10 Questions with ... Neke Howse

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

WKYS, KJMZ/Dallas, WAMO/Pittsburgh, WUSL/Philly and WERQ/Baltimore

1) What have you learned while being on the sidelines of this business?

God's grace, wisdom and strength allowed me to step out on faith and try a few things that I have always wanted to experience outside of radio.

2) Will your approach to programming be any different?

Enjoy the victories and cherish the moments and blessings. Take a long story short, live in the moment, and take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.

3) What are the pros and cons of being an on-air PD?

It takes balance and a very structured scheduled. For example, if you find that you are creative in the morning, then that's when all your imaging should be worked on or completed. If possible, do your programming logs during a time of the day that you have no interruptions. It's also important to carve out time for you're on-air talent as well. It is very important that when you do your air shift. You focus on the shift only. Try to resist getting into the habit of doing programming things while on the air. Mistakes will happen, and the result cheapens the product.

The pros of being an on-air programmer: You can see what your jocks see in real time. This allows you to adjust or catch potential issues quicker.

The cons of being an on-air programmer: You don't have a lot of time in the day. This is when having a schedule/list of things to do and a plan of action come in handy. Things can fall through the cracks very easily due to time constraints.

4) Who are some of the people who've helped shape your career?

There has been so many that have helped shape my career. I never liked this question because I never wanted to leave someone important to me out. So, I will list a few attributes and if you are responsible for these things, thank you in advance.

• I have learned to follow my dreams with integrity.
• Always have a plan.
• Give away knowledge to shape others' careers and bare the cross so their journey will be smoother than my own.
• Put God and family first and balance your career with everyday life. Nurture your relationships while staying true to yourself.
• Let your "Yes" mean "Yes," but be kind when you say "No".
• Not being afraid to take chances.
• Just because you have an education it does not necessarily make you intelligent.
• Guard other people's money like it's your own

I am most grateful for a few people who believed in me and gave me an opportunity when others did not. There is one person that I will name who is not in this business but has always had my back and she has taught me to always do the right thing no matter what. I call her "Mommy" lady.

5) Has being an army brat helped you with the process of radio?

Yes, being a child of a parent in the military gives you structure and discipline. You move a lot, so it allows you to practice the art of "change" in real time and how to adapt to "change" quickly. I always had a list of chores and things that needed to be done daily (including activities). Little did I know at the time that this "list of chores" was a small piece of me being very goal-oriented as an adult.

6) At this point, what are your thoughts about going into another profession?

I would love to have different streams of revenue. I see voiceover work, radio consulting, interior design, product branding, wine bar and market investing in my future.

7) How do you see radio evolving?

It's evolving by the minute; radio is more than just radio now. Its NTR, social media, streaming, TV, podcasting, websites, event planning to the 10th power. The list goes on and on.

8) Is there anything about you that would surprise people?

I love to decorate. I think I'm "Miss HGTV." I'm not very good at DIY. It's hit-or-miss with certain projects, but I'm more than willing to try. Decorating pertains to radio, decorating requires that you have a vision from a blank canvass and see your vision come to life. It's very rewarding to see the finished product. You also must have the ability to change a plan in mid-stream because it's better than the original plan or just because the original plan will simply not work. Often decorating requires the involvement of other people (a team) that has a better skill set than your own. That happens a lot in radio. You have a team of people with different skill sets that are working toward a common goal ... winning!

9) What is one of the funniest things you've ever seen or been a part of in radio?

This is not a funny moment but more of a magical moment. I was an intern at a radio station in Dallas where Russ Parr was on the air. Apparently, Donnie Simpson came in town to play golf with Tom Joyner and they both decided to stop by and visit Russ while he was on the air. I thought to myself, I may never see this again in my lifetime.

10) What advice do you have for those hoping for a career in broadcasting?

It's not about you all the time. It's about a collective "Bigger Picture." Hone your skill set, put in the work, and most importantly, put God first.