Straight out of internship right into where I wanted to be
Ron Jordan (1998)
By Aaron Krabacher
Ron (Waylon) Jordan works in programming were he is an on air personality at Cumulus Broadcasting for 95 Rock and KEKB. He also goes into the field for the station, and is in charge of the field equipment.
Jordan graduated the first time from Mesa State College in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in Music. He very much enjoyed playing base in all of the Mesa State College orchestras.
Making it as a musician can be a challenge, and Ron decided he wanted to continue his education at MSC in Mass Communication while he played music in local musical groups, jazz groups, contemporary groups, and the symphony. He started the Mass Communication program with intentions of being a newsperson, because “It just seemed natural at the time, then luck just happened, and I was able to get into a music formatted background,” Jordan said.
He was a disc jockey for the MSC radio station KMSA-FM, where he also did the news and put together a “first of its kind” radio special highlighting local music. He also wrote for the college student newspaper, Criterion.
He graduated in 1998 with his second B.A. degree in Mass Communication. During his final year at MSC, he started his internship at Mustang Broadcasting in Grand Junction. Once he finished his MSC internship he was hired on at Mustang
Broadcasting, which was then sold to Cumulus Broadcasting about a year and a half later.
“Strait out of a Mesa internship, right into where I wanted to be,” Jordan said.
He has been working for Cumulus Broadcasting for the past 12 years, and has continued to stay involved with MSC as an alumnus, giving back to the community and college.
“It’s fun, and it’s not something you just do; it becomes a goal. A life long goal, not just a year-to-year,” Jordan said, referring to his involvement with the MSC Alumni Association by creating the Robert “Bob” Grant memorial scholarship a few years ago. The scholarship is a full tuition and fees music scholarship. He created the scholarship in memory of his Grandfather Robert “Bob” Grant.
“Cumulus and myself have formed a pretty strong relationship with Mesa State,” Jordan said. “We are now hosting all the sports, with the Home Loan Mavericks sports network,” were Cumulus Broadcasting sends jocks with the team, and broadcasts all Mesa State games live.
Jordan is also involved with the MSC Theatre Department were he plays in the Theatre Orchestra. The last show that he played in was the “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
Jordan said his Mass Communication degree is invaluable, and just priceless. “If not the back ground, the connections make. You’ll never regret it.”
Giving advice to students, Jordan said that enjoying your job is more important than making a big salary in broadcasting.
“What I would say, is accept it right off the bat, and come to terms that you are going to work long hours, and the pay is low on any level, but it’s well worth it. Take every job that comes your way, because if you don’t, somebody else will. Every job that you do could turn into 10 more opportunities; so be the one that does it.”
Jordan welcomes classmates and friends to contact him.
Ron (Waylon) Jordan
95 Rock/KEKB
On Air Personality
970-261-2236
315 Kennedy Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81501 (Work Address)
269 Pinon Court, Grand Junction, CO 81503 (Home)
