Thomas R. Zarecki, MBA

Experience

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  77 WABC Radio and 95.5 WPLJ Radio

  Jun 1972 - Oct 1974

  Studio Audio Engineer

  Studio technician and board operator at both legendary radio stations' live on-air studios. Working personally with all live air personalities at both stations, and producing news segments with reporters and news writers from both stations. Worked directly for, and under the personal direction of, both stations’ on-air music, news & sports personalities, including...On WABC-AM Musicradio 77, I worked directly with... Dan Ingram, Cousin Bruce Morrow, Harry Harrison, Ron Lundy, Chuck Leonard, Jay Reynolds, George Michael, Steve O’Brien, Johnny Donovan, Bob Hardt, Bob Capers, Kathleen Maloney, Howard Cosell. On WPLJ 95.5 Rock’n’Stereo, I worked directly with...Pat St. John, Jim Kerr, Tony Pigg, Carol Miller, John Zacherle, Jimmy Fink, Alex Bennett, Randy Thomas. Show less

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  WGRG-FM Radio

  Jan 1976 - Dec 1976

  Program Director, Morning Air Talent

  Morning DJ, Mon-Sat 6am-10am. Created and executed contests, promotions, and listener interaction. Worked with news director Ann Errington, music director Dave Calabrese (now a big commercial voiceover talent in Connecticut), evening talent Kass and midday talent BJ Burgess.

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  WRKI Radio (i-95 FM)

  Dec 1976 - Jan 1980

  Co-founder, PD, Morning Show Host

  Co-founder, DJ and WRKI's very 1st morning show host, Mon-Sat, 5:30-10AM. Selected new songs to add to the station playlists each week. Created and executed promotional events and contests. hired and coached each of the air personalities in strategies and tactics to improve their show.On-air personalities included Ethan Carey, Buzz Knight, Pam Brooks, Jim Schultz, Brian St. James, Mitch Phillips, Storm N. Norman, and many more.

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  WNVR Radio (14-NVR)

  Jan 1980 - Aug 1981

  Account Executive

  Sales and marketing services provided for this contemporary music radio station serving the greater Waterbury CT metro area.

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  WELI Radio, New Haven CT

  Sept 1981 - May 1982

  Co-Op Advertising Sales Manager

  Visited commercial organizations in the greater New Haven metro area to discuss advertising strategies to grow their business.

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  Klemm Media

  May 1982 - May 1986

  Radio Programming Strategist, broadcast consultant

  Daily conference calls following the monitoring of client radio stations from around the USA. Created & executed programming strategy, wrote and coached station talent in the writing of station liners, promos, contests. Successes & relationships established while at Klemm Media continued at Zarecki Radio Consulting (separate entry).

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  Zarecki Radio Consulting

  May 1986 - Apr 1993

  Radio Programming Strategist

  Worked at 65 radio stations in 35 states, providing programming advice, counsel and promotional ideas to management and on-air talent, following previous successes at Klemm Media. Hired morning air talent, coached all on-air personalities, selected entire broadcst music libraries, designed contests, wrote positioning liners and slogans and station promos, wrote jingle lyrics.QUESTION: Sounds like fun, but where did you work? ANSWER: I provided weekly ongoing talent coaching and program consulting services through frequent travel to, and phone conversations with, radio stations in these states & cities:ALABAMA: Mobile, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa. ARIZONA: Phoenix.ARKANSAS: Little Rock, Ft. Smith, Fayetteville.CALIFORNIA: Santa Barbara, Sacramento, Victorville/Apple Valley, Palm Springs.COLORADO: Denver, Ft. Collins/Loveland.CONNECTICUT: Hartford, Waterbury, Ridgefield, Danbury.FLORIDA: Tallahassee, Ft. Myers, Naples.GEORGIA: Augusta, Moultrie.IDAHO: Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Coeur D’Aelene.INDIANA: Fort Wayne.IOWA: Quad Cities (Davenport/Bettendorf), Dubuque.ILLINOIS: Quad Cities (Rock Island/Moline), Peoria.KANSAS: Topeka, Lawrence.KENTUCKY: Bowling Green/Russellville, Louisville.MAINE: Augusta/Waterville, Bangor/Ellsworth.MASSACHUSETTS: Springfield.MICHIGAN: Detroit.MINNESOTA: Rochester.MISSISSIPPI: Biloxi.NEBRASKA: Lincoln.NEW JERSEY: Atlantic City.NEW YORK: Kingston, Rome/Utica, Elmira.NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte, Raleigh.NORTH DAKOTA: Bismarck.OHIO: Lima.OKLAHOMA: Oklahoma City, Tulsa.PENNSYLVANIA: Harrisburg, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Altoona, Lebanon.SOUTH CAROLINA: Columbia, Greenville/Spartanburg.SOUTH DAKOTA: Rapid City.TENNESSEE: Nashville, Memphis.TEXAS: Austin, San Antonio, Lufkin/Nacogdoches, Brownsville.UTAH: Salt Lake City, Ogden.VIRGINIA: Richmond, Harrisonburg/Charlottesville.WASHINGTON: Spokane.WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston, Parkersburg.WISCONSIN: Madison. Show less

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  Morning Show Consulting Group

  Mar 1989 - Sept 1991

  Head writer, client coach, co-founder

  Weekly conference calls with our team (The Real Bob James [aka Dr. Bob Pondillo], Mechele George and me) and the teams from various station morning shows across the USA.

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  RCS

  Apr 1993 - Jan 2007

  Director of Marketing; Director of Public Relations; RCS/Radio Computing Services

  - Main presenter, NAB Convention, Las Vegas (10 years) at RCS demo stage- Main presenter at international trade shows worldwide, including > Birmingham, United Kingdom> Singapore, Singapore > Amsterdam, The Netherlands> Adelaide, Australia - Web content writer & editor: 175+ corporate Web site pages100+ corporate press releases150+ sales brochures & ads15+ product & service animated Flash demos- Featured Speaker: The Conclave, Minneapolis, MN (2002)Christian Radio Seminar, Atlanta, GA (2003). - Panel Creator & Moderator: “Cyberjocking: Sound Live When You’re Not”, NAB, Las Vegas, NV (2003).- Panel Creator & Moderator:“Show Prep In A Can”, R&R Talk Seminar, Washington, DC. (2002)- Writer and columnist, Radio Ink magazine and Talkers Magazine - Member of “Committee On Marketing” think-tank of senior RCS execs- Certified instructor, Selector & GSelector music scheduling & Master Control on-air studio automation- Featured writer/contributor, "Creating Powerful Radio" book by Valerie Geller, published April, 2007 Show less

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  98Q WLAD Radio Berkshire Broadcasting Inc

  Jan 1994 - Aug 1994

  Weekend and vacation relief DJ

  On-air radio personality and DJ for 98Q (WDAQ-FM) radio. A few times I filled in for the primary DJs in the morning drive, midday, and afternoon slots.

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  98Q WLAD Radio Berkshire Broadcasting Inc

  Jan 1995 - Jul 1995

  Weekend DJ

  Weekend DJ for WLAD-AM 800 and on-air radio personality.

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  Powerful Radio Productions

  Apr 2000 - May 2002

  Host, “Steppin’ Out: The 12-Step Radio Show" nationally-syndicated radio program

  Host, MC, interviewer

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  WDRC-FM Radio, Hartford CT

  May 2001 - Aug 2004

  Weekend Radio Personality

  Hosted a 4-5 hour Sunday morning radio show on this legendary Oldies-formatted radio station in Hartford, CT. High content, contests, phone interaction.

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  Media Monitors

  Jan 2003 - Jan 2007

  Director of Marketing & Public Relations

  - Co-creator, "Spot Ten" weekly charts of America's top radio commercials.- Creator and weekly writer, "Spot Light" articles analyzing a specific market segment's radio advertising strategy. - Featured article writer, "Talkers" magazine. Each month these articles would examine a specifc product category, industry or region and their radio advertising strategy for the past month. - Content writer for all pages of the company's public web site. - Presentation coach for Media Monitors president.- Moderator of Media Monitors Press Conferences at NAB Convention, Las Vegas, 2003-2006. Show less

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  Western Connecticut State University

  Jan 2005 - May 2005

  Adjunct professor, Marketing

  Taught MKT301 Principles of Marketing, Spring 2005

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  Jetcast, Inc.

  Mar 2007 - Feb 2010

  Senior Marketing Executive

  > Profiled and featured in "Media Outlook Book" by Lauren L. Darr, April, 2010> Featured Speaker, "Seven NEW Secrets of Show Prep...Revealed" seminar with Kwame Dankwa, Intercollegiate Broadcasting System, New York City, March, 2010> Featured Speaker, "Radio Automation Systems & Voice Tracking" seminar with Kwame Dankwa, Intercollegiage Broadcast System, New York City, March, 2010 > Featured Speaker, "Leading the Broadcast Industry into the Future", co-presenter with Holland Cooke, National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation's Career Day, Las Vegas, April 22, 2009> Master of Ceremonies, "1st Annual INKY AWARDS" for excellence among broadcast trade publications, presented by LOI International, Las Vegas, April 19, 2009> Creator & moderator, "The 7 Secrets to Show Prep" with Caroline Corley and Kwame Dankwa, IBS college radio conference, New York City, March 6, 2009. > Solo presenter, writer, producer, "Show Me The Money! Radio's Online Revenue Realities", Live Webinar, December, 2008 > Co-Presenter, writer, producer, "The Realities of Internet Radio", Live Webinar, August, 2008.> Presenter, McVay Media Summit at the Conclave, Minneapolis (July 2008), "The Myths of Online Radio", and "Programming the Unsold Spots in your Spot Breaks" > Presenter, New Jersey Broadcasters Association annual convention (June 2008), Atlantic City, NJ, "Spot Streaming? Stop Screaming!" and "Programming the Unsold Spots in your Online Spot Breaks"> Featured speaker, Convergence '08 seminar, San Jose, CA (March, 2008) on the panel, "A Slap in the Face...Wake Up!"> Writer, co-host of "Internet Radio Myth-Busting" webinar (2007)> Writer, 12 corporate press releases and related publicity (2007-08) Show less

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  Lincoln College of New England

  Sept 2007 - Jun 2013

  Academic Program Director, Communication & Mass Media Department

  - Courses taught: Audio ProductionBroadcast ProductionHistory of Contemporary MusicPublic SpeakingCommunication Career Seminar, Intro to Mass MediaJournalism- Presenter, "What’s Hot in Social Media" - New ideas for Facebook, Twitter, & LinkedIn to help manage professional image & career goals quickly. 1 hour talk to LCNE students, faculty, staff, Tuesday, August 7, 2012, Southington, CT- Presenter, "Professional Schmoozing: the Power of Positive PR", 1 hour talk to LCNE faculty, January 13, 2012, Southington, CT- Presenter, "Making It Click: The Magic Moments Behind Every Great Presentation", 1 hour talk to LCNE faculty, August 21, 2011, Southington, CT - Featured presenter: "Making It Click: Powerful Communication Tips In & Out Of The Classroom" (2 hours); Faculty Development Week, January 13, 2011, Southington, CT- Faculty advisor: "The Pulse", campus online radio station- Featured contributor: "Beyond Powerful Radio" by Valerie Geller, Focal Press, published April, 2011- Master of Ceremonies: 2nd INKY Awards, for excellence in radio & TV trade publications. Las VegasApril 10, 2011- Panelist, Intercollegiate Broadcast System (IBS) conference, at each of these one-hour sessions: > "Broadcast Writing Workshop"> "Radio Dramas & Documentaries"> "Streaming (Audio and Video), Webcasting and Archiving Workshop"New York City, March 11, 2011 Show less

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  WJMJ-FM Radio /ORTV

  Dec 2010 - now

  Radio personality

  Currently: part-time, fill-in radio guest host, including plus tons of music from many decades, quick bits of interesting info, too. And no commercials… ever!!>> Former Weekend host, “A Light In The Dark”, Saturdays+Sundays, Mid-5AM, (Apr. 1 to Oct. 1, 2022 = 6 months).>> Former host, “The Weekend Wakeup Show", Saturdays 6-10AM (Dec. 2010 to Mar. 2022 = 11 years, 3 months).>>Listen to WJMJ-FM at 88.9 in Hartford, CT or WJMJ.org, worldwide!

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  Danbury Area Computing Society

  Sept 2014 - Jan 2016

  Member, Board of Directors

  Hosted social media workshops. MC/host for monthly meetings. Presented 90-minute seminar on social media for the general public in April, 2015. Advised members on marketing, promotion and social media.

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  Western Connecticut State University

  Jul 2015 - now

  ACTIVITIES: > Adjunct Professor, Marketing Dept., Ancell School of Business> Adjunct Professor, Communication & Media Arts Dept.> Chair, Oral & Written Learning Goal Assessment Committee, Ancell School of Business> Member, Media Arts Advisory Committee, Comm./Media Dept.> Member, CT Broadcasters Assn.> Member, Broadcast Education Assn.> Co-host, "WXCI Business Backstory" weekly radio program & podcast> Faculty Advisor, WXCI-FM 91.7 Radio> Social media consultant, "WCSU Election Connection" broadcast TV/radio coverage annually COURSES TAUGHT AT WCSU> Marketing Dept., Ancell School of Business:MKT 411 E-Commerce & Internet MarketingMKT 101 Orientation to Ancell Business ProgramsMKT 200 Principles of Marketing (formerly MKT 301)MKT 315 Integrated Marketing Communication: Advertising & Social MediaMKT 333 Sales Management in Marketing> Communication & Media Arts Department:COM 270 Radio WorkshopCOM 275 Fundamentals of Radio BroadcastingCOM 298 Communication InternshipPRESENTATIONS / SPEECHES / FORUMS> Presenter at Marketplace Simulations "Best Practices in Learning and Research"Presentation: "Increasing 'Interaction Action' in Student Networking this semester"July 22, 2021 > Featured Speaker of the Month:"Social Media" at monthly meeting of Danbury Area Computer Society, on April 9, 2015. > Moderator:"Health Attitude - How The Internet and The Cloud Will Change The Future of Healthcare" panel discussion, with featured speaker, John Patrick, also Dr. Cary Passik, Dr. Aparna Oltikar, and Dawn Myles, APRN. Sponsored by Danbury Area Computer Society, at Danbury Hospital Auditorium, May 5, 2015> Co-presenter: "Jumpstart your Job Search w/Linkedin"- with David Halek, at Ancell School of Business, March 26, 2015 Show less

  • Advisor, Ancell Orientation Program

    Sept 2019 - now

  • Adjunct Professor, Marketing Dept. and Communication Dept.

    Sept 2007 - now

  • University Assistant, Assessment + Media, Ancell School of Business

    Jul 2015 - Jun 2016
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  Handyworks Remodeling and Design (HRD)

  Jan 2016 - now

  Social Media & Marketing Consultant

  Co-ordination of social media presence, plus website and blog writing/editing/coaching advisement. Experienced with Word Press & BuilderTrend software. http://www.HandyworksRemodeling.com

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  TRZ Media Ltd

  Jan 2016 - now

  Social Media Strategist/Marketing Consultant

  Owner/FounderMarketing: strategy, planning, brainstorming. Social media: strategy, writing, updating.Website: content creation, editing, updating.Blog: topic creation, writing, editing. Advertising: strategic planning, commercial copywriting. Customer relations: outreach strategy. Search Engine Optimization: strategy.

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  Streamline Publishing

  Jan 2017 - Nov 2017

  Columnist, Radio Ink Magazine

  Writer, full page feature articles on the radio industry. Article: "Is Facebook Live Upstaging Your Station?", March 27, 2017 > Read here: http://radioink.com/2017/03/08/facebook-live-upstaging-station/ Article: "The Art of Show Prep: What To Say When There's Nothing To Say", May 26, 2017 > Read here: http://radioink.com/2017/05/26/say-theres-nothing-say/