Ms.Jessica Williams: Born for Radio

By Elandra Fernandez

The musical preference your parents had during your upbringing plays a vital role in shaping your worldview. The parents of Jessica Williams, affectionately known as Ms. Jessica, played a diverse catalog of music, resulting in Jessica having a well-rounded perspective to bring to the radio industry.

Growing up, music was frequently played in Jessica Williams household. Her dad would sit in their living room and play his records, he would even make “love” mixtapes for her mom when he wasn’t assuming the role of a DJ. Jessica was first introduced to the microphone when she did the morning announcements in middle and high school. She merged her love for talking with her love of music, and that’s when her career in radio came to fruition.  

Being a military baby, Jessica moved from New Orleans shortly after birth to be raised in Virginia Beach but now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. She’s outgoing, passionate, silly, a music lover, and talkative. 

Jessica works for Beasley Broadcasting and is the co-host of “The Morning Madhouse” on WPEG Power 98. When asked, what’s the best thing about being on the radio? Jessica eagerly responded, “EVERYTHING! I absolutely love radio! I love the experiences that come along with radio and I learn so much through those experiences. I am a VOICE and I take that responsibility very seriously.” Jessica Williams has been doing radio for 14 years and spent all her years at Power 98. In fact, she had her first on-air shift the morning of her college graduation.

Jessica is involved in a multitude of activities outside of radio, mostly contributing to her community. Her love for kids is phenomenal! She used to be in the school system full-time as an in-school suspension teacher. She started working for a non-profit called “Communities in School” where she worked with youth on their academic enhancement, behavior, and attendance. Jessica also does a lot of youth programs, like, “Ms. Jessica Power Promotes” which recognizes students that make the honor roll or straight A’s on their report cards. “Ms. Jessica’s Big Cut” which provides free haircuts and book bags for students the day before school starts, in addition to many more events. She lives by this quote, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” Working with the youth in addition to radio is Jessica’s passion. She also enjoys traveling, reading, watching movies, and listening to all types of music.

One of the obstacles Jessica had to face was the wait time, it took her over 10 years to become full time. During her part-time years, she missed out on a lot of holidays, celebrations and vacations. Despite her absence, it definitely prepared her for the role she has today. Now that she is “in the game,” she can put all those lessons to use and strive for greatness!

Jessica Schiano: Hard work and Dedication

By Elandra Fernandez

There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise to the top, and Jessica Schiano could easily identify with that type of woman.   

With hard work and dedication, Jessica Schiano knew she would find herself working in radio. She currently works for Cumulus Media on 92 PRO-FM in Providence and Q016 in Columbia, Missouri.

She got her start in radio through a close friend. When she began college, she wanted to pursue a career in television but missed the sign up for an internship. That served as the first omen that she needed a different career, the second occurred when her friend in class asked, “would she rather work for 92 PRO-FM instead?” After two interviews for the internship, she was selected and did everything you can think of in radio. From promotions to hanging roll banners, cleaning the station’s grill, and counting the number balloons in the street machine van. Jessica always wanted to be on the radio but for her, it took a long time.

Jessica Schiano didn’t let any negative comments or feedback stop her from doing what she loves. One day, the former general manager, told her she sounded "unpleasant" on the radio, she asked how she could fix it and he told her, " I don’t know, you just do." From that moment, she decided she was going to prove him wrong. After working hard and proving herself, she was hired to do full-time promotions in Providence and a segment for Coast 93.3 on Thursday’s. That was the big break she needed.

Schiano would describe herself as silly, sarcastic and fun. She might be forty and fabulous, but if you were to throw a beer pong table in front of her, she would be ready to play. She loves doing work with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the American Stroke Association. Jessica tries not to stress about things and is very happy with what she has and where she is. She doesn’t take anything for granted.

When asked, what’s the best thing about being in radio, she replied, “the chance to talk to people all day, I try to keep it all positive, there’s plenty of negativity in the world, with me you can listen to the hits. I go to work with the goal of making at least one person smile during my shift."

The people that impacted Jessica most in her career are three people: Chris Eagan, Bill Hess, and Davey Morris. They helped her perfect her craft.

For those who would like to work in the particular field, Schiano says, “don’t give up. If it’s something you really want to do, and you believe in yourself, it can happen.”

Marissa Lanchak: Never Give Up

          By Elandra Fernandez

There are people who crumble at the face of adversity, and then there are people who look at adversity as an opportunity to make the best of a challenging situation; Marissa Lanchak can easily identify with the latter.

From Waterford, New York but currently residing in Boston, Massachusetts, Lanchak describes herself as passionate, driven and outgoing. With those characteristics she landed a job at the company Beasley Media Group, radio station WKLB/Country 102.5.

What led Marissa to a career in radio is her love for music and entertaining people. Marissa had a couple of jobs that led her to an enormous anxiety problem, she felt like she was downright bullied and questioned herself why she was in radio in the first place.

Despite those obstacles she had to face, she continued to do what she loved. When asked, what’s the best thing about being on the radio she eagerly responded by stating, “interacting with people on a consistent basis. To know people are relating or just enjoying what you’re doing is what makes it so gratifying. They’re the reason this is a job in the first place.”

What would surprise many people that do not know Marissa is that she questions everything she does before she does it. She asks herself, should I do this or say this? Am I doing this right? Will it work? Will it make someone laugh?

Outside of radio, Marissa is an eBay queen, she has the ability to sell just about anything. Not only that, but she writes music, cuddle with her pets (kids) and a huge basketball fan which her favorite team is the Boston Celtics.

The person who impacted Marissa most in her is Terry O’Donnell (PD/WKKF 102.3 Kiss FM Albany.) He allowed her creativity to flow, didn’t try to hold her back, and helped her grow on the air within the business knowledge wise.

The advice Marissa would give people who would like to work in this particular field is, “be ready to give 1000% and give more if you can. Do what you can to stand out, work hard even when you’re out of work and when you get knocked down, don’t give up. Stand up taller and let it make you stronger.”

Corey Dylan: Making Her Own Way

Written By: Alyssa Kay

Someone once said, “Little girls with dreams become women with visions,” Corey Dylan became that woman.

As a child, between moving from city to city and family trips, Dylan spent plenty of time on the road. She took it upon herself to be the one to entertain everyone for the duration of the trip.

“I’m a born entertainer and used to put on a show for my family in the back of the station wagon during family road trips when I was a little girl- complete with commercials for products I made up!” said Dylan.

Dylan began to explore her talent in high school by joining the school’s chorus and also being involved in plays. It was during her time at Washington State University (WSU), where she began to chase her broadcast dreams.

While receiving her degree from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications at WSU she kicked off her career hosting a radio show at the campus radio station, KUGR, and also earned a spot on a cable comedy sketch show, Live @ 8.  

After graduation, she began her professional career at a Big Band radio station in Bakersfield, California as a daily news reader, and remained there for six months before going back to Seattle, Washington. There she worked overnights at KZOK and produced a morning show.

When KBKS Kiss 106.1 launched, Dylan seized the opportunity to land her first ever live radio show. “ There aren’t many opportunities to go live on the air anymore and gain experience,” said Dylan.

In 2002 Dylan took her career to Tampa, Florida hosting a local morning show and remained there for the majority of her career. Until the summer of 2016 when the station (WMTX) became a syndicated station and ultimately her position was eliminated.

Dylan began to search for other opportunities in the industry and even ways to create her own media business. She's offered social media management, voiceovers, on-camera appearances for HSN, TMZ Live and Daytime, a syndicated show out of WFLA Tampa.

“The best part of my job(s) now is that I’m own boss. I work hard and reap all the benefits of producing great content for my clients. I’m open to relocating for the right gig and the ultimate goal, which would be a primetime show in a major market. Wherever I land I want to continue my work in TV and VO (voiceovers) because being versatile only helps you become a better version of yourself.”

LaSanya 'Mrs.Yaya' Williams: Determined and Committed

                                                                 By: Elandra Fernandez

When ambition and faith are merged, the product of that dynamic combination would look a lot like LaSanya “Mrs. YaYa” Williams.

Mrs. YaYa is from Bryan, Texas but now she resides in Dallas, Texas. She easily could accept the title of a veteran given that she’s been in the entertainment business for 15 years and has a syndicated radio show called Urban After Dark radio that is produced by WHEG LLC.

There were a few obstacles Mrs. YaYa had to face when she initially entered the radio industry, most of which were with a few people who resisted the progressive ideologies she brought to the table. As one could imagine, she did not let it discourage her and continue to make great strides in the field that she loved.

If Mrs. YaYa was to describe herself, she would say that she is really friendly and sometimes outspoken. She also loves staying abreast to what’s going on in urban entertainment and enjoys being the platform that others can use to obtain such information.

When asked, what’s the best thing about being in radio? Mrs. YaYa eagerly responded, “I like meeting new people and other women in radio.”

Radio is not the only thing Mrs. YaYa does, quite the contrary, she’s an extremely busy woman. She is an event coordinator and has put on a multitude of club concerts with some of the most renown names in hip-hop. Her manager has played a huge impact in her career given that his knowledge for entertainment has helped project her this far in the industry.

The advice Mrs. YaYa would give to people who would like to work in her field is that “make sure this is something you want to do, it’s hard work and requires a lot of attention. So, you want to have a great support system around you.”

Check out Mrs. YaYa this summer for her “Make Them Tell Us No Tour.” She will be traveling in her van, driving from city to city promoting her show “Urban After Dark” radio on Amazon Alexa. She will be visiting radio program directors and trying to see if they will pick up her show. This is where her the name of the tour comes from, “I’m going to shoot my shot and make them tell me no. Hopefully, they say yes!”

Amber Stone: Delivers Food For The Soul To Her Listeners

                                                        By Elandra Fernandez

 According to Loretta Young, “a charming woman is a busy woman.” Amber Stone, the Fort Wayne morning show radio host, easily personifies this quote daily.

Amber Stone is the true definition of living your best life. She is extraordinary and is paving the way for other women in the radio industry. A phenomenal woman she is. “I am a huge believer in living your best life. When I’m pouring into myself, I can pour into others.”

Amber was born and raised in the Detroit area. So how did a Detroit area native start living a crazy lifestyle all the way in Las Vegas? Her love for media and getting into the industry led her to one of the most flamboyantly lavish cities in America.

After receiving news that her father was involved in a terrible car accident, and his health was on the decline, she became motivated and knew that she had to turn her dreams into reality. Amber returned back home and attended the Specs Howard Media Arts School. Amber Stone currently lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana and is a morning host on 103.9 Sunny FM, Middays on HOT 107.9, which is a part of Adams Radio Group and also tracks a show on Your 106.3 in Lexington. Her everyday working environment involves getting up early, going to the station to prep her show. When she is done with her morning show she goes to the studio next door, to do her show with HOT 107.9, in between that she does production.

Amber Stone is a passionate woman who is on a mission to empower the world. When asked who has impacted you most in your career, she responded saying, “hands down, the phenomenal women I’m grateful to have connected with over the years. This industry is a male-dominated field, and women are carving their own place.”

Though Amber’s life seems to be fully engulfed with radio, she still finds time for bike riding, fitness, yoga, among many others.

In her earlier stages of life, she wanted to become an actress and take the stage on Broadway. From a young girl, being a star was her dream and now that dream is real, but in the radio industry.

Amber Stone has a great interest in what she does, the reason she continues to strive in the radio industry is because she appreciates having the gift of waking up her city and impacting people’s lives. “So many are fighting battles in life and need a place of comfort. The power of a mic is something I never take for granted.”

Amber is truly a busy woman outside of radio. She has a podcast called “Food for the Soul,” she does events around her city. Her vision is to empower women to openly discuss life situations and emotions that ladies go through in the world.

The advice Amber stone would give people that would like to work in radio is, “Accept criticism and use it to inspire you to be better at your craft. Keep expanding your dreams and leave room for them to change and grow. Keep striving and thriving!”