Bob Shomper Heads to WCCO Radio

WCCO Radio (AM 830) named a new program director on Wednesday: Bob Shomper, who comes from a KTAR in Phoenix, Arizona, according to a story by Paul Walsh at startribune.com.

Shomper succeeds Wendy Paulson, who left in February after about 10 years.

Near the end of Paulson's tenure, listeners saw the departures of on-air voices Al Malmberg, Brad Walton, Jack Rice, Tim Russell, Dark Star and Eric Eskola.

Also, the station's dominant hold on play-by-play coverage of college and professional sports over the years has shrunk of late down to one team -- the Timberwolves.

A native Midwesterner, Shomper was program director at KTAR-FM in Phoenix. He also has done programming for WBAP in Dallas and Chicago stations WGN and WLS.

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Shomper has a long and respected career in radio and broadcasting and has received numerous industry awards, including being named one of America’s Top Programmers by Radio Ink Magazine. He will report to Mick Anselmo, CBS RADIO Minneapolis Senior Vice President/Market Manager. Shomper’s appointment is effective immediately, according to a posting on the station's website.

“Bob’s years of experience in, and knowledge of, the business are a perfect fit to help us continue building our success at WCCO,” says Anselmo. “His direction and leadership will be a great benefit to our community, the staff and listeners of WCCO.”

A native Midwesterner, Shomper comes to WCCO-AM from KTAR-FM in Phoenix, Arizona, where his news staff recently received the 2011 Murrow Award for Overall Excellence. Shomper has also programmed some of America’s best-known radio stations, including WBAP/Dallas, WGN/Chicago and WLS/Chicago.

“The legendary call letters of WCCO have been a part of my life since I can remember,” said Shomper. “WCCO’s commitment to the Twin-Cities community and its listeners is unparalleled and I am both thrilled and honored to join with Mick Anselmo to lead the WCCO programming team.”