Orlando Radio: Mutiny At WPOZ Results In Departures

Shortly after news of a mutiny at Christian WPOZ Z88.3 FM became known,  there have been firings and resignations involving at least seven at Z Ministries.

The departures include three firings and at least four resignations: 

Fired are:

• Carter Kenyon.  He served as an employee board member and was Director of Ministry Advancement dating back to 2011.
• Jim Davis. Davis was an on-air talent and Underwriting Coordinator/Traffic Coordinator for the station.  He had been an employee of the station for 23 years.
• Clara Winborn, a graphic designer who was a part-time employee.

Resignations include:

• Stephanie Landsman:  (known on the air as Mia Taylor)
• Sarah Cowles: Promotions Director of the station.
• Tom Beaton, Director of Interactive Technologies
• Dwight Bain, a respected member of the board at Z Ministries

Jim Hoge

The departures are a result of news of turmoil and a toxic work environment.  A dozen current and former employees went public with their complaints and calls for the resignation of Z Ministries President and Founder Jim Hoge.  Hoge founded WPOZ more than 25 years ago.  Under his leadership it grew it into a family of stations that have a combined revenue of more than $5-million a year.

The disgruntled employees charged Hoge's hard-charging style had been hard on staff.  For example, Stephanie 'Mia Taylor' Landsman, says she resigned May 7 due to job stresses resulted in her spending ten days in a mental hospital and resulted in harassment from Hoge.   Others described a “toxic” work environment in which people were afraid of Hoge, who was known to belittle staff members.

Hoge reportedly has hired Sara Brady, whose public relations firm specializes in crisis management.