Homer Alaska - Business

"I told all my peers I'm leaving KBBI, but not radio," said Coke.

His interest in the airwaves began in the late 1980s. As a massage therapist, Coke would go by his local radio station, WUME 95.3, and develop his own ads. He became so adept at using the equipment that he was occasionally invited to help deliver the news. Finally, in 1995, he became a newscaster for the station.

Photo by Michael Armstrong Jonathan Coke

"Radio became more and more full time," he said of his growing interest in broadcasting.

In 1996, he became the news director for WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting in Bloomington, Ind. Two years later, in 1998, he moved up the ladder, becoming the station's general manager.

In the early 2000s, Coke heard about Homer and KBBI, but it wasn't until 2004 and after much research, that he made the move north to become the public radio station's development director.

Part of his research was to make contact with individuals he identified as having insights about the area. Among his requests was "tell me about your public radio station." Derotha Ferraro was one of those contacted by Coke. Now South Peninsula Hospital's marketing director, Ferraro was then director for the Homer Chamber of Commerce.

"I've always been a public radio supporter and have just really appreciated KBBI," said Ferraro. "So, when he called and asked about the flavor of the station, it was easy to promote it for him."

That telephone call stood out with Ferraro.

"I'd had other people that called me, but never to work at the radio station. I was impressed that he was doing his homework," she said.

Coke's arrival at KBBI came when the station was experiencing some changes. His personality and approach, however, proved helpful, according to General Manager Dave Anderson.

"Jonathan's calm and thoughtful demeanor was very welcome," said Anderson.

Working with the station's program director at the time, Sonja Lee, Coke developed a one-day — rather than multi-day — pledge drive which Anderson described as a success "only a few stations in the entire country have been able to duplicate."

The single-day effort, rather than a seven- to 10-day drive, decreased the impact to regular programming and saved hours of employee and volunteer time.

"Jonathan redesigned our website when he arrived, taking a dead-in-the water site and making it usable and informational," said Anderson. "He has been a wonderful representative of KBBI in many ways, and also a great help to KDLL's fundraising efforts in Kenai. He has a broad background in community radio that allows him to be helpful in so many areas and in many different ways. KBBI and the community are really going to miss Jonathan, and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors. Any organization that gets a hold of him will be fortunate indeed."

Looking over his shoulder and recalling his arrival in Homer, Coke said, "I don't think I have ever been more welcomed by a community. It was nice to feel connected and to have an opportunity to make a difference."

Relocating isn't severing Coke's connection to the area, however. He is enrolled in two distance ed programs through the University of Alaska system. One is with Kachemak Bay Campus to obtain an associate of arts; the other is with the University of Alaska Southeast to earn a bachelor of business administration.

Coke serves on the board of directors for PRADO, Public Radio Association of Development Officers, a professional membership organization of individuals making a career in public radio development. In his bio on the PRADO site, Coke acknowledges what he has gained from the past six years.

"I wish everyone working in public radio was lucky enough to spend some time in Alaska. It gives a unique perspective on the core values of public radio service," he said.

The KBBI development director position has been posted in the state and on public broadcast sites across the country. Resumes will be accepted until mid-September, when the hiring process begins.

"Jonathan's shoes are big ones to fill and we'll do our best to find someone able to take the tools and foundation that he has created to move the station forward in our service to our communities," said Anderson.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.