|
Steve Sommers was born in Cincinnati Ohio , October 15, 1964 . Growing up I never really had any aspirations of being in this business, but at the age of 15, doing odd jobs for a station in Cincinnati I just happened to be in the studio one day and asked the host "What do you have to do to be on the radio". This was still in the days when an FCC restricted license was a simple application form and you were allowed to broadcast. I filled out that form just because I thought it would be cool to have one. Several weeks later I get a call asking if I would like to board opp for some weekend shows. It was more of a simple babysitting position, but I gladly accepted the invitation. I mean what kid at 15 years old has that kind of opportunity?
After a hand full of years and several radio stations later I fell into what they call in the broadcast industry, the weekend rut. Being reliable and showing up on time is supposed to be a good thing, that's what every program director loves. But suddenly you realize "I'm not going anywhere". Why won't they give me that fulltime overnight slot that opened? That scenario plays out several times and I say "that’s it, I’m done with radio"
These were some of the toughest times. The wife and I pack our bags and move to Flintstone, Georgia with her family. I said "we'll give it 30 days, if I can't find work we'll come back to Cincinnati". As it turns out, day 31 I got a local delivery job in HVAC supplies in Dalton Ga. Keep in mind I was through with radio, but every day as I made those deliveries I would pass a radio station on the corner. You guessed right, I couldn't resist the temptation. As I turned in my application they were like "Where have you been? We've needed help for 2 months". How was I to know? WQMT in Dalton Ga. would be my employer over the next 5 years. I would do my first morning drive program. This was an opportunity to really develop my personality and grow on the air.
That brings us to 1996, I had peaked out as far as income in Dalton , and with 2 kids and a wife it was time for another tough decision. The opportunity had finally opened up for my father to hire a producer in Cincinnati . I had applied for the job, but the starting rate was actually less than I was making in Dalton at the time. It seemed like a tough call to make, but now looking back I would have been a fool to have passed it up. July 1 of 1996 I started working for 700WLW in Cincinnati as producer for "The Truckin Bozo". This led to weekend shifts and filling in for my father when needed. Knowing nothing about the trucking industry to start, it has truly been a learning experience. I now can appreciate what it means to sit behind the wheel for untold hours, day after day. I sure am glad I'm in the radio business! It takes a special person to do what the American truck driver does every day. Thank You!! I'll assume most of you know the rest of the story as per my father retiring in April of 2003,and 700WLW allowing me to take the reigns and keep the show going. We have since changed the name of the program to "America's Truckin' Network". I am hopeful that we'll fill in the many blanks that will tell the story of my next twenty years journey in radio. It won't be possible though without you. I trust you'll be a part of my journey by listening and maybe participating along the way.
|
I have been 29 years in radio. Three at a talk station in Tampa/St. Pete. One year in Indianapolis. 25 in Cincinnati. A lot of it has been in country radio, but I've done lots of news and sports talk, announcing and reporting along the way. I've covered everything from Super Bowls and Olympic games to presidential press conferences and major disasters.
I was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals Radio Network for four seasons. I have been nominated four times for the Country Music Association's large market personality-of-the-year. I've also been a reporter at two TV stations in Cincy. I've written feature articles for two weekly newspapers and continue to be the spokesman for a couple of businesses on Northern Kentucky Cable TV. I've given several B2B presentations for an office automation supply company in Cincinnati.
...I started at America's Trucking Network in April of 2004. I got my class B CDL in June of that year and did full-time P & D in a straight truck for EGL at their Covington Kentucky terminal for six months. I've also driven part-time for two other Cincy area companies.
...I'll be married 25 years this August to Debbie who has worked for American Airlines for 20 years now. We have two kids. Kali, 24, is working full-time while finishing up her nursing degree in Lexington, Ky. Jake, 20, is a sophomore at the University of Louisville studying business and political science.
...I love to travel and thanks to my wife's AA flight and travel benefits, we've been to four continents and 26 nations. Golf is another passion of mine but there's never enough time to indulge it.
|