27 years old • Gill
Co-host of Good Morning NOCO on KFKA radio
What’s your occupation? Explain your career, accomplishments and professional highlights.
I co-host Good Morning NOCO on KFKA radio. On the morning show, we make it a point to invite local nonprofit organizations to join us and provide an opportunity for them to reach out to our audience. On top of the nonprofits that I interview, I also have regular conversations with local mayors, county commissioners and chambers of commerce. In 2020, I was named the Colorado Broadcaster of the Year in a Major Market. I balance the morning show with being the sales manager of KFKA and help to keep our local business growing.
Tell us about yourself, your history and how you came to be where you are now.
I graduated from Platte Valley High School in 2016 as a kid who grew up on a farm east of Greeley. I knew in high school that I wanted to be in talk radio, and I started interning with KFKA as a sophomore at Platte Valley. I worked through my college years at KFKA, hosting numerous radio programs and doing sales. I married my wonderful wife, Jenna, last October, and we are expecting our first child this December. In my free time, my dad and I raise approximately 50 cows together.
Tell us something unique about you.
I have an ability to relate to nearly every person, and I strongly believe that I have something to learn from every individual I meet. Having lived in Northern Colorado my entire life, I have had the privilege of interacting with many important people and learning from them ever since I started with KFKA nearly 10 years ago.
What do you consider the biggest accomplishment or challenge you’ve overcome, either professionally or personally?
The first accomplishment was being named the Best Newstalk Show Host for a major market by the Colorado Broadcasters Association in 2020. More importantly, I helped organize a 12-hour fundraising broadcast on Weld Gives Day. I worked with the Greeley Satellite Rotary Club and Tim Coons from the Weld Community Foundation to invite nearly 50 nonprofits in for an interview. The joy of hearing from the nonprofits, and them thanking us for our time, was incredible.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years?
As cliche as it sounds, I see myself continuing to grow the voice of Northern Colorado people through my radio show. Being a part of a local business is something special, and interacting with people from all walks of life is something I cherish.
What piece(s) of advice would you give to your younger self?
Know that the work will pay off. It’s hard to break into the media world, and I spent a lot of time, including odd hours, that took away from what typical high school and college students would partake in. Being able to assure my younger self that the payoff would be worth it would’ve made all those long, weird hours easier to do.
What made you pursue a career in talk radio?
I pursued this career in talk radio because it isn’t scripted. There isn’t a teleprompter telling me what I can or cannot say or do. The freedom and ability to talk about topics that matter to this community is something that hooked me on this career. The job also provides the freedom to handle all the other aspects of media, like running interactive polls on social media and recording unfiltered podcasts.
How do you see the future of talk radio as a whole?
Local talk radio is thriving. The increase in podcasting, I believe, has actually been a benefit to our profession. With so many people being able to set up a podcast, it’s difficult to sift through them and find the good ones. Our podcast is sponsor-approved. I believe that local talk radio is in good hands with a lot of talented people who are passionate about what they do. It’s hard to imagine a future where I don’t wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day to visit with the people of Northern Colorado.
