People in the News

Kelsey McDaniel has been named Director of Marketing for Alpha Media, Portland, OR, and will oversee the Promotions and Marketing for the Portland station cluster. An Oregon native, McDaniel has spent the last seven years in Portland Radio.

Saga agreed to let morning man Mike Violette out of his contract with WGAN in Portland, Maine. Violette was a conservative voice on the station for a dozen years. The 55 year old told the Portland Press Herald it was time for a change. "My kids have both graduated from college. I’m not responsible for their financial well-being anymore. The time has come to see what else is out there. (WGAN) treated me very well.”

Jeff Lyons has been named Promotions and Event Marketing Manager for Adams Radio of Las Cruces where it owns and operates KGRT FM (Country), KSNM FM (Classic Hits), KHQT FM (Hot 103), and KWML AM (Fox Sports).

Amanda Allwood is the new Promotions Director for Cox Media Group Atlanta Radio. Her first day in the role will be Monday, June 27. Allwood will oversee promotions and event marketing for B98.5, 97.1 The River, Kiss 104.1 FM, and News 95.5 FM, and AM 750 WSB.

The Afternoon Rush with Rudy Rush, Ebony Steele, and Loni Swain will debut Monday from American Urban Radio Networks. The show officially replaces the Doug Banks Radio Show which AURN syndicated in the 3-7 p.m. slot. Banks passed away in April at the age of 57.

The all time leading Saints rusher and Saints Hall of Fame inductee will be the color analyst for Saints game radio broadcasts beginning this season. McAllister joins WWL play by play announcer Jim Henderson on WWL's Saints Radio Network and takes over for Hokie Gajan who passed away.

Columbus radio personality Patrick Valére McGinness — known across the Columbus airwaves simply as Val — was pronounced dead late Wednesday morning at his north Columbus apartment. According to the Ledger-Enquirer he was 67 and died of natural causes.

The Idaho Statesman reports that longtime Boise radio personality Mike Kasper will be off air for at least several weeks, following surgery and other treatment for prostate cancer. Kasper, who has been in local radio for about three decades, is a host of the Mix Morning Show on MIX 106, which is owned by Townsquare.

The Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio Group has named 20-year radio vet Angie Martinez its 2016 MIW Airblazer. Last year, the MIW Radio Group formed an alliance with Talentmaster's Morning Show Boot Camp to establish the award, which is given to an on-air personality.

Congratulations to Neuhoff Media CEO Beth Neuhoff for taking home the 2016 Vincent T. Wasilewski Broadcaster of the Year award from the Illinois Broadcasters Association last night. Neuhoff was on hand to accept the award as members of her team cheered her on. The event, which included a "Training Camp" for radio and digital media sellers was held in Champaign.