July 28th, 2005
| Some changes at the top are
coming to AVC Communications, according to Grant Hafley, who has
owned and operated the local broadcasting company since May of
1983. “More and more of my time is spent in Arizona,” said Hafley, who owns and operates a group of six stations in Cottonwood, Prescott Valley, Sedona and Flagstaff. |
|
“It’s time to make a move to both allow me to direct more of my attention to the operation ‘out west’ and, at the same time, take the necessary steps to make certain AVC remains a vital, locally owned and operated, community-focused entity.
“Back in 1983, the owners of what was then WILE and WILE-FM made keeping their radio stations under local ownership their top priority. They structured a deal in a manner that allowed me to be that local broadcaster and now it’s time for me to supply two others with the same opportunity.”
Hafley will gradually shift ownership to Cambridge-native and newly-named General Manager Joel Losego and long-time AVC Operations Manager Dave Wilson.
“Within the next ten years, Joel will become the majority stockholder of AVC,” according to Hafley. “Dave will also own a piece of the company in what I see as a great partnership.”
In addition to his stake in AVC, Wilson continues to be the owner and General Manager of Radio Station WBIK.
“I am literally overjoyed,” Wilson said.
“Putting my own station on the air three years ago was a dream come
true, but now to have part ownership in the company that started my
broadcast career is something truly special. Joel and I have continued
to stay in touch over the years and have worked closely together in the
development and operation of AVC’s website. The relationship that we
enjoy and the trust that we have in each other will make for a bright
future!”
WBIK will continue to be marketed exclusively by AVC.
Meanwhile, Losego is returning to the organization that started his media career some 24 years ago.
“Grant gave me my first taste of electronic media in 1981, when I was still a student at Buckeye Trail High School,” Losego stated. “I was part of the early days of AVC Productions and Cable Channel Two while it was headquartered at The Centrum.” That building is now the Cambridge Moose Lodge.
“When the radio stations became part of the AVC family, it was only natural that I got involved with it, as well, “Losego continued. “I loved my time on the air playing music, working remote broadcasts and many behind-the-scene radio projects, too.”
Losego’s love of the media took him to various technical and creative positions at television stations in Longview, Texas; Macon, Georgia; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Columbus.
For the past six years, Losego has served as Vice President of Operations for WebLink International, Inc., a well-established company providing internet delivered database software and award winning website designs for the chamber of commerce market, with a current market share of 25% of the top chambers of commerce in the nation. He has also been AVC’s Webmaster since he designed and launched the company’s “yourradioplace-dot-com” nearly ten years ago.
“By serving as AVC’s Webmaster, I’ve been able to keep up to date with what’s going on in the company and, through the AVC news department’s web postings, with what’s going on the in the community, too.”
Losego and his wife, Stephanie, have two daughters: Alexandra, 10, and Pamela, 4. They will be relocating to the Cambridge area from their current home in Pickerington.
Wilson and his wife, Cindy, reside locally
with son Steven, 15. Their daughter, Emily, is married and resides with
her husband, Jonathan, in Picqua.
Hafley is delighted with the transition.
“Joel started with me at such a young age that he has always been like a son to me and Dave is the closest thing to a brother that I’ve ever had. It really gives it all a true family feeling.”
When not in Cambridge, Hafley and his wife, Patricia, live in Cottonwood, Arizona where they operate Yavapai Broadcasting Company. Their daughter, Malinda, lives in Powell, Ohio.
