About Joe
Joe got his start in the radio industry as a college freshman when a pair of local personalities interviewed a roomful of students for three internship positions at full-service WABJ/WQTE in Adrian, Michigan. Two years after securing one of those opportunities, he accepted a paid spot on staff and never looked back.
As news director of WTWR in Monroe, Michigan, Joe covered the 1988 Presidential election and followed local girl Kaye Lani Raye Rafko, who the rest of the nation knew as Miss America.
Joe's career as a personality got a major boost in 1989 when CRB Hall of Famer "Uncle Don" Rhea hired him for the afternoon drive slot on WATZ in Alpena, Michigan. Joe has since programmed stations in Michigan, Minnesota and Oregon; hosted afternoon shows in various locations and an evening request show at WMDH, the top rated station in Muncie, Indiana. He was also on the WFMS team in Indianapolis that won back to back Large Market Station of the Year awards in 2000 and 2001.
During his time at KWWK in Rochester, Minnesota, Joe initiated and developed fundraising campaigns that raised over $10,000 for charitable causes, including the American Cancer Society and a local fire victim.
Joe directed sports coverage for multiple radio outlets and found great success as a play by play announcer. He spent four summers traveling professionally as the radio voice of the Duluth (Minnesota) Huskies Baseball Club; led state championship network broadcasts in three states; directly assisted in starting an internet broadcasting company; and mentored collegiate broadcasting students in Minnesota's Twin Cities.
Upon moving to the West Coast, Joe developed and hosted an interview/talk show for the former KJOX in Astoria, Oregon; and anchored and reported on news and sports for KQEN in Roseburg, Oregon, before arriving at KFBK
In the wake of the theater shooting in Colorado that left at least 12 dead and 59 injured, we can't help but have such an event in the back of our minds as we go about our daily lives. KFBK's Joe Michaels has thoughts on our collective reaction to American's latest tragedy:
