Who's Attending?

The Talk Media Conference will be attracting decision-makers from the ranks of local, regional and corporate programming and management executives across the spectrum of Talk media. Also attending will be national and local personalities who drive the agenda at Talk media from coast to coast, as well as many allied professionals.

SPEAKER PROFILES:

Holland Cooke

McVay Media's News/Talk specialist, Cooke has advised radio and television stations all across the U.S., as well as in Canada and New Zealand. The veteran radio programmer is also a frequent speaker at media industry conventions and publishes a monthly newsletter for radio owners, managers and talents.

Jimmy deCastro

A media industry pioneer with more than 25 years of executive management experience, Jimmy deCastro is recognized as one of the most successful marketing and operations entrepreneurs in the country. He recently launched The Content Factory, a Chicago-based company which syndicates The Dan Patrick Show and distributes on-air and online audio and video news feature WebBuz. deCastro achieved extraordinary success as Vice Chairman/CEO of AMFM, Inc. During a 12-year period under his tenure, the company grew from six to 465 stations, reaching more than 64 million listeners per week. In 2000 deCastro began devoting his time to synergistically blending broadcast media and the Internet.

Paul Harvey, Jr.

Born and raised in Chicago, Paul Harvey Aurandt II (his father originally resisted "Junior") is a distinguished member of the Radio Hall of Fame and the winner of two Edward R. Murrow Awards for writing. He's also the winner of the New York Festivals' Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, the only international award in the field of radio. Harvey was only the second broadcaster ever to be honored with the award in the half-century history of the New York Festivals. In addition to writing and co-voicing The Rest of the Story, Paul Harvey, Jr. has created, produced and starred in a number of hour-long entertainment and year-end news specials for the ABC Radio Networks. He is also an accomplished concert pianist and composer who has performed around the world, and is a successful playwright whose works have been performed on numerous stages throughout the U.S.

Kim Komando

America's "Digital Goddess," Komando hosts a weekly three-hour show heard on 460 affiliates nationwide via the WestStar Talk Radio Network. She's also written nine books about life in the digital age; sends out five million e-mail newsletters weekly; and authors a widely syndicated newspaper column, all while raising a son and operating a growing media empire with her husband, veteran Talk host Barry Young.

Mark Levin

Host of the fastest-growing show in Talk radio, Levin's daily ABC Radio Networks show now airs on more than 150 stations nationwide with affiliates in 41 of the top 50 markets. The author of th current New York Times bestseller, Rescuing Sprite, Levin is also President of the D.C.-based Landmark Legal Foundation. He is a much-sought-after legal and political commentator who has appeared on hundres of radio and TV programs.

Fran & Bill Lytle

Fran & Bill Lytle are consumer behaviorists, brand strategists, published authors and radio hosts. They are also the co-founders of Brand Champs, a company that assists consumer brands in developing strong relationships with people through marketing, communications, promotions and entertainment content. Through years of experience and research, the couple offer insights into people's behavior by embracing basic tenets of social science and cultural linguistics. They then align those tenets with the disciplines of marketing and brand strategy to motivate behavior. Fran & Bill are regularly in demand as speakers by those who want to learn how to build relationships with people through communication and effective targeted content.

Gary Marince

As Arbitron's VP/Programming Services, Marince leads the company's efforts for developing both PPM and diary-based software applications for use by radio group owners, managers and program directors. The former major market programmer and broadcast engineer has been the creative force behind numerous Arbitron software product developments including MapMAKER Direct, PD Advantage and Corporate Roll-Up.

Bill McMahon

Often called radio's most innovative talent coach, McMahon has spent nearly two decades researching and developing The Authentic Personality, a system to help managers identify and evelop distinctive and appealing personalities. The program's ideas were generated, test and perfected therough hundres of actual coaching sessions with personalities -- from beginners to superstars -- including Kidd Kraddick, Jeff Elliott (Jeff and Jer), Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura.

Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick left an indelible mark during his two decades at ESPN for his poignant interviews and dry wit as a reporter, anchor and radio talk show host heard on more than 325 radio stations. In conjunction with The Content Factory, Patrick recently relaunched his daily radio show, debuted his new interactive site, Dan Patrick.com, and signed a high-profile deal with Sports Illustrated to offer co-branded content across multiple media platforms including print, digital, radio and live events.

Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey offers life-changing financial advice as host of the independently syndicated radio program, The Dave Ramsey Show, which airs on more than 300 radio stations throughout the United States, reaching more than 3 million listeners each week. Ramsey also holds a nightly primetime program on the FOX Business Channel and is the bestselling author of The Total Money Makeover, Financial Peace and More Than Enough. A true American rags-to-riches story, Ramsey established a $5 million real estate portfolio by age 26, only to lose it all by age 30. Thorugh the life lessons he learned from that experience, Ramsey has since rebuilt his financial life and now devotes himself fulltime to helping ordinary people undestand the forces behind their financial distress and how to set things right -- financially, emotionally and spiritually.

Walter Sabo

A leader in media programming, marketing and management, since 1984 Sabo has headed Sabo Media, a New York City-based firm specializing in profitable content solutions for a blue-chip list of both broadcast and non-broadcast clients. Widely credited as the "Godfather" of FM Talk radio, Sabo has long been a widely respected media programming and management advisor to companies across the U.S. and throughout Europe.