Connoisseur Names Gordon Mays OM for Suburban Chicago

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 10:27am CT

Gordon Mays

Connoisseur Media appoints veteran programmer and manager Gordon Mays as Operations Manager for its suburban Chicago cluster. Mays, who most recently held a similar role in Milwaukee, brings nearly 25 years of experience in operations and programming in both the Milwaukee and Rockford markets.

Local Market Manager Karl Wertzler said the hire comes after an extensive nationwide search. "This seems like a natural fit and the timing was certainly right. We did an extensive, nationwide search, and we found a guy right in our backyard with great experience and solid knowledge of the areas we serve," Wertzler noted.

In his new role, Mays will oversee programming and strategy for the "Star Stations," 105.5 WZSR and 96.7 WSSR, along with WERV (95.9 The River). He will also provide oversight across the remainder of Connoisseur's Chicagoland portfolio, which includes Free Country outlets 102.3 WXLC and 98.3 WCCQ, Rock WIIL and WRXQ, and AM signals WJOL, WLIP, and WKRS.

Mays, a Chicago-area native, said he is eager to return home to lead the group. "It's so exciting to be joining Connoisseur Chicagoland right now and getting to work with such a talented, passionate team that I've followed and admired for many years. Being born and raised in these Chicago Suburbs, I have so much appreciation for Karl Wertzler, Brian Foster, and Keith Dakin for their shared vision and opportunity to make real, authentic connections with communities I've always called home."

Mays officially joins the Connoisseur Chicagoland team on Monday, September 29.