(Editor’s note: The following column was submitted to Richland Source by local radio voice Chris Kelly, whose position was recently eliminated in a national iHeartMedia restructuring.)

For nearly 20 years, Mid-Ohio has been home—and you’ve allowed me the incredible privilege of being a small part of yours.

Whether you knew me from afternoons on Mid-State Multimedia’s Mix 106.1; weathering major snow storms together on WMFD-TV; hosting mornings on iHeartMEDIA’s 107.7 The Breeze and My100.1; sharing my weekends with you on WNCI/Columbus; and most recently spending afternoons on Y105, every microphone I’ve ever sat behind has been made meaningful because of one thing.

You.

For the past nearly seven years, I had the honor of serving as senior vice president of programming for iHeartMedia, overseeing 17 radio stations across the Ashland/Mansfield, Marion, Wheeling and Parkersburg, W.Va., and Defiance, Ohio, markets while also remaining on the air.

Behind the scenes, I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented broadcasters I’ve ever known, helping create the contests, promotions, and community initiatives that made local radio so rewarding.

But when I look back, it won’t be the job titles I’ll remember most.

It will be watching this community come together.

Together, we collected thousands of coats, hats, gloves, blankets, and other essentials through our iHeartRadio for the Homeless campaign, helping local shelters and the Mansfield City Schools SAFE Program care for those in need.

Together, we raised tens of thousands of dollars during our annual iHeartRadio Paws-a Thon to support the Humane Society of Richland County.

Together, we filled buses with school supplies through Stuff the Bus, helping students begin each school year with confidence.

We also had the privilege of shining a light on the incredible nonprofit organizations that make Mid-Ohio stronger every single day. Whether helping promote and bring awareness to the Renaissance Theatre, Mansfield Playhouse, domestic violence shelters, Sami’s Toys for Kids, or countless other organizations working quietly behind the scenes, radio gave us the opportunity to tell their stories, amplify their missions, and encourage others to get involved.

My commitment to our community extended beyond the microphone as well. I was honored to serve on the board of directors for the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation and to serve as both a board member and president of the Humane Society of Richland County.

Those experiences reinforced something I’ve always believed: our greatest strength is found in caring for one another.

Those efforts—and so many others—were never about the radio stations. They were about a community that continually showed up for its neighbors.

Your generosity helped our iHeartMedia Mansfield stations earn national recognition as a National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Awards Top 50 finalist for community service, but that recognition belongs to every person who donated, volunteered, sponsored an event, shared a social media post or simply chose to help someone else.

People often recognized me as the voice on the radio, or that guy with the flashy suit on TV, but what many didn’t realize was that I also had the privilege of leading an incredible team behind the scenes.

I was fortunate to work alongside some of the very best in broadcasting, including the incomparable Aaron Hines, whose passion for local sports, will forever remain unmatched and Margie Tasseff, whom I’ve always called “the hardest-working woman in showbiz.”

I truly was surrounded by extraordinary people at both radio companies and I’m grateful for every one of them.

As I begin the next chapter following the recent restructuring at iHeartMedia, I find myself reflecting on just how fortunate I’ve been, over the past 35 years in broadcasting.

My time over the past two decades locally as a public figure, friend, companion, and most importantly, a voice for Mid-Ohio through both radio and television has been nothing short of extraordinary.

While I may no longer be someone you can simply turn on the radio to hear each morning or afternoon, I’ll always be a proud resident of this community and someone committed to supporting everything that makes it such a special place to call home.

Believe it or not, I loved those painfully early morning alarms just as much as I enjoyed riding shotgun with you on the drive home. Thank you for allowing me to be my genuine, goofy, occasionally dorky self. Thank you for laughing with me, trusting me, and making me feel like part of your family.

I have made some incredible friends as a result.

If there’s one thing I hope you’ll continue to do, it’s this: never stop giving back. Keep supporting the local nonprofits, schools, shelters, arts organizations, animal rescues, local businesses and community groups that make Mid-Ohio such an incredible place to live.

Every donation, every volunteer hour, every ticket purchased, every item collected, and every act of kindness truly makes a difference. I’ve been fortunate enough to witness
that generosity firsthand for more than two decades, and I know our community’s best days are still ahead.

Most of all, thank you for giving me your time, your ears, your friendship, and your unwavering support of the causes that matter to all of us.

And now for one final thought…

I’m excited for whatever comes next. If your business or organization is looking for an experienced leader, communicator, community ambassador, or someone who simply loves bringing people together, I’d love to have a conversation.

Feel free to reach out or connect with me at @ChrisKellyRadio across social media.

This isn’t goodbye. It’s simply a sign-off until our paths cross again. Take care of one another, keep supporting one another, and never underestimate the difference one person can make.

I’ll see you around town.

— Chris Kelly