VT Radio: Steve Cormier To Acquire Radio Vermont Group

WDEV and a group of sister stations known as the Radio Vermont Group will be sold to Steve Cormier, the sales director for Radio Vermont Group and the former radio show co-host of popular program “Corm and the Coach.”

Kenley Squier, the owner of the Radio Vermont Group, made the announcement late Friday afternoon.

According to vtdigger.com, The Radio Vermont Group includes four stations: WDEV 550 AM / 96.1 FM, 101 WCVT 101.1 FM Mt. Mansfield and sister station WEXP 101.5 FM 101.5 Rutland, and WLVB 93.9 FM in Morrisville.

Cormier will take over operations immediately pending eventual FCC OKs. General manager Eric Michaels, who served on the WDEV staff for 30 years, is leaving at the end of the month.

WDEV is a community radio station started by the Squier family 87 years ago. Politically, the station veers right and left with its eclectic programming.

WDEV 550 Am (5 kw-D, 1 Kw-N, DA2)

Squier, 82, put the stations up for sale in June, with the intent of finding a local buyer who could carry on his father Lloyd’s community vision for the station.

Squier, a legendary sportscaster, started his career at age 12 on WDEV and made a name for himself nationally as a commentator for NASCAR on CBS. In 1960, he opened the Thunder Road International SpeedBowl in Barre. Squier sold Thunder Road in April.

WDEV 96.1 FM (400 watts) Red=Local Coverage Area

Cormier, is perhaps best known in Vermont for his award-winning radio program, Corm and the Coach, and as Program Director for WIZN from 1986-1997. Most recently he was the station and sales manager at WTSA FM and AM in Brattleboro.

“I am honored to work at a station where radio serves the public good, need and necessity as it has since the beginning in 1931,” Cormier said in a statement.

The Squier family will remain involved in Radio Vermont Group going forward. Kenley Squier will serve as senior advisor to the Radio Vermont Group and his daughter, Ashley, will serve on the Radio Vermont Advisory Team.