SANTA CLARITA, CALIF. — From Fresno to Bakersfield, she was widely known as “a first-class executive who is efficient, effective, and engaged.” One former co-worker took to LinkedIn to take note of her understanding of the media business, calling it “exceptional, earning her deep respect by those who work with her.”
Now, media and marketing leaders from across the San Joaquin Valley are paying tribute to Mary Lou Gunn, who died on November 24 after a brief illness.
A 1976 Cal State Fresno graduate, Gunn is a radio industry veteran, and quickly expanded her knowledge of Spanish-language media in 2007. This experience helped her to land the role of GM for Lotus Communications in Fresno, which she had held since November 2018. In this position, Gunn had oversight of “Multicultural 1600,” KGST-AM; Classic Rock KKBZ-FM “105.1 The Blaze“; Spanish Contemporary KHIT-FM “Exitos 107.1“; Rhythmic Top 40 KSEQ-FM “Q97“; and regional Mexican KLBN-FM 101.9 “La Buena.”
Lotus First Senior VP Jim Kalmenson tells RBR+TVBR, “We feel for her family and the organization in Fresno … everybody in the building looked at her as a close friend and looked up to her. She will be missed.”
Gunn’s experience in radio includes roles as a GM for Buckley Broadcasting, from 2013-2014, where it owned and operated KNZR-AM, KLLY-FM & KKBB-FM. She later worked at those stations under Alpha Media ownership. At Univision Radio, she served as VP and Director of Sales for Univision Radio’s San Francisco properties. Gunn is also a veteran of iHeartMedia in Portland, Ore., and prior to working in the Bay Area was VP/Market Manager for the company’s stations there.
Tim Ward, President and CFO at BASE Entertainment & BASE Hologram, who worked with Gunn at Univision, said on LinkedIn, “Her forward-thinking, winning personality, and hands-on approach strengthened a San Francisco sales team that yearned clear leadership and was in need of greater accountability.”
At Lotus, Gunn worked under Joe Bilotta. She worked under Bilotta while he served as Buckley Radio President.
