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APPRENTICE AUTOBIOGRAPHIES & PROGRESS
AND WORDS FROM THEIR MENTORS
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The best references for our apprentice-mentor training come from others like you with the same interests and goals who are going through or have completed their training and from the words of their mentors during training and beyond.
Take a look at some of the varied and interesting backgrounds of some of our apprentices (past and present) in their own words, through their bios or progress reports. Their resumes and bios helped in the interview process as an introduction and also as an affirmation of what they plan to accomplish and why. It's motivating for the candidates, and helps to foster a beginning rapport with their prospective mentor.
Maybe you'll see a little (or a lot) of yourself mirrored in some of their stories, so be challenged or inspired. They did it...they're doing it. And so can you!
**A Preliminary Application for Enrollment follows these bio samples.
To proceed directly to the application, click HERE to begin the process.**
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CLICK ON ANY INTRO FOR THEIR FULL BACKGROUND AND PROGRESS
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REBECCA YOUNG - 42-year-old Medical Transcriptionist now also on-air in Birmingham, Alabama radio.
"This has been an unbelievable year. And, as I write this, I'm sitting at the board of one of the top radio stations in the Birmingham area, WZZK, running The American Country Countdown. Who would have thought at 42, I'd finally see the realization of a lifelong dream!"
"The APPRENTICE-MENTOR ASSOCIATION is a wonderful program for serious aspiring broadcasters for three reasons: it removes some of the traditional initial barriers to a broadcast career, it provides hands on work experience and training, and it affords students the opportunity to make business contacts from day one."
"My life and career have been enriched because of the opportunity I've had to get to know Rebecca and watch her grow and learn, and I'm proud of my association with both her and the APPRENTICE-MENTOR ASSOCIATION."
Eric Brown
Assistant Programming Director
WMJJ FM
Clear Channel Broadcasting
Birmingham, AL
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MARK KRUEGER – 42 year old Planning Manager - Baltimore, MD
"I wanted to let you know what a pleasure it has been to mentor Mark Krueger. His excitement to get into broadcasting has more than doubled as we near the end of his assignments. He is a quick learner and he sounds terrific! We liked him so much we hired him part-time last summer! Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to work with such a great person. Let me know if I can help you in the future. Thanks again."
Linda West
WFRE/WFMD - Clear Channel Communications
Frederick, MD
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**To proceed directly to the application, click HERE to begin the process.**
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SUSANNAH BALDWIN, a 46-year-old San Francisco Psychologist/Business Consultant with 20 years experience in public speaking and 10 years of experience in interviewing and coaching executives and public speakers. Her goal is to break into television.
"Interview with Mario Butzner, Program Director at the KNEW radio station: I didn't know what to expect walking into the Clear Channel offices. Mario was warm, casual and appropriate for the purpose of our interview. I was definitely aware of two things. First, Mario was at least 15 years younger than me! Okay, I said to myself, I can get over this because he is clearly experienced both as a program director and a teacher (he has taught at two local state universities). Second, I had this overwhelming feeling that I had waited 25 years to get here. I was so excited! I left feeling very positive….
I just landed an internship at KPFA (Pacifica) radio. Six weeks of training (2 nights a week) and then one day a week for six months writing and reporting news. I think it will dovetail nicely with my work with my mentor, Mario. Mario graduated me out of commercials and into newscasting. I have learned a lot and it will all be applied to the coming weeks of news and then interviewing (finally!). Things are moving along and I feel good about it all. Cheers."
Click here for complete bio.
BRIAN RUTTER, a 38-year-old Management Consultant in Atlanta, GA who was 17 when he made his way on-air at the area’s number one commercial radio station.
"Dear Phillip and Gang,
Funny how the world goes round. By no means do I expect you to remember this, but, several months ago I wrote to tell you that the promotions department at STAR 94 had tapped me for a singles auction to raise money for a charity.
Today, I received a phone call from the SAME STAR 94 EMPLOYEE who arranged the auction, conveying a message from the P.D., that he had not yet looked at my resume and/air check but would soon. I called her back (we "know" each other from that event); she told me that, ironically, it is SHE who also makes the arrangements for interviews if he is interested. Here's the cool part: She told me that, because she knew me from the auction event, she was able to walk into his office today and tell him a little about me, saying that she thought I would represent the company well, that I was personable and loaded with presence, and that I was not a flake (dependable). How about them apples?! Funny how things are connected together.......but you already knew that…
Hopefully getting closer in my pursuits of an on-air job at STAR 94!! Through nothing short of Divine intervention -- being in precisely the right place at precisely the right time (literally standing in the hallway) -- during my weekly lesson with Tripp, I got a spontaneous interview/meeting with the P.D. With no prior appointment, the man spent a whopping NINETY MINUTES with me. We connected like a dream.
Stilll 'no cigar,' but now he clearly knows me -- who I am and what I'm "all about." The full story is one that will definitely make it to my success story for you to share -- when I get the darn job! Thanks for your continued interest."
Click here for complete bio.
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**To proceed directly to the application, click HERE to begin the process.**
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CHRIS GERMAN - 25-year-old journalist with college internship experience as a news writer at WILI I-98 and a lifelong love of radio.
He got discouraged along the way, at one point wanted to quit. We made him stick to it and exactly one year later his story - warts and all - attests to the power of persistence, motivation, guidance and tenacity.
"After a month, I still wasn't making any money, but I was interning for a morning show. When 9/11 hit, I was still just finishing assignments but the news director really became too busy to go over them with me. He passed me on to a board operator and had me follow him around. The board op told me that if I wanted to get a job in radio I needed to first learn the nuts and bolts and so he started teaching me about format clocks, commercial break formats, basic tools of the trade like mini disks, digital editing and phone systems. He also showed me around and taught me a bit about the station's transmission signals and the basics to running a board for syndicated shows as well as live shows. To tell you the truth I hated it, but it was step in the right direction. I figured, "Yeah this sucks, but everyone else had to do this, so I guess I can too."
By the end of September, the board op had taught me enough that he thought I could handle a spot running some of the weekend shows. The first weekend in October, just six months after I signed up with Get a Mentor, I turned in my first time sheet in radio and was asking to be paid for work in radio. All in all that was the goal and I was thrilled. My first week I earned $15. NO, definitely not a fortune fortune, but that paycheck meant more than money to me. It meant the start of a career."
"It's going on five months now and I couldn't be happier. I still work some crazy hours but Mike is more than fair about it and I am happy just to get a paycheck. Mike has also encouraged me to work on my News skills and this past month I have had several stories included in our newscasts. I am also now the fill in sports anchor. All in all after one year, I am thrilled at my progress and couldn't be happier at the way my career is going.
It does have its drawbacks like small paychecks and crazy hours, but for me that is just fine. I am not a 9-5er, can't stand a standard 40 hour work week, and money, well that's for people who hate their jobs. I love mine, so the money will come when it will come."
Click here for complete bio.
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**To proceed directly to the application, click HERE to begin the process.**
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JOHN BURNETT-LARKIN – Honolulu, HI
A creative and humorous writer, John takes you through a tongue-in-cheek autobiography in the form of an interview with his mother.
"Mom: 'But all the while, ready to pounce on any entry-level broadcasting position to come along.'
John: 'Yeah…when I first moved out here, I used to call up radio stations at random, and inquire about job openings. The first time I got hold of a Japanese language station, it was pretty embarrassing. Here I was, this crazy haole, fresh off the plane from Iowa, trying to explain to the receptionist that I wanted to work for her Japanese- speaking station. And I don't even speak Japanese! Trying to get into the business here has always been a "Catch 22" for me, as it is for many people. You know - - no experience, no job - - but with no job, no experience.'"
Click here for complete bio.
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**To proceed directly to the application, click HERE to begin the process.**
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JONATHON LILLESKOV - 21-year-old Rochester, Minnesota auto parts sales and deliveryman.
"If it weren't for circumstances beyond my control, I think this whole situation would have developed in late 1997. I wanted to go to Brown Institute, but doing so would leave only my mother behind to care for my ill father. Instead, I decided to attend our local community college and get some general courses out of the way to prepare for my major when I transferred…
… All my life, I've always thought of the people "inside the box" to be some of the luckiest people in all the world… This time, I decided to give up any inhibitions and just do it!… I honestly can't remember anytime in my life when I've been more excited, scared and happy all at once!"
"Hey Phillip! How are you? I'm doing better by the day! I absolutely love doing this. It's unlike anything I've ever undertaken before, and that only gives me more motivation to do it…"
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"Right now, we're focusing on news broadcasting…On Friday, I witnessed Cori recording an on-air commercial from nothing to final approval from the customer. That was something to see. It's hard to believe that you can record a whole commercial without the use of room-filling machines, but I know now that it can happen! Furthermore, the whole process took only 25 minutes!"
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"I could never have foreseen the fun and excitement of this field. Wow! Lately, I've been writing news scripts…Last week, I was running airchecks of the station's morning show and opposing station's shows. That was interesting to hear, because all the stations are so diverse, yet they have the same ideas…Thanks again for this great opportunity!"
Click here for complete bio.
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**To proceed directly to the application, click HERE to begin the process.**
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Click here for complete bio.
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