10 Questions with ... Susan Groves

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• OM - WARQ, WMFX/Columbia SC 1995-2000
• OM - WQBK, WHRL, WKKF/Albany, NY 2000-2002
• PD - WRAX, WZRR/Birmingham, AL 2002-2005
• OM - WFXH, WGZR, WLOW, WGZO, WWVV, WGCO, WFXH-A/Hilton Head-Savannah 2005-2007
• OM - WQLZ, WNNS, WLCE, WMAY-AM Springfield, IL 2008-now

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I decided when I was six that I wanted to be a DJ. I've never pursued anything else. I went to my high school reunion recently and everyone there said it was so amazing that I was doing what I wanted to do as a kid and they never knew anyone like that. But to be honest, it seems like I've met a lot of those people in radio.

2. Who are your mentors?

Sara Fliescher on WIYY/Baltimore when I was a kid (she's STILL on the air!), then Suzy Roeser at WIYY in college. The people who taught me the most along the way -- Scott Burton, Dave Hennessy, Bebop Hobel and Nan Fisher. I want to be Leslie Fram when I grow up.

3. Mid-West Family shuffled job responsibilities around a bit. Tell how you think that will work better for the cluster.

Previously I was handling the actual programming of all three FMs. I'm good, but no one's THAT good. I would get whiplash sometimes when I would add Disturbed on one station and Miley Cyrus on another in the same day. Now we will have individual PDs for each station, with the addition of the incredibly talented Chris Murphy on WNNS and promoting the well-deserving Josie O'Donnell on WLCE ... that just leaves me with WQLZ. Staffing up in this day and age ... who'd have thunk it? These stations really deserve someone focused solely on each one; luckily, my company understands the value of that.

4. What do you like best about your job?

The people I work with. I have fun every day. It's amazing sometimes that this is my job. Every day is different. Some days I feel more like a sales person, some a PD and some a jock. I love that, it never gets boring. I love that I can just do good radio and I don't feel like I have a target on my back like a lot of people I know at bigger companies. Did I mention my GM comes from Programming? Kevan Kavanaugh, he's awesome. He gets what I need to do and helps when he can and stays out of my way when he can. I've learned a lot from him.

5. What are some of your biggest challenges as an independently-owned station?

Honestly, it's so much better than working for the big ones. With the support of my GM, I make my own decisions, sign my own contracts, and do what needs to be done to do business. There is no red tape. The final decision-maker is down the hall; I can get a "yes" or "no" in minutes. A lot of the employees here are shareholders, so it makes us work smarter. We certainly don't throw money around, but we do what we need to do to make good radio. I used to think I'd miss the bells and whistles of equipment that big companies have, but it seem these days we have better stuff than they do.

6. How often do you go out on sales calls and what is your role?

A couple times a week. The purpose varies; sometimes I am there to help explain our properties to a potential client. No one explains programming as well as a programmer. Sometime I'm there to kick around promotional opportunities with an existing client. Sometimes I'm just there to learn more about the business. Often I'm there as air talent; I do a lot of endorsements.

7. What has been your biggest career highlight?

I hope it hasn't happened yet!

8. What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?

Bebop Hobel has given me great advice over the years, most of which I can't repeat. I think the best advice is if you aren't having fun, leave. We put too much of our lives into this; if it's a chore or unfulfilling and you don't have the power to change that, then move on to the next thing. The worst advice came from anyone who ever told me to "grow up." No, thank you.

9. What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

The loss of enthusiasm. Look, this is a business, of course it is. But it's supposed to be one that we put our hearts and souls into. You can't just punch a clock in this job; the results will be half-assed at best. But if there is not enough fun, not enough appreciation shown, and not enough help given to people in programming, why would the next generation want to do this? We note that when we were coming up, we'd sweep the floor just to get an air shift. Well, are we offering jobs that inspire that enthusiasm? We need to be.

10. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?

I've never done much else. I can see being a teacher. That's the part of my job that I enjoy the most ... when I teach someone something and you see that light go on. I love it when people who worked for me a decade ago say that it was something I did or something I taught them that helped them move forward. That's cool.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

I need to learn how to separate from radio. It is my job and my hobby, but I love my two English Bulldogs. And I love to cook. I've gotten pretty good at that since the record dinners don't happen like they used to!

Last non-industry job:

I started radio in high school.

First record ever purchased:

Beatles "Help"

First concert:

Paul Simon

Favorite band of all-time:

How does anyone answer this? The bands that bring me the most joy are the Beatles, Sister Hazel and 2 Skinnee J's.