Cumulus Media has promoted Talus Knight PD of Urban “Power 102.9” KKND Belle Chasse and Urban AC “Old School 106.7” KMEZ Port Sulpher/New Orleans LA to Operations Manager for the company’s New Orleans cluster. Along with Knight’s promotion Shawn Williams has been upped to Assistant Program Director of Country “Nash FM 92.3” WRKN LaPlace and Alternative “106.1 The Underground” WZRH Picayune MS.
The promotions fill the openings created by Ray Mariner’s exit as PD of WRKN/WZRH earlier this year. Williams will continue as midday host on WZRH and afternoon host on WRKN. Knight has programmed KKND/KMEZ since October 2014 and has previously worked in the Macon and Richmond markets. Williams joined WRKN as afternoon host in June 2014 and added duties at WZRH in January of this year. She previously worked as a producer for WWWQ Atlanta and WPLJ New York and APD for the syndicated Hard Drive XL.
Cumulus Media announces that it has promoted two broadcasting professionals from within its New Orleans, LA, station group. Talus Knight, Program Director of KKND – Power 102.9 and KMEZ Old School 106.7 in New Orleans, has been promoted to Operations Manager for Cumulus Media-New Orleans. Concurrently, Shawn Williams has been promoted to Assistant Program Director of WRKN NASH 92.3 and WZRH 106.1 the Underground. She will continue as on-air host for WRKN NASH 92.3 (Afternoons) and WZRH 106.1 the Underground (Middays).
Pat Galloway, Regional Vice President/Market Manager, Cumulus Media-New Orleans/Baton Rouge/Columbus-Starkville, said: “Sometimes the best fits for your team are already on your team, and this is exactly what happened in New Orleans with the promotion of Program Director Talus Knight of KKND – Power 102.9, and KMEZ Old School 106.7 to Operations Manager of the cluster. Talus’s positive attitude, knowledge of the market, ability to produce incredible concerts and events, and leadership skills is exactly what we need in an Operations Manager.”
Galloway continued: “Shawn Williams was also extremely deserving of her promotion to Assistant Program Director of WRKN NASH 92.3 and WZRH 106.1 the Underground. Shawn is a true New Orleanian, and embodies the unique culture of our incredible city– She even has her own band. Shawn’s incredible work effort and team collaboration make her the right person for this position.”
Knight said: “As a result of Pat Galloway’s leadership at Cumulus-NOLA we’ve been able to do some remarkable things this year and I look forward to working with him to continue the growth of our brands heading into 2017.”
Williams said: “I am beyond honored and thrilled to keep WRKN and WZRH thriving and progressing in our unique market. We have an awesome team I am fortunate to collaborate with in continuing to build these brands in our community. I’m excited to take on this role with Cumulus.”