Beasley Broadcast announced the retirement of Vice President and Market Manager Natalie Conner, who oversees WXTU-FM and WRDW-FM in Philadelphia. The company is actively pursuing a replacement, who will remain with Beasley Broadcast in her current role until a new GM is named and then as a consultant.
Conner joined Beasley Broadcast and entered the Philadelphia market in 1991 as a national sales manager for the Company. In the ensuring years, she worked her way up to vice president and general manager of WXTU-FM in 2004 and then was again promoted in 2009 to vice president and market manager for the Philadelphia market stations WXTU-FM and Rhythmic leader Wired 96.5 WRDW-FM. A radio veteran with over 34 years of hands-on experience, Natalie’s career began in Little Rock, in her home state of Arkansas. She gravitated early-on to sales, establishing herself as dynamic sales director in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma and ultimately Philadelphia.
With a broadcasting career steeped in professional and charitable contributions, Natalie currently serves the board of the Country Music Association and is a past board member of the Country Radio Broadcasters and the Caron Foundation. In the radio industry, Natalie has been recognized by the American Women in Radio / Television, the Country Radio Broadcasters and Radio INK magazine. In her local community, she has been honored by the March of Dimes Air Awards and the Philadelphia Business Journal. She has also received Beasley Broadcast’s highest management award, General Manager of the Year and stations under her control have on numerous occasions been named Beasley’s Radio Station of the Year.
Said Beasley Broadcast Group Chairman and CEO George Beasley: “We’ve been privileged to have Natalie Conner with our Company for the past twenty-three years, all of which were in sales management and general management. Under her guidance, WXTU blossomed into a vibrant community-minded station and a dominant Northeast country music radio powerhouse. When asked to add extra management duties overseeing Wired 96.5, Natalie brought that same level of professionalism and enthusiasm to the younger Rhythmic-formatted station each day. We thank her for a job well done.”
Beasley Broadcast Group President Bruce Beasley adds, “Beasley is very appreciative of the important role Natalie has played in the growth of these two diverse Philadelphia radio stations. We are grateful for the contributions she has made to our Company, our Philadelphia employees, the stations’ loyal listeners and the Delaware Valley. Most importantly, we thank Natalie for her willingness to do whatever was asked of her over the past twenty-three years with Beasley. She will continue to manage WXTU and Wired 96.5 until a replacement is identified, but we certainly realize that filling her shoes will not be an easy task.”
Said Conner: “My time with Beasley, with WXTU and more recently with Wired 96.5 has offered me an amazing career. Our Philadelphia staff is incredible; this team is the best, hands down. I’ve been so fortunate to succeed in an industry that I truly love, with amazing people by my side and a dedicated corporate team in Naples, FL (my future home!). None of this would be possible without the Beasley family. Bruce Beasley hired me 23 years ago and it’s been one heck of a beautiful journey ever since. I am very blessed.”
For those interested in the job, send resumes to [email protected].
