People in the News

Newell Normand is trading in his badge for a microphone. Entercom's WWL in New Orleans has hired Normand to host middays, taking over for longtime host Garland Robinette who's retiring. Normand spent 37 years with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. He'll officially retire as Jefferson Parish Sheriff August 31 and start his new radio hosting duties Monday, September 11.

Tonia O’Connor is promoted to the newly created position. She joined Univision as EVP of Distribution Sales and Marketing in 2008. O’Connor spent more than a decade with Gemstar-TV Guide, where she served in a number of roles, including EVP of distribution, responsible for negotiating technology and intellectual property agreements and programming deals.

Ohana Media Group in Anchorage has hired Sandy Baker as Sales Manager for OMG’s South Central Alaska cluster. Baker spent the past year working in the freight industry and prior to that spent over 15 years with Morris Communications (now owned by Alpha Media) in Anchorage and Wasilla.

Robin Faller will take charge of all of Connoisseur's digital sales efforts after the company hired her this week. Connoisseur is purchasing the Connecticut operation of a digital company called Drive Local. Faller was an employee of that company. She will be based in the corporate office in Westport, CT.

Chuck Tyler is now the Director of Programming for all of Salem's Los Angeles stations, and Scott Valentine of The Fish morning show Scott & Sam also gets promoted to PD at The Fish in L.A.

NRG Media has named Matt Derrick to lead its Omaha FM Operations team. Derrick will oversee KQKQ Sweet 98.5, KOPW Power 106.9, and KOOO 101.9 The Keg. Prior to joining NRG Media, Derrick was a Regional Programming Manager and SVPP for iHeartMedia-Norfolk/Virginia Beach. He's also worked in Houston, San Francisco, and Tulsa.

The three-time Grammy Award-winning musician is also an avid golfer and he’s taking that passion for the game into the hosting role of a new monthly show on the SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio channel. On Par with Darius Rucker will debut July 26 (3:00-4:00 p.m. ET).

And the WRIF-FM Detroit morning show will begin their syndication journey with Boston as their first market. The Dave & Chuck The Freak Morning Show will simulcast on ALT 92.9 /WBOS-FM in Boston beginning today.

Westwood One talk host Jim Bohannon will deliver the summer commencement address at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega, Georgia, on Saturday, July 29. Jim will forgo the "big picture" so popular in commencement addresses, and will tell graduates about the "little picture."

The Grayling, MI, Rock station is getting a makeover with new shows and timeslots. Jomama’s Joy Ride with Jomarie Leone highlights a new lineup of fun, entertainment, and great music on Q100.3 – “The Only Place for Rock & Roll.” Jomama’s new show will run from 3-7 p.m. J.C.