Beasley/Augusta Promotes Chris O'Kelley to OM

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Beasley Broadcast Augusta has promoted Chris O'Kelley to operations manager for the Augusta, Georgia cluster including New Country Kicks 99 WKXC-FM; 580 AM and 95.1 FM News Talk WGAC; HD 98.3 WHHD-FM; 93.9 BOB FM WDRR-FM; 95 Rock at 95.5 FM and 1480 AM; WGUS-FM The Southern Gospel Station at 102.7 FM and 93.1 FM; and WRDW-AM 1630 News Talk Sports. O'Kelley will report to Vice President and Market Manager Mark Haddon and replaces Tee Gentry, who is leaving the market to pursue other programming opportunities within Beasley.

Most recently, Chris served as both music director and assistant program director for Kicks 99 WKXC-FM, positions he has held since joining Beasley Broadcast Augusta in 2004. As the newly named operations manager, Chris oversees all programming aspects for each of the radio stations in Beasley's Augusta cluster.

A veteran radio programmer, Chris earned his first program director position in 1994 and enjoyed stops, in subsequent years, at a variety of country-formatted radio stations in Fort Myers, FL, Ocean City, MD, and Lynchburg, VA. During those early years, Chris' only non-programming experience was a brief stint as promotions director of Beasley Broadcast's Kiss Country 99 WKIS in Miami. Chris' enthusiasm for radio broadcasting began while in high school at WSNW-AM & WBFM-FM in the Greenville/Spartanburg SC market.

Vice President and Market Manager Mark Haddon comments, "When you have a cluster like ours, with many long-term employees, you get to know the unique strengths that each person brings to his or her job. When positions open up and you can offer a dedicated employee a new opportunity to shine, it sure is rewarding. Chris O'Kelley is recognized and involved in our community. He is prepared to step into the role of operations manager for our cluster and I know he will do a fine job."

Chris O'Kelly says, "I guess you could say I'm beyond excited. Following Tee Gentry is a tall order. Tee has been my mentor, my colleague and my friend for 20 years. I can't thank him, and our former market manager Kent Dunn, enough for all they have taught me over the years and for their belief in me with this new promotion. Beasley Augusta has a new, strong management team in place with Mark Haddon leading the way. We're family here and this place is home to me. I'm honored and ready to give it my all."