Valerie Kattz | On Air Personality
I am thrilled to write a letter of recommendation for James Steele and not simply because I had nothing better to do with my time after getting laid off from my radio position at 1071 The Monkey, where I worked with James for nearly 3 years.
After 26 years in the Radio Industry serving markets from Palm Springs to Los Angeles (I'm adding that self indulgent career highlight in case you have more positions to fill) I suddenly found myself in the Biloxi/Gulfport market where I met and had the pleasure of working with James Steele, whose career had also taken a turn for the worse with a drastic tumble down the market ladder.
Alpha changed the format of the station I was on and moved me to sister station 107.1 The Monkey to host the midday shift. The next thing I knew I was sticking around co-hosting the afternoon show with James as well. Why stick around another 4 hours after my shift? Because James is what we all love about radio...he makes it fun. He makes it interesting. He lives and breaths it and shares that passion we all have for it.
James understands that the most important aspect of having a voice is to be involved in your community and use that voice to connect with and help others. This is what we should all aspire to when we say we are “live and local.” James gets this.
Often at the station well before the start of his show and staying long after it’s over, James is one of the hardest working men in the business. From putting his all into his show to creating imaging and commercials that are some of the best and most creative you will hear anywhere, he works tirelessly because he wants to be number 1. And that hard work pays off for him every time.
James is always quick with creative and timely promotions and he is the first to react and organize an event when the community has a need.
During our time on the Gulf Coast we took on projects together not because we were asked but because we wanted to help our community when and where we could. A few highlights:
We became the Top Fundraising Team, every year, on the Gulf Coast for Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure.” Because just prompting an event wasn’t enough for us, we were compelled to make a real difference.
Put together a donation drive for Louisiana Flood Victims and filled 5 big rigs in 2 days.
Collected and delivered a truck load of supply in one afternoon for MS Tornado victims.
Helped numerous shelter animals find homes through partnerships with the Humane Society of South MS and collected over 700 pets toys for them during one holiday broadcast.
James put together and hosted the annual “Party with a Purpose” to feed the less fortunate in our community.
In closing, I’ll keep it simple with this...you’re crazy if you don’t give James this position. Someone with his level of talent, skill and heart is hard to find.
--
Valerie Kattz, RMP
On Air/Marketing Manager
RR Broadcasting
760-325-2582 x 257
valkattz@gmail.com
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