona football and basketball games. I graduated from Arizona, I planned to go to law school and went home to Atlanta, GA to lay low until I started law school. During that time, I took on promotional modeling to help pay the bills and ran into WBTS (95.5 the BEAT) doing a remote. I met the BEAT street team on Saturday, asked if they were hiring and I got hired in a week. (Thank you Nick Tapp, Sean Mack and Caroline Riegel)

From there, this radio superstar, Austin was on at night at 95.5 THE BEAT and he had this feature called the Hip Hop Headlines, the person who did the feature did not show up, so Austin called me and was like, "get to the studio in 20 minutes and you are going on air." On the air at night in Atlanta, on Austin's big night show on 95.5 THE BEAT- a life dream come true! From there I became the "Hip Hop Headlines Diva", Programming superstars Lee Cagle and Jonathan Maverick gave me a shot to do weekends on the BEAT!

My life forever changed when radio god, Phil Becker, gave me my first full time radio job in Ft. Wayne, IN on WJFX (HOT 107.9). We made ratings history but Phil also opened up the door that is the core of who I am in becoming a Public Service Director. I have always known you could change the world with the power of radio. I had to leave Ft. Wayne and head to Fargo, North Dakota to earn my Music Director stripes hired by radio legend/SHERO/brilliant woman in radio, Janice Whittemore and Big Dog Mike Kapel. From there I got the call to hit the Twin Cities and work for the New 96.3 NOW, I left that opportunity and later bounced back into radio in Bismarck, ND as a PD at KKCT. Then I programmed WYYY (Y93) and then got the call from OM legend and rock star Gabe Reynolds to come to Savannah. The rest is history at WXYY. I went from on air, to MD, to APD and now PD. I have done it all. I then took on the title of Public Service Director to super serve our fantastic cities and stay hyper-focused on our local market.

I even had a chance to visit Paris, France and hang out at Swigg FM and got to do a few breaks with their on air team. My family also owns two companies, Mia Talks and the Mance Law Firm. Every day, I'm making my dreams happen.

1. What got you into radio?

My mom raised me listening to the radio. V-103 in Atlanta will forever be my most favorite radio station in the world. My fondest memories with my mom are singing loudly to the radio. In some ways, I honor my mom and my grandma who always wanted to perform. I still feel LUCKY every day working in radio.

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

Famous LOL!

3. What was the biggest change in the move from North Dakota to Savannah?

Easy, the weather! You must respect broadcasters that come out of the frozen tundra, people willing to stand outside, do remotes in -20 degree weather and blizzards. The radio battles in a small state like North Dakota are REAL! That state, working across the state in Fargo and Bismarck made me a better broadcaster and an even better human!

4. Was there a defining moment in your career that told you that you wanted to go into programming?

Yes, the under representation of women has always been a glaring opportunity for radio from PDs, OMs and GMs! Getting more women at the table matters and a shout out to all the ladies who LEAD in the business.

5. Who were some of your radio mentors?

To this day and forever, Phil Becker. Always bank on what Phil says, feels, expresses, predicts and follows. Phil appreciated my heart for the community and I am blessed that he has ALWAYS pushed for me.

Janice Whittemore, any good thing you see that I have had a chance to be a part of, there is Janice. The way I think about the radio business, program, image, promote, coach, train, sell, work with clients and put listeners first starts with Janice Whittemore! This woman is on the beach and I would love to see a radio group let her lead them to victory!

6. What might surprise people about Savannah?

Everything, Savannah is its own entity. Know your listeners, know your community, put the community first and learn from the city. This is not a town you takeover. If you win here, it's because you busted your ass for it!

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

A United Nations Ambassador working on global service projects advocating for women and children, addressing poverty, disease, economic development of 3rd world countries, literacy training, clean water, environmental sustainability and working on making the world a more equitable place for all.

8. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I hang out with my husband. I met him at a radio event and he's still my biggest inspiration and fave person to be around!

9. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?

Duh! Keeping Up With The Kardashians!

10. American Idol, The Voice or America's Got Talent?

America's Got Talent. I truly believe every American and person in the world has a gift!

If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?

SUSHI. It's the perfect meal with protein, fairly healthy and you can eat a lot and never feel guilty!

Savannah is a pretty magical place. What would you like to see MORE of in Savannah?

Savannah has so many amazing musicians like Flaujae, Isaac Smith Band, A Nickel Bag of Funk, Lyn Avenue, Laiken Love, Xuluprophet, Velvet Caravan and Liquid Ginger who should be spinning on radio, who should be national and international music phenoms. I would like to see us push our talent as far as they can go and them be recognized globally for what they add to music!