Colleagues

July 8 2015

WKJY Walks Like MADD

K-98.3/Long Island again partnered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to promote and host their annual Walk Like MADD 2015 event at Farmingdale State College. The event was emceed by midday host Jodi Vale, who also walked with her team, “K-98.3 Team Rays Of Sunshine for Jennifer,” in memory of her friend’s daughter, Jennifer Suydam, who was killed by a drunk and drugged driver. Jodi’s team raised almost $8,000, and the event reached its goal of $160,000. “It’s definitely a proud moment, but the mission will never be completely over,” Vale said. “I have seen firsthand how the devastation is so needless.”

April 8 2015

STAR 99.9 (WEZN) Hires Raven as new Morning Show Host

Bridgeport, CT – April 6th, 2015 – Connoisseur Media Connecticut is proud to announce former WCCC Hartford morning show host Jay Raven will join Anna Zap for the newly formed “Anna and Raven Show” on Bridgeport based HOT AC, Star 99.9.

Raven has had an extensive career working in Hartford, Providence and Boston and, after an exhaustive search, was the clear candidate to team with Anna. Program Director Kevin Begley commented “We were able to find a superstar talent in the market that cuts through. Over the last few years, we have succeeded in being a high energy radio station in the morning and Raven is exactly that. Anna continues to be a very important part of the radio station as she has made herself one of the biggest personalities in Connecticut. Star was #1 in the last ratings book and with the addition of Raven this show is going to continue to dominate.”

Raven will start on Monday April 20th. “I’m thrilled to be joining Connoisseur Media for mornings at STAR 99.9 with Anna!” added Raven, “This company is full of energy from CEO Jeff Warshaw on down and it’s contagious. I especially want to thank Regional Operations Manager Keith Dakin, General Manager Kristin Okesson, Director of Brand Management Michelle Stevens and Program Director Kevin Begley for making what was the most rigorous interview process ever truly eye opening and awakening the beast inside. April 20th, we’ll be ready to continue dominating southern Connecticut together!”

“The Anna and Raven Show” will continue to be a hyper local Fairfield County and Southern Connecticut focused show hitting on all the hot female-centric topics. The show will also have a very strong digital and social presence.

Connoisseur Media owns and /or operates 42 radio stations including significant clusters in Connecticut, Long Island and New Jersey. The Connecticut cluster includes WDRC FM/AM (Hartford), WMMW (Meriden), WWCO (Waterbury), WSNG (Torrington), WPLR 99.1 (New Haven), WYBC 94.3 (New Haven) and 95.9 The FOX WFOX (Southport) as well WEZN STAR 99.9. Connoisseur Media Connecticut prides itself on delivering quality to listeners, advertisers and the communities they serve with integrity, service and innovation.

November 21 2014

Kristin Okesson is Market Manager of the year

We are proud to share that Kristin Okesson, General Manager for Connoisseur Media’s Southern Connecticut stations, is the recipient of the 2014 Radio Wayne Award for Market Manager of the Year. Radio Ink Publisher Eric Rhoads presented the awards to Radio’s best and brightest in sales and management at the NAB Radio Show in Indianapolis. Named in honor of the late “Radio Wayne” Cornils, these awards honor the Radio superstars whose hard work, dedication, and creativity separate them from the pack. Congratulations, Kristin!

May 21 2014

“Best of” The Gold Coast

In Connecticut, congratulations to 95.9 the Fox, the Fairfield County Advocate’s winner for “Best Radio Station”, and to Chaz & AJ, winners of “Best Radio Personalities” and “Best Radio Show.” The wins were part of the annual Best of the Gold Coast edition.

Bragging rights also belong to 99.1 WPLR for their big wins in the New Haven Advocate’s version of the edition. They won for “Best Radio Station”; Chaz & AJ again won — for “Best Personality” and “Best Radio Show”; and Drew Carrano was no slouch himself, as he helped the station win for “Best Instagram” and “Best Twitter”!

March 10 2014

Jon Daniels to Become PD/Brand Manager for K-98.3

Connoisseur Media Long Island announces a shift in the programming personnel structure for WKJY/K-98.3, the Long Island-based cluster’s flagship station. Effective March 10, afternoon host Jon Daniels will assume the position of program director/brand manager for the station. “I’m excited at the opportunity,” says Daniels. “I’m looking forward to growing this heritage station. It’s a great, well-known family brand and I’m confident I can help take it to the next level.” Daniels will also maintain his role as group digital program director, overseeing the cluster’s digital/mobile properties.

December 31 2013

Promotion of Drew Carrano

After the passing of our long-term Marketing Director Sam Tilery, we are proud to announce the promotion of Drew Carrano to the position of Marketing Director of WPLR/WYBC. It is hard to follow in the footsteps of such a legendary figure as Sam was, but we feel that Drew learned from the best and after 15 years has earned and deserves the role. Sam’s legacy at WPLR & WYBC will always be to serve the community, do great work with clients/partners and make sure everything looks camera ready. We have the utmost confidence that Drew will keep the legacy alive and continue to make this one of the best radio station promotion departments in the country.

November 13 2009

CONNOISSEUR MEDIA NAMES DAVID BEVINS AS COO

Westport, CT – November 13, 2009 – Connoisseur Media, LLC today announced the appointment of David Bevins to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Bevins, 44, will be responsible for all day-to-day operations and execution of strategy for Connoisseur Media. For the past four years he had served as VP of Operations for the company. Before Connoisseur Media, Bevins’ management roles included: General Manager for Connoisseur Communications in Quad Cities and Rockford, IL from 1993-2000 when the company was sold to Cumulus Broadcasting; Director of Sales for Clear Channel and Station Manager for WKSC in Chicago from 2000-2003; General Manager/Vice President for Radio One in Cleveland from 2003-2006.

“I am extremely excited to have David receive this recognition for his leadership role in our company. We will greatly benefit from his experience and proven record of success” said Jeffrey D. Warshaw, CEO of Connoisseur Media.

“I appreciate all of the opportunities that Connoisseur Media has provided to me during my 10 year career with both Connoisseur Communications and Connoisseur Media. I am very proud of what our company has accomplished in such a short period of time, and I look forward to being part of our continued growth” said Mr. Bevins.

Founded in 2004, Connoisseur Media has rapidly expanded through both acquisitions and new licenses granted by the FCC to over 22 stations in Billings, MT, Bloomington, IL, Erie, PA, Huntington, WV, Omaha, NE, Wichita, KS, Des Moines, IA, Rapid City, SD, and Bismarck, ND.