The group of radio stations that formerly comprised the flagship cluster of the former Alpha Media, today a key part of Jeff Warshaw-helmed Connoisseur Media, has selected a new Market Manager, starting October 16.
The role is going to an individual who is rising from Director of Sales of the collection of stations that includes KINK-FM, “Live 95.5,” KXL-FM, “98.7 The Bull,” “The Game 750,” “WE 102.9” and “Freedom 970.”
Assuming the Market Manager role is Mark Handwerger, as Robert Dove will transition to an advisory role and then ultimately retire.
Dove, a former Pacific NW Region President for iHeartMedia whose 36-year career dates to when Taft Broadcasting owned KKRZ (Z100) in Portland and featured Gary Bryan as its morning “Zookeeper,” succeeded Lisa Decker as Market Manager for the stations at the start of 2024.
Dove was instrumental in recruiting Handwerger to the Portland cluster, and Connoisseur says he “identified him early as a strong fit to lead the Portland operation moving forward.”
Handwerger commented, “I’m excited about our future here at Connoisseur Portland. The legacy brands we have in this market are powerful, and we’ll continue to grow their local presence. When you combine these audio platforms with our Connrex suite of digital solutions, it’s an unbeatable combination for both listeners and clients. We’re building something special here.”
Warshaw, the CEO of Connoisseur Media, commented, “Portland is a major part of who we are. It’s a great market with incredible talent and strong brands. Mark’s the right person to lead this next chapter. He understands how to connect with the community and drive results, and that’s exactly what we want in a local leader.”
Commenting on his pending retirement and departure from the stations, Dove said, “These past two years have been a great experience. We’ve built a strong team and made meaningful progress in Portland. Mark’s leadership will keep that momentum going as the team continues to grow.”
