WZOE / Z-98 Talent Bio

Tommy Rose
WZOE-AM Program Director and morning personality

Tommy has an extensive broadcast background. He started as a part time air personality right here at WZOE in 1981. He's worked at various stations including KZEE in Texas. Tommy is a talented musician and singer and plays in several area bands including Rodeo Drive, Class Act and Tommy and the Nitecaps. He's traveled with his band The Ringles to Liverpool to participate in the International Pop Overthrow Festival. Tommy is the "morning guy" on WZOE-AM. Thousands wake up to his unique wit and fast pace in the morning. Be part of the fun!

Paul has been with us for a long time, and knows how to do just about anything around here! In addition to being the voice of Princeton High School sports on WZOE, he supervises the afternoon programming on all three stations in addition to doing his on-the-air work and commercial production. Paul is also our webmaster, so if you have any questions or comments about this site, please call the station and ask for him.

Chuck has graced the airwaves in cities like Detroit, Toledo and the Quad Cities. Serving in capacities such as General Manager, Music Director, and Morning Personality, Chuck has gained an extraordinary skill level in the broadcasting industry. He’s also a lot of fun to be around as he has a great sense of humor. Chuck is Z-98's Morning Show Host and Program Director. Chuck is also heard nationwide on “Elvis Only” on the United Stations Radio Network.

Richard Martinez
Announcer and Control Room Operator

Chris Yeazel
Announcer and Control Room Operator

Paul Bomleny
Play-by-Play Announcer - Princeton High School Football and Basketball

Randy has been a long-time teacher at Princeton high School. He has been responsible for helping many area kids get a great start in life. In his off time, he's also color commentator for the Princeton Tigers football team on WZOE-AM. He had been a football coach for many years, so he knows the game. If you'd like to hear some really great football color commentary, tune into WZOE-AM any Friday night during the football season and catch Randy.

J.D. Orwig
Play-by-Play Announcer - Bureau Valley Football

J.D.'s real job is as the principal of Princeton's Logan Junior High School, but he's also the voice of Bureau Valley Storm football on Z-98. J.D. has developed a professional style that is envied by the competition. One thing is for sure: he is an exciting guy to listen to on the radio. It never hurts to have a play-by-play announcer who is also a fan!

Norm Vandermoon
Color Commentator - Princeton Basketball and Bureau Valley Football

Charlie Waca
Play-by-Play Announcer - Bureau Valley Basketball

Chris Waca
Color Commentator - Bureau Valley Basketball

Our outside sales representatives give true TLC to our hundreds of advertisers!

Chris Compton, CRMC
Senior Sales Rep

Chris Compton grew up in Arlington Heights, IL and attended Western Illinois University where she earned a degree in Home Economics along with a minor in Psychology. She retired from Trans World Airlines where she worked in International Sales and came to WZOE in 1994. She has also earned the coveted CRMC (Certified Radio Marketing Consultant) designation from the Radio Advertising Bureau. Chris is our Senior Sales Rep and provides a real degree of leadership in the organization. She has one son, Matthew and daughter in-law Sara and granddaughter Addison.

Jason Cavanaugh
Sales Rep

Jason is a local boy … he grew up in Ottawa and graduated from Ottawa High School. He’s a sports buff – he particularly enjoys baseball, golf and tennis. Jason attended IVCC and then moved to Peru where he lives with his wife, Pam, and his two children. Kaitlyn, 10, and Andrew, 8 who are active in sports and other school activities as well as being great students. The family is a huge Disney fan. Jason is a member of Peru Rotary, a baseball coach/manager, a sports fan in general. He enjoys traveling, walking, gadgets/technology, playing pool, watching movies and photography. If you’re fortunate enough to have Jason as your rep, get to know him – he’s a great guy!

Phyllis Underwood
Telemarketing

Steve Samet
General Manager

Steve is a long-time area resident. He started at WZOE in 1975 when he was a pup. At that time, there was just the AM. Since then, Steve has owned a number of radio stations around the country as well as a digital satellite uplink system in Bloomington, IL. He has been president of the Illinois Broadcasters Association and has recently completed two terms as a board member of the National Association of Broadcasters. Of course, he has been very active in local organizations and charities.

Mary Harmon
Office Manager

Mary Harmon is our Administrative Assistant, and there’s very little she doesn’t know about radio. She has overseen the installation of a multitude of new technologies in our office. Mary is a life-long resident of Bureau County. She has three children, Bob, Lori and Sherri as well as two grandchildren, Luke and Emily.

Donna Milliron
Office Assistant

Donna is our office assistant and traffic person. You’ll often talk to her first when you call us. She and her husband have lived in Bureau County for 16 years. They moved here from Chicago after, as Donna says, they fell in love with the area. She has three daughters all of whom live nearby. Donna says her favorite things are spending time with her grandchildren, gardening and reading. She also has lots of pets including a talking African Gray Parrott.

Brad Kloepping, C.P.A.
Accountant

Brad Kloepping keeps the books. He was raised in Elizabeth, IL but moved to Bureau County in 1977. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University where he earned a B.S. in Accounting and minored in Finance. He earned his CPA in 1978. Brad likes motorcycling and fishing. He has two grandchildren. Brad has an independent accountant practice and he has been the Princeton, IL City Treasurer since 1996.

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