In May of 2018, Chris Forgy was promoted to Senior VP of Operations for Saga Communications. CEO Ed Christian and company created the position for Forgy who had been managing Saga’s cluster in Columbus. Christian called his new corporate executive “a world-class broadcaster whose contributions to Saga will be very important and strategic.” In 2019, Radio Ink named Forgy one of Radio’s Top 20 Leaders for the first time since we created the list three years ago.
Forgy joined Saga in 1995 as Director of Sales for the company’s stations in Columbus, until 2006. He left Saga from 2006 to 2011 to serve as General Manager of radio clusters for other companies, before rejoining Saga as President and General Manager of the Columbus market where he’s been until he was moved to corporate.
Radio Ink: What has made you a great leader throughout your career?
Forgy: Interesting you used the word “great” in your question regarding leadership. Years ago I adopted an acronym that is the foundation to my leadership compass. G.R.E.A.T! In my world, G.R.E.A.T. means Gratitude, Respect, Enthusiasm, Accountability, and Teamwork.
In all that I do, G.R.E.A.T. is the leadership roadmap. The ultimate goal for me is to attempt to become an elite leader. Elite is simply being better today than you were yesterday and better tomorrow than you were today. You cannot grow your people if you are not willing to grow yourself.
Most importantly, my leadership development has come from those who made a conscious effort to mentor and grow me. They are the ones who led me into leadership by pouring parts of themselves into me.
By taking their time and energy to help me to grow and to make me better. My boss, Ed Christian, has been doing that for me for nearly 20 years. And continues to do so every day. My Dad, Darris, a 49-year radio veteran, and Zemira Jones are others who have impacted my approach to leadership. Without these people in my life I could not and would not be the leader I am becoming today.
Radio Ink: Are you happy with the current leadership in the industry?
Forgy: We all make mistakes and there have certainly been many, well-documented leadership blunders take place in our industry from a number of different sources. I can’t control that. I am certainly happy with the leadership in Saga. Ed Christian has built a solid, steady growing company with a crystal clear vision that those inside the organization see, believe in, and live every day.
Ed (Christian) says, If you do compelling local radio, people will listen. If people will listen, you can go and sell advertising with absolute certainty that it will work as long as you have creative copy. This is the formula that builds results and creates loyal customers.
Radio Ink: What are the top three characteristics needed to lead people during these times in radio?
Forgy: 1) To build a clear, concise culture in the organization and manage to that culture without compromise every day and don’t worry about what you can’t control.
2) When making decisions for your people and for the organization … When you are crystal clear the decision that you are making is the right one for the culture and the success of the organization. Be swift with the decision. Not now, but right now. Ed often says, Be good to the enterprise and the enterprise will be good to you.
3) Find, hire, and develop talent — first! Whether it’s in sales, promotions, programming, finance, or engineering. Constantly be recruiting and pouring yourself into your people. Train, teach, mentor, and encourage your team. Be present right there alongside them.
Radio Ink: Is the radio industry in a good place, and what would put it in a better place?
Forgy: Radio is in a good place. We are not doing ourselves any favors. The only radio “press” that John Q public sees is that of bankruptcies and countervailing forces like Sirius, Pandora, etc. that are “allegedly” the death of radio. Not true. I think all of us in this great industry need to focus on the things we can control. We need to be the messenger for our industry.
We are emotional beings and we need to do a better job of communicating the emotion of certainty about our industry to our listeners, our advertisers, and our investors. Another reason why impeccable sales training is a must.
Radio Ink: What is your position on ownership and deregulation?
Forgy: I think some of the radio companies need to push away from the buffet table. Buying too much, too fast, and for too much money.
I don’t think anybody’s really building for the long term. Look at all the bankruptcies. There are more coming, it’s rather scary. As I have said before, we can’t control that so we don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.
G – I am grateful for the career I have with the company I serve.
R – Respect the industry that I have spent 38 years in.
E – Am enthusiastic about our future and the opportunity I have been given to grow our people.
A – Have an attitude of growth and servanthood first toward all of our people.
T – Have a wonderful team of leaders in Saga that I am honored and thankful to serve alongside.
That’s how I define G.R.E.A.T. leadership.
Reach out to Chris to congratulate him on being chosen one of Radio’s Top 20 Leaders in 2019 [email protected]
