10 Questions with ... Deana McGuire

NAME:Deana McGuire POSITION:PD/Middays STATION:KQIZ 93.1 The Beat MARKET:Amarillo, TX COMPANY:Cumulus BORN:Amarillo, TX RAISED:Amarillo, TX

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started as an intern in February 1990. I did phone research, emptied trash, set up remotes, prepared studio for the Morning Show, made coffee, etc. I've been the PD here for five years. We've been the #1 station in Amarillo for two years. I've been here my entire career.

1. What was your last non-radio job?

I worked at an ad-agency and worked at a grocery store deli....that didn't last long. The turkeys weighed 30 pounds, I weighed 90

2. You've been at KQIZ for quite awhile. That kind of longevity is virtually unheard of in radio, let alone contemporary music radio. How have you done it?

Hmmmm, luck. Good or bad, I guess it depends on how you look at things. I started as an intern, and moved my way up to the 4a-6a Sunday Morning Shift, then ran Rick Dee's on vinyl 8a-Noon. My health got really bad in the early 90's, so I just kind of lingered as a Part-timer until around 1995. I started filling in for Nights, Afternoons, where ever they needed me. Around 1997, my GM asked me if I wanted to be the Morning Show Co-Host for Eric Stevens...I got up the nerve, and here we are!

3. Is there a specific task or responsibility as PD that you love more than the others?

I love changing my community! It took me 10 years to get ANYONE to listen to me about Hip Hop and R&B. When KQIZ took a big dump in 2000, they asked me if I could fix it. I said yeah,"drop the Faith Hill, and let me spin Urban Hits". So I basically introduced this format to Amarillo, and with our success, I hope it's going to be a format here well after I'm gone. The music, it's all about the music for me...thats my favorite part of the gig. People have asked why I've never gotten a gig in a bigger market.. I've never even tried. EVER! I had to fix my city before I move to another spot.

4. What's the highlight of your radio career to date?

Maybe the first time my station was #1! Or it would have to be sitting in the conference room with Mr. John Dickey, my Regional Director, my Ops-Mgr, Market Mgr., and my Consultant Mark Pollitt. We were going over Arb #'s and Perceptuals. Both showed KQIZ as the 800 Pound Gorilla in the market. #1 12+, 18-34, 18-49, Women, Men...we owned them all. To sit there as the only female in a room of rich, successful men, and listen to them sing my praises, the stations praises, the formats praises, and to have them tell me they wished all their Program Directors were as talented and focused as I am...it was surreal. It really gave me a lot of confidence in my abilities and knowledge of the format.

5. What secret about Deana McGuire will surprise even those that know you?

I'm a B-Girl at heart...I was a little poppin', lockin', graffiti drawing, hoodie wearing, kid that happened to get hold of a 100,000 Watt radio station! I had a sequined Michael Jackson Glove and a Thriller Jacket... (I doubt if that's much of a secret to those who know me!)

6. What do you remember most from your first shift on the air?

It was at KACV FM-Amarillo College's 100,000 Watt station...we did Classical Shifts, ran symphonies, etc. We got to open the mic like 4 times in 4 hours...read time, temp, and a PSA. My PSA was for folks needing help with their tax prep. The way I read it, it sounded like one person had all these problems instead of a group of various people "The poor disabled elderly blind homeless veterans". I didn't pause or breathe, so it sounded REALLY bad. Oh yeah, just by coincidence, my husband, AARON GAMBLE's first shift was that same night with me He now does nights at KZRK-Rock 108.

7. Who do you consider your mentor(s)?

Professionally - Eric STEVENS, RICK MATCHETT, BART ALLISON, JAMEY KARR, and MARK POLLITT. Personally, HILLARY CLINTON...she takes all the lumps...smiles...and refuses to let 'em knock her off the TOP! I also really admire JANE GOODALL and her work with animals. I have to say JUSTIN TYME, 'cause he's sitting here.

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Not sure but when I'm too old for Top 40 (I'm 34 now) I want to do either Sports/NewsTalk (I would eat Hannity and O'Reilly up)...or Hot AC with a Deana twist. I think I could wreck shop with the old chics like me! Plus I love cheesy slow jams and old skool tunes.

9. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

I'd be a promoter (fights, events, not just concerts)...maybe own an Ad-Agency....work my way into the Dallas Cowboys Organization.

10. Feel free to paint with a broad brush...What would you change about the radio business?

No more voice tracked stations...it's bad for the community, takes jobs/tax base out of the city. Waters down the individual personalities of cities. Whats hot in Amarillo is a world away from what's hot in Green Bay...but now, we all sound about the same. No more Clear Channels. De-regulation is evil...like Republicans! (hee hee) Stop forcing radio to become Burger King...we are not all the same!

Sushi and sake or Pizza and beer?

Sushi and Draft Beer!