Trailblazer

Posted on December 16, 2011 by admin

Always great to hear a grad creating their own path in the industry. Read on for Martone Williams’ story.

Hi Mr. Kernen,

It’s been a very long time! I do hope that things are going well for you and the school. I have been very busy with creating a career for myself in the entertainment business. I would like to thank you and Specs Howard for giving me the tools that I needed to succeed in the world of broadcasting. I produce two popular Internet radio programs that are being heard in over 35 countries. I produce, direct and host a Internet web series program called Industry Revue. Things are certainly going well for my production company Enotram Entertainment. I just signed a deal to produce & direct a comedy DVD for comedian Laura Bartlett.

The reason I am contacting you today is regarding my latest venture. IndustryRevue.com is a entertainment social networking site that is geared to entertainment industry professionals and it will be up and running on 12/31/2011.

Don’t forget to check out his new site in the coming weeks!

Hall of Famer Update

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

Time for a Hall of Famer Update! Alex Tear, who joined the Specs Howard School Hall of Fame in 2005 has worked all over the state in radio including Sault St. Marie, Charlevoix, Cadillac, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. He was recently promoted within Clear Channel to their new Brand Management Team for Mainstream Top 40 stations as the Brand Coordinator and we couldn’t be more proud!

The Brand Management Team is one part of the New National Programming Platforms which will focus on developing on-air and digital programming content as it will leverage Clear Channel’s 850 stations and websites and iHeartRadio for listeners, advertisers and strategic partners.

The new Brand Management Team, which consists of a Brand Manager and Brand Coordinator for each format, will serve as Clear Channel’s in-house format experts. Other responsibilities will include the development of format-specific contest opportunities and involvement in research and major marketing initiatives executed within their respective formats.

It’s a Small World….

Posted on December 12, 2011 by admin

Under the category of “it’s a small world”…how’s this? Grad and Hall of Famer, Ron Bachman was in Toledo for a local car dealer who sponsors his Anti-Bullying program for Elementary and Middle School kids. He was asked to do interviews about the program at several stations, one of which was WKKO-K-100, Toledo’s long time #1 station. The interview was with the Operations Director and Morning show host, Gary Shores…also a Specs Hall of Famer. When Ron arrived he and Gary looked at each other and knew they’d met….and instantly remembered the Hall of Fame Gala where both were inducted. They’d not seen each other since! It IS a small radio world after all!

Reconnecting on Facebook

Posted on December 7, 2011 by admin

Facebook has provided me with a great way to keep in touch with grads wherever they end up. Below is a message I received from grad, Joseph Victor.

Thanks for accepting my friend request Kernen. I just wanted to say thank you for everything you taught me at Specs (from RTV 13-07). I ended up going the radio route through Specs, but things took an unexpected route and I have actually been working in the FILM INDUSTRY for the last couple years. From being a PA on several feature films and TV shows, an assistant director on some short films as well as some features, and recently directing a short film, commercial and TV Show Pilot, which we are waiting to see if we get the green light through the History Channel for. I’ve also have done some minor acting gigs as well with more to come in the future. Although I went to Specs for radio, I owe my current success to everything that Specs has taught me as well as the WONDERFUL teachers the school has. It’s been a real pleasure and I hope to visit the school shortly in the near future!

Thanks,

-Joseph Victor

It is great to hear from a grad working his skills and pushing himself in the industry. Job well done Joseph! If you want to keep in touch with me, I am on both facebook and twitter. Get on the clue bus and let me know what YOU are up to in the biz!

Hall of Fame Talent

Posted on November 29, 2011 by admin

Specs Howard Grad, Kirk Montgomery, is often found reporting on Denver, Colorado station KUSA, but he does much more than that. He is also a talented singer who shares his talents on a new CD. Kirk has collaborated with Denver band Opie Gone Bad on a new holiday album called “Opie Gone Christmas“. It features many acts that are popular in Denver singing a many holiday standards. Proceeds will benefit “9Cares Colorado Shares” a KUSA charity drive that supports local food banks. “Opie Gone Christmas” is available on Itunes along with a bonus track.

You can hear Kirk sing on the Joni Mitchell song, “The River,” and he also helps out by providing back up vocals in other songs on the cd. This is not the first time Kirk has shared his voice for the holiday season, as he has been with Opie Gone Bad before, performing with them in a 2009 holiday video for the song “Because It’s Christmas”.

Amanda Elliot: Game Maker

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin

I admittedly know NOTHING about video games,
but when I mentioned one of our grads

worked on one called “Call of Duty ~ Modern Warfare 3″ to several “younger members” of the faculty, I was very impressed by their reaction. When it included jumping up and down I figured this was a big deal. Amanda Elliot has been out of school for 10 years, and in L.A. for 5. She operates a piece of very sophisticated equipment called a Smoke…don’t ask…but anyway, she’s been working on the game for over a month and it was released this November. If you’re a “gamer”, there’s a trailer online…but then…you probably knew that.

Sports Talk Radio Update

Posted on November 23, 2011 by admin

I recently received an update from a grad and wanted to share with everyone. Read on!

Its me Ben “Country” McCann from the legendary class of RVF 1-10. I am sending you all an update.

Well I started working at Spartan Sports Network the week after graduation and I am still there as a board op. I love it because I got to work the Big Chill in the Big House, and the NCAA tournament games for the Michigan State women’s game. Plus I got to do a little on-air work doing the intermission reports for the MSU hockey games.

Then in December my boss at Spartan Sports Network gave my phone number to WKAR in East Lansing and I went in for an interview. Things went well and last February I was hired as the producer/co-host of Sports Talk AM 870 in East Lansing. Also I am in charge of the facebook page and I write feature articles for the WKAR website. If you are interested and want to hear the show you can listen on-line at WKAR.org, our show is on from 1pm to 2pm everyday.

I have been going to all the Michigan State games and if you tell my favorite instructor Tony Sherock, I am sure he will laugh because he knows I am a Purdue fan but hey a pay-check is a pay-check. Plus I still CAN NOT stand that school from South Bend, but anyways this is starting to sound like a brag letter so I better wrap it up. I just felt the need to update you all on what I was up too.

Thanks again to you all!

Talk to you soon. Ben McCann RVF 1-10

Thanks Ben for the update! Glad to hear you are doing well. I always love hearing from grads and what latest ventures they have been on. If you are a grad and want to update me, drop your Uncle Kernen an email at DKernen@Specshoward.edu.

Grads, Come back to your Future!

Posted on November 21, 2011 by admin

Grads, look into this event we are hosting next week. A great opportunity to learn about our other programs.

As one of our graduates, we invite you to attend our new “Back To Your Future” event on November 30th, 2011.

Here’s why: The more skills you possess, the better you’ll navigate today’s competitive marketplace. Many graduates just like you have returned to Specs Howard and enrolled in our Graphic Design and Digital Media Arts Programs to get ahead in their current jobs or expand their options in a new field.

If you have an eye for color and typography, the Graphic Design Program may be your next step. If you are fascinated by motion graphics and video editing the Digital Media Arts Program may be for you.

Back to Your Future: Program Preview for Grads
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)

Both programs offer flexible schedules. Classes only meet on-campus or on-location two days a week. The rest is delivered online, so you can complete your online classes anytime, anywhere!

Don’t forget! As a grad you qualify for the $1,000 Alumni Scholarship, read more here. And if you enroll in a January 2012 class you can beat the 2012 tuition price increase!

Deadline to RSVP is Nov. 29, 2011. You can also register by calling Raquel D at 866-61-SPECS.

Seats fill fast, so reserve yours today. To register click here.

The Awards Keep on Coming

Posted on November 15, 2011 by admin

In addition to the recent CMA awards won by Edwards & Lee….and WYCD, we congratulate their Program Director, Tim Roberts (not a grad, but we like him anyway) who has just been named one of America’s 10 Best PDs by Radio Ink Magazine. There are thousands of PDs and this is SOME HONOR. He has great advice for future PDs….”in the past few years, having great digital and social media skills are also essential skill sets for us in this position”. We’d add that they are also essential for anyone going into radio. Sincere congratulations Tim.

Congrats to Country!

Posted on November 10, 2011 by admin

Congratulations go out to WYCD and the Edwards & Lee Show!
We were delighted to find out the station won the Country Music Association’s “Large Market Station of the Year” award, and even more excited that the Edwards & Lee show won best Major Market Air Personalities”. This was particularly outstanding since almost always, they name Morning Shows and as you know, they do Afternoon Drive. Oh…did I forget to mention that Lee is SHS Hall of Famer, Linda Lee…silly me. Congratulations to all concerned with this great station.