2018 Career Achievement Candidates
(In Alphabetical Order)
Silas (Si Man Baby) Alexander
Silas “Si Man Baby” Alexander, III was born in Eatonton, GA and began his radio career there as a board op while in high school. After attending UGA, he became a personality at WIGO. Silas then spent time in television before joining V-103 in Atlanta. He transitioned to KISS 104.1 in Atlanta then to Magic 107.5/9.5 where he is now co-host of "The Ride" weekday afternoons. Alexander has worked with many charitable organizations in Atlanta.
Vernon Arnold
Vernon Arnold was born in Tennessee and attended Mid South Electronics Radio School in Nashville. His first job in radio was in Statesboro at WWNS then, he went to WAYX in Waycross. Arnold then moved to WPGA in Perry and eventually went to WJEM in Valdosta. He stayed there long enough to become it's owner and eventually sold WJEM and retired to his present home in Thomasville.
Edgar Champagne
Edgar "Champagne" Buchanan was born into a military family in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. After high school he served in the Army in the Viet Nam era. In 1976 he was stationed in Columbus and began his radio career at WOKS. He then moved to WCGQ - FM and continued his market journey at WEIZ - FM and WDAK. After a few years out of market, he returned to Columbus eventually landing at R&B 92.1.
Jamie Dupree
Jamie Dupree is a native of Washington, D.C. and attended college at the University of Florida. His parents were staffers for members of Congress. Jamie was a page and intern in the House of Representatives. He has covered 11 national political conventions, with his first being the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta. His reports are heard on Cox Radio stations around the country including WSB-AM/WSBB - FM Atlanta. In 2016, Dupree was diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia, a rare neurological condition that robbed him of the ability to speak. He is undergoing treatment to improve his ability to speak For now, he communicates mostly through note cards.
Mitch Faulkner
Mitch Faulkner was born n Hopkinsville, Kentucky and his radio career began at WHOP. He has worked in markets across the US but, Atlanta is home, now. Mitch was on air at WIGO 1980 to 1984 then moved to V-103 where he was Atlanta's first #1 rated African American air personality. In 1987 he began doing voice work and eventually founded his own company, On Mic Productions. His voice is heard on many stations across the country. He also hosts a weekend program on KISS 104.1
Steve Mitchell
Steve Mitchell hails from Greensboro, N.C. and got his start in radio doing sign on at on at WPET before he went to school. From there he went to WCOG then after graduating he did nights at WISE in Ashevillle, NC. After stops in Raleigh, St. Louis, Miami, LA and San Francisco he became PD at WKLS - FM in Atlanta in 1974. Later at 96 Rock he was teamed with several people to form the Wakeup Crew. After The Wake Up Crew, the Mark & Steve show went to KSHE - FM St. Louis for mornings. Steve returned to Atlanta and worked at 94Q/Star 94 before becoming Production Director and Rhubarb Jones Show producer at WYAY - FM. Following the sale of the station, he became morning show producer for Moby, then program director and afternoon personality. On February 29, 2006, Mitchell and most of the WYAY - FM staff was let go. Mitchell opened INGO Studios producing everything from commercials to documentaries. He also hosts "Thunder Road", a nationally syndicated country radio NASCAR-themed program airing on over 100 stations weekly.
Bob Neil
Bob Neil grew up in Tampa listening to WLCY, WFLA, and WDAE. As a youngster, he ran his own radio station on a low power CB. At 16, he landed a part time job at WPAS. When he was a junior in high school, he was promoted to full time afternoon jock and Music Director; he got an early release form school to be on the air. In 1977, he moved to WFLA and in 1980 became one of the youngest Program Directors in a large market there. A stint with New City Communications brought Neil to Atlanta PD/Ops Mgr. of WYYY – FM and architect for it’s new move-in, WYAY-FM. In 1986, he joined Cox as Station Mgr. of WSB AM/FM, then managed WWRM FM in St. Petersburg/Tampa. He returned to Atlanta in 1989 as VP/GM of WSB AM/FM, was promoted to Executive VP in 1992, President and Chief Executive Officer in of Cox Radio in 1996 and Executive Vice President of Cox Media Group in 2009. Bob retired in May 2011 and operates his own consulting business providing services for the Cox Media Group businesses exclusively in their markets, as well as other Media and Media Financing businesses.
David Nolin
David Nolin is from Eufaula, Alabama and began his radio career there at WULA/WKQK - FM. After becoming it's program director and a short stint in Montgomery radio, he moved to WFSY - FM in Panama City, then to WGSY-FM in Columbus, GA. In 1996, he moved to Macon to program the Cumulus stations. In 2009, David returned to Panama City as operations manager of WBPC- FM.
Denis O'Hayer
Denis O'Hayer graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont. His radio career began at WGCH n Greenwich, CT. followed by WELI in New Haven. In 1978 he came to Atlanta's WGST and for the next 19 years he worked in a variety of roles, including Sixty at Six, a daily hour long news and interview program. In 2009 he joined WABE - FM to host "All things Considered". O'Hayer retired in 2018.
Myrna Taylor Ransom
Myrna Taylor Ransom was born in Ft. Gaines, Georgia and attended Clark College. While there she began working at the college station, WCLK - FM. She graduated with a BA in broadcasting and cinematography. In 1980 she joined WPLO/WVEE - FM as a reporter and covering the capitol. She was promoted to morning anchor and was appointed News and Public Affairs Director. She was media director for the Centers for Disease Control and a new writer for ABC Radio during the Summer Olympics. In 2000, she returned to WCLK - FM to host a monthly program and now hosts a daily program on WCEG, a community based station in Atlanta.
Eric Seidel
Eric Seidel is from Washington DC. He graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and worked in several markets including New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. He covered the U.S. Supreme Court for CNN in Washington. He came to Atlanta to be the news director at WGST and eventually became station manager. Under Eric's leadership, WGST enjoyed tremendous success spawning the careers of well known names like Sean Hannity and Clark Howard. After twenty-five years in news and talk, Seidel founded The Media Trainers which trains, coaches and consults high-level corporate executives how to deal with news media.
Bill Shanks
Bill Shanks was born in Waycross, GA and attended the University of Georgia. At age 15, he did color for the Waycross Bulldogs on WACL - FM then hosted a sports talk show. While in college, Bill was the play by play commentator for UGA baseball on WUOG - FM. In 2006 he joined WGST in Atlanta for post game analysis on the Atlanta Braves Network. In 2007, after a stint at WCNN in Atlanta, Shanks moved to Macon to host a sports talk show on WXKO - FM.
A native of Shelby, Ohio, Rob Stadler began his radio career while earning his degree from Muskingum University, graduating in 1982. After stops in Columbus, Ohio and Miami, Florida, Stadler came to Atlanta in 1987 as News Director of WQXI-FM (94Q), which became WSTR (Star 94) two years later. He’s won numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of Eric Rudolph’s bombings in Sandy Springs in 1998. In 2015, Stadler transitioned to WYAY-FM in Atlanta as Morning News Host. In 2017, he left WYAY to become a Media, PR and Communications Consultant.
Laura Starling
Laura Starling was born in Athens. While attending UGA she got a part time job at WRFD. She came to Macon to attend Wesleyan and was hired to do evenings at WDEN. With a degree in English, Laura considered teaching as a career, however, WDEN moved her to a mid-day shift. She now co-hosts the morning show and she's been at WDEN for over 30 years. Laura was named Best Radio Personality by the Macon Telegraph and a frequent emcee for charity events including ones for the Alzheimer’s Association and The Children’s Hospital.
Kevin & Taylor
Kevin & Taylor have been on the air at The Fish (WFSH - FM) in Atlanta almost 16 years. 2 years before that they were a team in Florida. Kevin was named 'Most Likely to Have a Creative Excuse for Being Late' in high school. Taylor has been awarded a free car wash for getting her frequent customer card completely punched. They’ve been recognized with numerous industry awards including Radio and Records Personalities of the Year and “Best Morning Drive Show”. Their program is syndicated to over fifty station across the country.
Bert Weiss
Bert Weiss was born in Queens, NY and attended San Diego State. He has hosted the Bert Show on Q100 in Atlanta for the past 16 years. The Bert Show has participated in numerous charitable events and programs, including founding local nonprofit organization Bert’s Big Adventure which provides trips to Walt Disney World® for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families. The Bert Show also coordinates an annual ‘Big Thank You’ campaign, giving thanks to every troop overseas during the holidays, as well as ‘100 Days of Bert Show Love’ which provides loving acts of kindness from the cast around the Atlanta community for 100 days.
Jeff Winter
Jeff Winter was born in Brooklyn New York and took an early interest in radio. At 17 he began working at WHLI. He volunteered at Hofstra University's WVHC and did a weekend program on WFYI. Jeff was drafted in 1966 assigned to the Third Army Soldier Shows based in Atlanta. In 1967 he began doing afternoons at WKXI - FM and became it's operations manager when it changed to WQXI - FM. In 1974, he was hired as the morning jock at the new 96 Rock. Jeff voiced a network TV commercial for Fresca launching a career as a renowned voice actor.
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