Kellar Delivers Experience for Future Broadcasters

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, July 6, 2012 | 3:32pm CT

Twenty eight broadcast professionals will gather to teach seventeen students who have come to learn at the 6th annual Kellar Radio Talent Institute on the campus of Appalachian State University, July 9 through 18. The Kellar Radio Talent Institute is an intense 10-day curriculum that has led students to jobs in the broadcast industry or a related field.

Many of those student are now working professionally at CNN, Entercom, Clear Channel, CBS, Beasley, Curtis Media and Greater Media and in positions ranging from traffic, on-air, sales, promotions and interactive.

"Most importantly," said Founder and Director of the Kellar Radio Talent Institute Dan Vallie, "with 7 out of ten of these students to date starting their careers in broadcasting or a related field, we are developing the next generation of broadcasters. The students come with enthusiasm and passion for the business and its very impressive how industry professionals sacrifice their time to come to the campus to teach sessions and give back to the industry."

This year, Allen Shaw, President/CEO of Centennial Communications, opens the Institute with the "Getting in, Becoming an Entrepreneur" session. Phil Zachary President of Curtis Media closes ten days later with "Now is the time to start thinking like a Pro"

Industry pros leading the sales sessions this year include Trip Savery, Director of Sales, Greater Media Charlotte; Alex Mctighe National Sales Manager, Curtis Media Group Raleigh; Gary Weiss, Regional VP for Radio One in Raleigh; and Gary Fisher, Owner of Equity Communications in Atlantic City, NJ. They will teach the RAB sales modules that lead to each student becoming RAB certified as Radio Marketing Professionals.

Teaching the air talent and production sessions include Steve Reynolds of the Reynolds Group; Don Anthony from Morning Show and Talk Radio Boot camps; John Hancock, WBT Greater Media Charlotte, DZL, 106.5 The End, Clear Channel Charlotte; Arroe Collins, Production Director, Clear Channel Charlotte; Dave Aiken, WKZL and ROCK 92, Greensboro Winston Salem, Tias Shuster, PD B93.7 & Magic 98.9, Entercom Greenville-Spartanburg SC.

Programming and promotions sessions are led by John Reynolds of KISS/K104.7 CBS Charlotte; Jack Daniel, 106.5 The End, Clear Channel Charlotte; Carl East, WBT, Greater Media Charlotte, Bruce Wheeler and Jason Goodman, WKZL & Rock 92, Greensboro Winston Salem; and Keaira Huffman, Entercom Radio, Greenville-Spartanburg SC.

"Two Guys Named Chris," the morning show of Rock 92 in Greensboro-Winston Salem, will do their morning show live on Friday morning with the students as the live radio audience.

Mick Mixon play-by-play announcer of the NFL Carolina Panthers, Doug Rice, President and Voice of Performance Racing Network and Scott Lauer play-by-play announcer of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats will anchor the sports broadcasting day for the students.

The Kellar Radio Talent Institute is named for former broadcaster Art Kellar who gave $500,000 through the Kellar Family Foundation to help create the Institute to bring young people into the industry. Art founded EZ Communications in 1970, and merged with American Radio Systems in 1996, which later sold to CBS.

For the third year in a row the Institute will receive partial sponsorship from the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, both financially and in with board members committing their time to teach sessions. The NCAB is widely recognized as one of the top associations for broadcasters in the nation in terms of legislative victories, education, services, benefits and legal assistance.