News Staff

Thursday, 15 September 2011 14:17 Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 September 2011 18:10 Written by Administrator

Ray Horner - WAKR Morning News

At a young age Ray knew he wanted to be an announcer as he described games and made announcements to his family before the age of 10. That experience led him to what is now a 20 plus year career in broadcasting. Starting in Meadville, PA as an Overnight Announcer and a Play-by-Play Announcer in the early 80's Ray moved to become Program Director of Great Circle Broadcasting in 1985 and held that position until 2000. Ray served as the Play-by-Play Voice of Allegheny College for 17 years and hosted a Morning Show on WMGW Radio in Meadville for 8 years. Ray has been with Rubber City Radio Group since 2000 serving as WAKR's Morning Host and lead Sports Play-by-Play Announcer. Ray and his wife, Melissa, reside in Wadsworth with their two children Elizabeth and Rocco.

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Larry States - WAKR News Anchor

Larry States has been a news anchor and reporter for 36 years at radio stations in Akron and Canton, including the last 26 at 1590-WAKR. States served as News Director of WAKR for 14 years. Larry also served as news director of the former WAKR TV 23 in Akron . Larry was inducted into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame in Akron in 2004. He is currently a member of the Summit County Emergency Management Committee. An Akron native, Larry is a 1970 graduate of Hower High School and a 1975 graduate of the University of Akron. Larry lives in Akron with his wife Wanda and three beagles, Buddy, Joey and Lucy.

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Joe Jastrzemski - WAKR Sports and News Anchor

If there's a sporting event being played somewhere in Northeast Ohio, chances are that WAKRs Joe Jastrzemski has covered it. Joe has been covering sports for close to three decades with a front-row view of the highs and lows for fans of all ages. A Northeast Ohio native, Joe attended Padua Franciscan High School and Cleveland State University, where he began his broadcasting career. Following four years in Cleveland, Joe moved onto WELW-AM in Willoughby for 11 years as News and Sports Director. Joe moved to WAKR in 1994 and has been in Akron ever since.

The Associated Press has honored Joe for having the best regularly scheduled sportscast (2005, 2006 and 2007) and also recognized Joe as Ohio's Medium Market Radio Sportscaster of the Year. Joe's sports experience goes beyond reporting; he has also served as the public address voice of Canal Park for the Akron Aeros for the last ten years, and also works the microphone for Cleveland State men's and women's basketball since the 1977-78 season. Joe also has done play-by-play for the Akron Aeros as well as coverage of Summit County high school games

When there is an off-day for the pros and college teams Joe can be found working the links and improving his golf skills. Joe also is deeply involved in his church, St. Albert the Great, in North Royalton.

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Marcy Pappafava - WAKR News Anchor

"All the stuff I used to hear about radio being fun is true - especially hanging out with the cast of characters I spend my days with." Marcy has grown in her role from being a relative newcomer to news and broadcasting to working as Assignment Editor, primary midday anchor and one of the few on-air folks in the building with "regular hours." Life BR (Before Radio) was retail management and as a buyer with positions in New York and Chicago before this Pittsburgh-area native landed in northeast Ohio. Marcy is a Steelers fan but that usually goes unnoticed except for game days when she wears black and gold jerseys.

Marcy originally got into the business to tell her neighbors about their community; she's been honored with an Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Association award for Enterprise Reporting.

Interests away from the office include travel, retail therapy, most activities near or on the water, hanging out with her puppy or a long talk with an old friend. Dancing with the Stars is must-see every Monday night and she is thinking about blowing the dust off her own ballroom shoes.

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News Director - Ed Esposito

Ed Esposito is vice president of information media for Rubber City Radio Group (RCRG). RCRG is the parent company for 1590 WAKR, 97.5 WONE, 94.9 WQMX andAkronNewsNow.com all based in Akron.

Esposito joined RCRG in 1998 as morning news anchor on WQMX-FM and was elevated to the position of news director that year. During his tenure the station has been recognized with numerous awards including Edward R. Murrow Awards (regional) for coverage of the 2003 blackout and the scheduled execution of Richard Cooey. The station has also won praise for coverage of local news and sports from the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters, SPJ and Cleveland Press Club's Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards.

Esposito's previous broadcast experience includes radio and television stations in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and West Virginia. In addition to his radio and web work for RCRG, he is also a regular panelist for NewsNight Akron, a weekly roundtable discussion program on WNEO-TV/WEAO-TV PBS 45/49. He is a former president of the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Association, represents broadcasters on the Ohio Newspaper Association Ohio Coalition for Open Government, and serves as a member of the Kent State University Journalism and Mass Communications Student Media Board. Other work experience includes Chairman of the West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority, working for Mayors in Charleston, West Virginia; Governor and Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia and working with his father's sales manufacturing representative business.

He and his wife live in Sagamore Hills with their beagle, Polly.

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