Westwood One Sports Executive Producer Howard Deneroff, Class of 1989

Every year, the WJPZ Alumni Association, via the Berrell Award, sends two students to an industry event.  In 2023, GM Grace Denton and former sports director Joe Puccio went to Vegas for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.  We sat down with them to hear about the experience.

We've met Grace in her previous episode with PD Maddie Doolittle.  So first we meet Joe and get his background.  And we hear about their summer 2023 positions- Grace at Taylor Swift's Republic Records (thanks Adam Eisenberg) and Joe at the Cape Cod Baseball League.

After coincidentally being on the same flight at Stephen "Tex" Kurtz, Grace and Joe hit the ground in Vegas running, checking out as much tech as possible from brands they knew, and some they didn't.   They described themselves as "kids in a candy store" with Grace zeroing in on overall station tech and Joe focused on the sports side.  But the experience was about so much more than tech.

In true Z89 networking fashion, Joe's Cape Cod League boss, WJPZ alum Dan Duva is the radio voice of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.  He took Grace and Joe out for a night on the town.   And while Joe wasn't yet 21, Grace had just had her birthday, which led to a wondeful wine selection.

You'll hear some great Vegas stories from Grace and Joe - from getting headshots, to receiving an invite to speak to a class in Atlanta, to eating gelato with some Citrus TV classmates who were in town for a different conference.

Overall, today's guests share what an amazing opportunity this was.  This year, GM Patrick Chambers and PD Ilana Epstein will be heading to Morning Show Boot Camp in San Diego!

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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If you don't know Adam and Kelly (Foster) Shapiro's backstory, you might assume it's yet another romance started in the halls of WJPZ.   Their story, as you'll hear here, is a much different road than than other Z89 couples.

Both members of the Class of 1992, they were certainly friendly in school, and had mutual friends, but didn't spend a ton of time together outside the station.   Kelly joined the promotions department, eventually working her way up to legal director.   Adam was a sports guy who became assistant sports director and a talk show host.

We've referenced the late SUNY-Oswego professor John Oldfield on the podcast before, but Kelly really explains what a thorn in WJPZ's side this man was.   He was always trying to have a "gotcha" moment in the middle of Z89 renewing its FCC license.  This adversary, and the myriad of folks who helped the station through license renewal, would end up teaching Kelly valuable career and life lessons before graduation.   In fact, history would repeat itself, in a way.  Nearly a decade later, when Kelly was President of the Alumni Association, she would have a hand in getting the station through its Receievership Era, as outlined by Harry and Dena in their episode.

In this podcast, you'll hear about the remarkable careers of this Z89 power couple - with Adam producing newscasts from Syracuse to Vegas to Miami to New York.   Kelly started in radio but found her home on the agency side, working for many different firms, before ultimately being recruited to work for Rolex, where she's been since 2014.

But for as successful as Adam and Kelly have been, you'll hear more today about the WJPZ family then their long list of accomplishments.   This includes the now-Shapiros reconnecting at the 2000 Banquet, and developing a deep and meaningful friendship that eventually turned into more - even if there were some hilarious speed bumps along the way, including a great airplane story with a WJPZ connection.

One of the benefits of marrying someone you went to school with is that their college friends are your college friends, and Adam and Kelly share that unique perspective.

John Oldfield Obituary: https://news.syr.edu/blog/2009/07/31/college-mourns-passing-of-professor-emeritus-john-oldfield/

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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While many of us flipped burgers or bagged groceries in high school, Dave Roberts was reading the news on an AM station and (literally) herding cats as a 15 year old.   When he toured Syracuse and saw the WJPZ prize van, and he met Hal Rood, Jim Remeny and more. He knew it was where he had to be.

After starting on overnights, Dave quickly climbed the ranks to news director and eventually VP of Business.  That may sound like a strange trajectory, but Dave's always loved news (and meterology).  And when the station was in dire financial straits, he knew he either had to write a check, or go collect checks.    The first of course was not an option.

You'll hear about some WJPZ firsts in today's episode.  Dave tells us how our non-commercial station managed to get beer money on the air, through a lucrative (and creative) campaign with Pabst Blue Ribbon.   He also signed a sponsorship with the University's study abroad program, closing the deal in an unusual way.   And at a time where NOBODY had voicemail, he helped set up the "Z89 line" - with 5 different mailboxes for contest information and more.

The real defining moment of Dave's time in Syracuse,  however, was the bombing of Pan Am 103 in 1988.  We chat at length about the emotion of those weeks and months, as well as the crucial role WJPZ played as an information resource for those who just couldn't wait for the evening news or the next day's newspaper.  Everyone stepped up, comforted each other, and navigated the best they could.

By the time Dave graduated in 1992, Z89 had become a household name in the industry - his experience there landed him major market interviews, but he followed his passsion for meterology - and went to Ottumwa, Iowa.  Then, there were stops in Missouri, Alabama, Fort Myers, Cincinnati, and Mississippi.  Today's guest really fell in love with Jackson, Mississippi (before Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars did), and has made this market home.  And yes, he got all his certifications along the way. 

Throughout today's episode, you'll hear Dave talk about his love of Z89 and our family.  And you'll also hear a great story about being trapped in Providence with Brian Lapis during a blizzard - and what happened next.   And even a little bit about what WJPZ taught him about being a realtor.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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Kevin Tippy Martinez, '88, is the Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Seattle Mariners. It's no surprise that this New Jersey native, with passions for baseball and broadcasting, found himself transferring in to Syracuse.

Once he got to SU, Martinez was actively involved with both Z89 and WAER, where he honed his skills in sports broadcasting and DJing. Not many students worked for both stations at that time, but this chief announcer made it work. He simply couldn't walk away from the sports opportunities at WAER or the incredible camaraderie at Z89.  In fact, you'll love the story he tells about Carl Weinstein walking in to his shift to flip the format and imaging.

After graduation, Kevin went to the ABC Television Network in New York City, working in affiliate relations and marketing, and gradually made his way into ABC Sports. Then, Emmis Communications' Jeff Smuylan bought the Seattle Mariners.  Despite being very happy near home and at ABC, the chance to work in Major League Baseball was too good to pass up.

The new marketing team took many radio ideas (including those learned at WJPZ) to do what was then some pretty innovative entertainment at Mariners' games.  Custom walk-up music for hitters?  It started here.    And outside a brief stint with the Boston Celtics, Kevin's been with the M's for over 30 years.

Throughout the podcast, Martinez reflects on the relationships and friendships he formed during his time at WJPZ and in his professional life. These connections have been enduring and impactful. And we'd  be remiss not to ask his opinions on the evolution of baseball, the importance of adapting to changing fan preferences, and the strategies employed by the Mariners to engage with their audience.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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Mike Roberts, Class of 1979, is one of the people who helped kept WJPZ alive in the early days.  With the station's founders having graduated, Mike empowerd a team to run radio station, passing its educational lessons forward to the next generation of broadcasters.

Arriving on campus in 1975, he quickly found WJPZ 1200 AM in the Spectrum Records building and told Bill Bleyle that he wanted to be involved. In addition to his airshift, he learned how to do everything - down to changing the needles on the turntables.   In the early days, the industry was noticing the station more than the locals. But soon, they had staffers working professionally in the market (WAER did not).  Mike shares some stories of alumni who went on to great success.

As for Mike, he took the tight formatics he learned at WJPZ and went on to work in Syracuse himself, at WNDR (briefly) and WHEN.  Eventually he went to work for Reagan Henry, where he was on to Cincinnati, and eventually Atlanta.

After turning around some small AM stations, Mike went to the top dog in a major market - becoming morning show host at the legendary urban V103 in Atlanta.  They were one of the first urban stations to do a talk-centered morning show, and the first urban station to bill $1 million - monthly.

Mike shares a story about the power of radio - one of the proudest moments of his career.  He was at V103 from 1986-1988. During the Rodney King uprising in 1994, V went to an all news format, bringing on community leaders and stressing the need for Atlanta to stay peaceful.  They were later recognized by local government for keeping Atlanta from exploding.  Not coincidentally, that's when V103 had its highest ratings ever.

Mike soon got the ownership bug, and as the hip hop scene was exploding in the late 90's, today's guest was approaching 40 years old.   V103 was also getting competiton on both ends of their demo.   He bought several stations in nearby Macon, Georgia, as he wound down his time in Atlanta.   Today, he owns one, WQMJ, Magic 100.  It's an R&B oldies station that does its own newscasts, several times daily, to superserve its local audience.

Mike takes us through his typical work week, and reflects on the current state of radio, and its need to stay local to stay relevant.   And we conclude with the story of a classic prank pulled on him while live on the air at WJPZ.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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Today we interview Marc Bokoff,  from the class of 1987. A management major, Marc came to the station as business manager under then-GM Larry Barron, before becoming general manager himself.  He took over the station in the midst of the station changing from a block format to the much more tighly programmed CHR format it still has today.

As GM, Marc and the staff faced backlash for this change, leading accusations of racial bias and subsequent protests. We get his perspective (through his 37-year-old notes) of having to shut the station down for the evening, the negotiations, personal threats he received, and the eventual resolution to the protest.  Following the event, Marc stepped down as General Manager, partly due to concerns over his own personal health at the time.

Marc reflects on how these experiences at WJPZ profoundly impacted his professional life. Despite majoring in general studies in the business school, he gained invaluable hands-on experience in business management through his work at the radio station. This experience became more educational and instrumental than his formal business studies, equipping him with skills in advertising, marketing, budgeting, and negotiation.

After graduation, Marc briefly joined his family's supermarket business before venturing into the travel industry, where he has been for over 35 years. He discusses the various adaptations and changes he had to make in his business, especially with the rise of internet travel services and the impact of world events like COVID-19 and geopolitical conflicts. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability and resilience, drawing parallels between the challenges he faced in college and those in his professional life.

Despite some trying moments, Marc is grateful for the skills and experiences gained at WJPZ, which have significantly shaped his career and personal growth. He highlights the station's role as an educational incubator and its impact on students beyond those interested in broadcasting careers. 

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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Scott Greene, '93, grew up just outside Boston wanting to be a newspaper reporter.  He did it in high school and came to Syracuse wanting to pursue that career.   But WJPZ quickly drew him in, and he says the only columns he wrote for the Daily Orange ended up being Wrestlemania previews.

Scott came to the station as the classes of 90 and 91 were taking the reigns.  His group quickly got their footing, and passed the torch to '94 and '95.   And yes, Scott names names from all of these groups.

While a student, Scott worked at KIX FM, before it became B104.7.   Not interested in country, he went over to 95X to become the promotions director right around graduation.

After a few years there, Scott headed home to Boston, where he worked in marketing, with partners like Rolling Stone magazine and more.  Another reinvention, he got his masters' degree and began teaching middle school.  He continued in that field after following his wife home to western Massachusetts.   After he tired of disciplining middle school students (can you blame him?) he went back to his first love -newspaper.  He's now the sales manager of Reminder Publishing, which puts out several local, weekly newspapers in the area.   We spend some time talking about the newspaper business, and where he sees it thriving at the local level through strategic partnerships.

Scott leaves us with two classic Z89 stories.  One involves Bruce Springsteen tickets - and the other involves all the commercial overnight jocks in town playing the same record at the same time.   He explains, and the story ends at a very familiar place.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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Links!

All of Marty's current work, including podcasts: https://weeklyhumorist.com/

Marty's archive of Z Morning Zoo bits, including the full Rick Wright tour of the Ostrom House: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/ascjv18c57ajw/Z_Morning_Zoo_audio

Marty D was best known at WJPZ for hosting the Z Morning Zoo, alongside Peterman and Emily Zizza (now Almas).  But you'll learn much more about him in today's episode.  You'll hear how he was a radio nerd like most of us, growing up listening to Baltimore and DC morning shows.

An illustrator and artist by trade, Marty looked at art schools but decided on going to a more general school with an art program.  That brought him to Syracuse, and it was a sign on a dorm-mate's door that said "listen to me on the radio" that led him to Z89.  Staring on the 4-6 stuff, he found himself sticking around to hang out with Spike and Nick B  - these were college students doing morning radio!

Marty's creative chops were best suited for morning radio -as he found out in other dayparts, and eventually he was offered the show.   Having learned from Baltimore radio, and having two cohosts who had interned in Boston radio, they quickly assembled the archetypal morning show - with the requisite "dick, dear, and dork."

We've spoken of the Ostrom house before on this podcast - Marty loved doing the show there his senior year.  It was a house, and he quickly set up a coffee maker and made himself at home.   And the myriad of equipment issues taught him how to overcome almost any obstacle - a skill set he's used in the time since graduation.    Imagine figuring out how to get a show on the air, but you walk into the studio and there's no microphone.   They figured it out.

One of the strengths of the show was their community interaction - doing live broadcasts everywhere they could, doing benchmark contest and games, and more.    We asked Marty if he ever thought about doing it professionally.  His answer may surprise you.

As for what he did do professionally, Marty takes us through his 20+ year career in New York, working for Mad Magazine, David Letterman and National Lampoon.   Then, he leveraged his skills, experience, and network to start his own company - Humorist Media - doing everything from live events, to podcasts, and now even book publishing.

Marty is currently serving on the WJPZ Alumni Association Board, in addition to being the official illustrator of the Alumni Association and this podcast. 

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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John sent some great 1990's pics from the station. You can view them here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zxxnn6pconq7p45fvidd1/h?rlkey=ny9i0u512pve0tf915i58xtl3&dl=0

John Beck, Class of 1995, has gone on to a prolific writing career in Hollywood, having worked on everything from The Hughleys to Fuller House, to Liv and Maddie, and more.   A TV guy through and through, it was actually Dave Gorab who approached him, over at then-UUTV, to come do the Crazy Morning Crew at Z89.

John is very honest at the start of the show, sharing his hesitation for coming on the podcast.  Because his path was non-traditional, not having toiled in overnights, etc, he wondered if he was "worthy," but BB Good talked him into it, and we are so glad she did.

Soon, John, Julian Keel, and their other teammates were pulilng serious ratings, finishing in Top 10 in the Syracuse market.  We talk about some great bits that made the air - from Professor McPhibious and Love Pumping Horace - to some bits that...well, were not approved for the WJPZ airwaves.

John also tells the story of the "We Own a Giant Trampoline Club" - and how they collected enough money to buy one from Sam's Club and granted all members free access to the trampoline in their yard - no matter the hour or their level of sobriety. And if you don't know how the trampoline met its demise, it's worth hearing.  And yes, it's another WJPZ lesson applied to the "real world."

We turn to John's Hollywood career - starting off fetching lunch for Corey and Topanga on Boy Meets World, to eventually landing in the writers' room with his fellow SU-alum writing partner Ron Hart.  And his career is littered with alumni stories along the way - from meeting BB Good's family to spotting Dion and Kafele at a taping of The Hughleys - to a very cool connection with Kid Michael Rock, and his daughter.

John also explains the recent Hollywood strikes - in layman's terms.   A lot has to do with codifying some of Hollywood's "unwritten rules" and making sure the playing field is fair for all with the advent of large streamers such as Netflix, Hulu, Disney and more.

In addition to some classic Rick Wright stories, we conclude with John's advice for writers coming up in 2024.  Yes, it's about who you know and being in the "right place at the right time," but there's so much more to it than that.   Writers write.  Always be writing.   And spend equal time working on your job and your career .  John explains this in the podcast.

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As the son of a radio station owner, Tony Renda grew up in broadcasting.  His dad, Tony Renda Sr, started with an AM station in East McKeesport, Pennsylvania, before growing the company to many station in several markets.

Growing up near Pitt, Tony Jr. new about the Big East, and of course Syracuse. His dad was an alum.  But he didn't go straight from high school to Central New York; he didn't have the grades.   So he spent a year at Ohio University before transferring.

Once in the 315, Tony's fraternity brother, Scott Taylor, was VP of Business at the station, and he brought Tony over.  Like many of us, Tony was in awe from the moment he walked in - from the jocks, to the sports and news guys, to even the bumper stickers on the wall. He knew he had to be there.

He quickly became development director, then VP of Business, which provided the opportunity to stay in Syracuse for the summer of 1993, when the station gave away a Geo Tracker.  You've probably heard that story before, but today, you'll hear Tony tell the story of walking into Billy Fuccillo's office and securing the car.

After graduation, he could have gone straight into the family business, but Tony first wanted some real life experience. He followed Scotty T to Katz Media in New York, where he honed his skills.   Eventually he did come to Renda Broadcasting, starting in Jacksonville, and having worked in Pittsburgh and now Fort Myers-Naples, Florida.

In today's episode, you'll also hear what Tony looks for when he interviews a job candidate. It's an important lesson.

To learn more about Renda Broadcasting and career opportunities, visit https://rendabroadcasting.com/

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  jag@jagindetroit.com.

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

BANQUET 2024 WILL BE MARCH 2ND! Get your tickets here before prices go up!  https://bit.ly/3RmN0V4