Welcome to our Board of Directors
We serve both KAFM and the wider community in developing a vision for culture and radio in the Grand Valley.
The KAFM Board of Directors meets the second Thursday of every month. Board meetings are open to the public, and we encourage listeners and community members to attend. The next meeting of the KAFM Board of Directors has been re-scheduled for May 23, 2013 at 6 pm.
Our Board Members
| Name |
Term Ends |
Officer |
| Barry Barak | 2015 | President |
| Boyd Franklin | 2015 |
|
| Mickey Krakowski | 2015 | |
| Mike Piontkowski | 2014 |
|
| Jason Smith | 2014 |
Secretary |
| Cliff Sprinkle | 2015 |
Vice President |
About KAFM Board Governance
In 2001, The KAFM Board of Directors made a strategic decision to institute a dynamic model of board governance called Policy Governance. This highly acclaimed model allows Board members to focus on long-range planning rather than operational minutia.
It has been overwhelmingly successful in helping to create an organization that is responsive, creative and highly accountable for superior results.
By setting out clearly defined goals and policies for management, the board can focus on mission and strategic agendas. Management, in turn, is given the authority and flexibility to operate the organization within these pre-established guidelines. Policy Governance has been instrumental in creating an organization that in just a few short years has become one of the most widely respected and highly effective non-profits in the Grand Valley.
Board of Directors Contact Information
Barry Barak, President
Barry Barak is in his second go-round as a KAFM Board member having previously served two terms from 2002-2008. He was President for the last two of those years. In 2010 and 2011, Barry was Chair of the Watts Up! campaign that raised over $100,000 and enabled KAFM to increase its signal strength from 16 to 300 watts. Barry is also the host of Folkwaves, a folk music program heard every other Thursday from 6-9 am.
Barry is an Iowa boy who transplanted to Western Colorado in 1997. He is employed as the Director of Rating at Rocky Mountain Health Plans in Grand Junction.
Between Top 50 AM music on KOIL during the day and Kansas City Royals baseball broadcasts on KMA at night, the radio was always on at the Barak house when he was growing up. He came of age with the FM "album-oriented rock" movement of the early 1970s and, therefore, always thought of himself as a rock n' roller. But when Folkwaves went on air on KAFM in November, 2000, a quick review of the 33 1/3 RPM LPs he had lugged around for over 25 years revealed as many albums featuring fine mandolin picking as those that were heavy on the Marshall amps!
With radio and music having such a constant presence and significant impact on him throughout his life, Barry is happy to be a part of the KAFM family now. His work on the Board is devoted to maintaining the financial integrity of the enterprise so any kids who are tuning in today will at some point in their lives be inspired to go on-air themselves to play important music and say important things like "This just in..."!
Boyd Franklin
Boyd Franklin was born and raised in Colorado, almost exclusively in Grand Junction. He is proud to be a part of KAFM Board of Directors. "The volunteers, staff and the station provide a great service to the community and it is an honor to be part of such a great team of people."
He began as a programmer in July, 2011, and is currently hosting the 16 Watt Awakening every other Wednesday from 6-9 am as the Harley Rider. "I believe that with music at the root and community service as our goal, KAFM is a great asset to the community and I hope as a member of the board I can help to raise the awareness of KAFM to the community it serves."
Boyd works at United Health Group as a Sr. Healthcare Economic Consultant, and is married to the beautiful Lori Franklin, and has three great sons, ranging in age from 12 – 22.
Mickey Krakowski
Mickey Krakowski, 63, has been living in Grand Junction since 1979. Mickey has been involved with community radio in the Grand Valley since 1985. He was one of the founding members of KAFM, and a board member from 1993 to 1999. He acted as special events coordinator and graphic designer for KAFM from 1993 until 2002. As a volunteer programmer from 1999 to the present, he has hosted a number of shows, The Blues Injection, Saturday Night Showcase, Bad Dog Radio and the informational program host for Vet Speak Radio (second Thursday of the month). As an artist, he has contributed artwork and functional iron art pieces to be used as premiums for every fund drive and for live and silent auction fundraisers. He has always been a contributor to the station and has donated any services and abilities when needed. As a board member, he hopes to regenerate the excitement of the listeners/members' involvement of the early years and help insure the growth of KAFM in the coming years.
Michael Piontkowski
Michaelp (Piontkowski) came to Colorado in 1980 and Grand Junction in 1986. His work as an archaeologist brought him here, but the outdoor opportunities and KAFM have kept him here.
He has been a very active volunteer since the first fund drive, and has participated in many other fundraising events that have been organized and hosted by the “Party animals.” If it makes money for the station (legally) Michael is always a willing participant.
He has been an avid listen, fervent supporter and believes that our community is the better for the station and all of the great folks that make it happen.
"The love of music and community is the glue that brings us all together and music and community also serves so many positive roles in our lives."
Jason Smith, Secretary
Jason Smith arrived in the Grand Valley in December, 2001 from Boulder, Colorado after meeting and marrying his wife and fellow KAFM volunteer, Kim. Originally from dusty West Texas, he has adopted Colorado, and the Grand Valley especially, as home. "Life really is grand here. Kim and I enjoy spending our free time with our daughter, Grace; cooking; hiking; riding bikes; and travelling. We enjoy the many outdoor adventures the Grand Valley provides in the form of varied seasonal and landscape opportunities."
Jason works for the URS Corporation handling environmental compliance issues related to mine and mill reclamation projects in Arkansas, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Before moving to Grand Junction, he worked in fish hatcheries and environmental laboratories in Boulder, where he first was exposed to community radio at KGNU. Shortly after moving to Grand Junction, he discovered KAFM and became a member. A year and several exciting fund drives later, he knew he needed to be a part of the KAFM community and began the programmer training. He eventually landed his own show on Sunday afternoons playing alt-country and Americana, where he continues to enjoy playing a mix of new and old music.
Cliff Sprinkle, Vice President
Cliff came to the Grand Valley in 1992 from Scottsdale, Arizona and spent the first 14 years in the Palisade area and now lives in downtown Grand Junction with his incredible wife, Julie, and dogs, Georgie and Deuce. Cliff works for the First National Bank of the Rockies. Prior to all of this, those important formative years (mid/late '70s) were spent at the University of Arizona in Tucson, after which he began his banking career in 1980 in Arizona. In 2002, Cliff did an about-face to become a seasonal Park Ranger for Colorado State Parks. He did this for six years and between seasons, he worked and traveled throughout the US, Mexico and Canada.
"It makes me proud to say I have lived my entire life in the American West and value everything about it, with an emphasis on Original Coors. From standing on the summit of Mt. Rainier to bashing around in The Maze, the West is my soul center of the universe. In my estimation, KAFM represents everything a radio station should be: locally owned and operated, community based programming, assisting where it can and most importantly, great music. I am honored to be a part of KAFM and its terrific team of staff and directors."
