Augusta GA Radio: Beasley Names Chris O'Kelly OM

Beasley Broadcast/Augusta has promoted Chris O'Kelley to operations manager for the Augusta, Georgia cluster including Country WKXC 99.5 FM/Kicks99; N/T WGAC 580 AM/ 95.1 FM; Top40 WHHD 98.3 FM; Adult Hits WDRR  93.9 FM/BobFM; W238AU 95.5 T-FM/95 Rock / WGUS 1480 AM; Southern Gospel WGUS 102.7 FM / WCHZ 93.1 FM; and Sports WRDW 1630 AM.

O'Kelley will report to Vice President and Market Manager Mark Haddon and replaces Tee Gentry, who is relocating to Tampa for the company.

Most recently, Chris served as both music director and assistant program director for Kicks 99 WKXC-FM, positions he has held since joining Beasley Broadcast Augusta in 2004. As the newly named operations manager, Chris oversees all programming aspects for each of the radio stations in Beasley's Augusta cluster.

Chris O'Kelly

A veteran radio programmer, Chris earned his first program director position in 1994 and enjoyed stops, in subsequent years, at a variety of country-formatted radio stations in Fort Myers, FL, Ocean City, MD, and Lynchburg, VA.

Vice President and Market Manager Mark Haddon comments, "When you have a cluster like ours, with many long-term employees, you get to know the unique strengths that each person brings to his or her job. When positions open up and you can offer a dedicated employee a new opportunity to shine, it sure is rewarding. Chris O'Kelley is recognized and involved in our community. He is prepared to step into the role of operations manager for our cluster and I know he will do a fine job."

Chris O'Kelly says, "I guess you could say I'm beyond excited. Following Tee Gentry is a tall order. Tee has been my mentor, my colleague and my friend for 20 years. I can't thank him, and our former market manager Kent Dunn, enough for all they have taught me over the years and for their belief in me with this new promotion. Beasley Augusta has a new, strong management team in place with Mark Haddon leading the way. We're family here and this place is home to me. I'm honored and ready to give it my all."