Eagle Communications Inc., dba Eagle Radio, will have new leadership to open 2020 after naming Kurt David president and chief executive officer.
Current CEO Gary Shorman will continue as chairman of the Eagle board of directors. He also will take on expanded duties working with the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation.
David, who began his career with Eagle in 2006 and was most recently president and chief operating officer, has been serving as the transition officer for Mega Broadband since Sept. 1, helping finalize the sale of Eagle’s broadband assets to Mega.
“It’s exciting what we have ahead in 2020 for Eagle. At the heart of our vision is to create a better experience where we live, work and play,” David said. “That means building our communities and focusing on the relationships between our communities, the local businesses and the residents/citizens who are our listeners and viewers. Eagle has the ability to positively impact these relationships, and I am pleased to be working alongside our talented employee-owners.”
Shorman will oversee new initiatives for Eagle Radio, beginning with the launch of Eagle Creative.
“With the new decade comes new excitement and growth for Eagle Radio,” Shorman said. “New ideas, complimented with innovative leadership, will help our communities grow and prosper. I am excited to see all the great things that can happen as we build the future together.”
Eagle Creative will offer complete marketing solution for clients — a start-to-finish approach ranging from company branding, web and online solutions, advertising across all media platforms, and events.
Liby Waltemath will serve as agency director for Eagle Creative. Waltemath has been with Eagle since 2015, most recently serving as account executive and digital sales manager in St. Joseph, Mo.
“I am thrilled to be heading up our new collaboration, Eagle Creative,” she said. “I am excited to help Eagle move to a full-service agency model to better serve the ever-evolving needs of our clients."
Miles Ramsay will serve as creative director with Eagle Creative. Ramsay has been with Eagle for 12 years, most recently serving as production director and account executive in St. Joseph.
Eagle also has announced new leadership in its Manhattan/Junction City market.
Jason Schlitz has been hired as market manager in Junction City and Manhattan including radio stations Power Hits 97.5, Q Country 103.5, Q-Prime 92.7 and KJCK 1420 AM/107.9 FM.
Schlitz is a 34-year broadcast veteran and is currently the general sales manager for KAKE-TV in Wichita. In addition to an extensive career in television, newspaper and digital advertising, Schlitz has spent 20 years in radio and led the creation of 101.5 K-Rock during a 10-year tenure at Manhattan Broadcasting.
“This is an exciting time for me and my family,” Schlitz said. “My wife and I have always said that Manhattan is the one place we’d like to return to. We met here, were married here, bought our first house here, and our first daughter was born here. Returning to the Manhattan-Junction City area is like coming home.”
“Over the past several months we have conducted a nationwide search for the right person to lead our Manhattan-Junction City market,” Shorman said. “Jason has the right tools, the right experience, and he believes in the bright future of these communities.”
In this new role, Schlitz will oversee the programming, sales, community involvement and operation efforts of Eagle’s assets across the market.
Founded in 1948, Eagle Communications Inc. is a Kansas-based media company with over 150 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. In addition to radio, the company offers online solutions, web development, video production, and creative services. Eagle is the parent company of the Post News Network. For more, visit eagleradio.net.