KAFM Staff

The first thing you notice about the staff of KAFM is... it's small.  Most of the station's personnel are unpaid volunteers -- but there are a few positions which require the commitment and presence that a modest salary insures.  Ahoy, then!  Below are those hard-working and dedicated souls who captain the good ship KAFM through its daily journeys...

Ryan Stringfellow – Executive Director

The Executive Director has overall operational responsibility for our parent organization, Grand Valley Public Radio Company, Inc. which include KAFM Community Radio as well as other projects such as Beyond Radio.

Ryan grew up in the mountains of Colorado and ended up in Grand Junction as part of a 12-year 'colleges of the west' tour.  He quickly grew affectionate for the stark contrast of desert, rivers and mesas that comprise this part of the West, along with the very tight-knit community in the Valley, and has called Grand Junction home since 1997.

Ryan has been an on-air volunteer at KAFM since its inception.  After graduating from Mesa State College with a Mass Communications degree, Ryan started as Program Director of KAFM, then Station Manager, before moving on to his current position as Executive Director.  Ryan works hard to play hard, and KAFM has been a rewarding outlet for his passion of community and radio.

Contact Ryan
(970) 241-8801 x 6

Tracy Baker - Operations Manager

Volunteers, Office and Events

Tracy is a Colorado native who moved to Grand Junction (and began listening to KAFM) in 2002.  Her background is in business, but she is thrilled to now be part of a community-based organization like KAFM.  Tracy spends a lot of time outdoors, hiking, fly-fishing and four-wheeling.  She loves to travel and has made recent trips to Africa and Panama.  Tracy says, "I encourage one and all to volunteer at KAFM, no matter how much or how little time you can contribute.  There is much to be done 'behind the scenes' and we appreciate everyone's efforts."

Contact Tracy Baker
(970) 241-8801 x 0

Jon Rizzo - Program Director

People, Airwaves and Music

The Program Director's role is to oversee everything related to what we broadcast.  Responsibilities include creating and monitoring our sound, recruiting, training and continually coaching and improving our volunteer programming team. The Program Director solicits and reviews new programming.

Jon Rizzo has been a programmer at KAFM since 2003, doing shows as various as “Twilight’s Peace,” “Antipop,” and now “Wakey, Wakey with the Rooster” Wednesday mornings from 6-9 am.  In 2005, he became KAFM’s Music Director, in charge of KAFM’s charts and music acquisition.  Jon was recently promoted to Program Director and is now in charge of all things on-air, including programmer training, program schedule and public affairs.  Jon does music for fun as well playing guitar in the local band “Shotgun Hodown.”  In his spare time, Jon builds artistic freeform Juniper furniture, rides bicycles on and off road, and hangs with his wife Nancy and daughter Kate.

Contact Jon Rizzo
(970) 241-8801 x 2

Marc Foster - Music Director

As Music Director, Marc is in charge of KAFM’s charts and music acquisition.  He works with music labels, distributors, and artists via phone, email, and snail mail in order to obtain for our on-air programmers the latest and best in all genres of music.  He is also responsible for reporting each week to CMJ Magazine concerning our 40 “most played” artists.  Marc works along side a dozen or so “Music Bureau” volunteers, who language checks each and every track prior to being played on air.

Marc has been an on air programmer since KAFM’s inception in 1999.  He also served on our first Board of Directors from 1999-2001.  His first show was every Thursday afternoon.  He then developed a weekly lyrical variety show on Saturday afternoons, the “Theme Park”.  After many years at that spot, he moved to the “Hump Show,” jazz from 9 am to midnight on Wednesdays.  He currently hosts “Playin' the Field,” a variety show on Tuesday evenings.

Marc has born and raised in Wisconsin and has lived in Michigan, Indiana, Maryland and Texas.  He moved from Dallas to the Grand Valley in 1992 and, with his sweetheart Leah, lives in a solar energy home at the base of Mt. Garfield.  Besides his work at community radio, Marc is a trained wedding officiant and funeral celebrant.  During work and pleasure, he has traveled to 35 countries.  He has played percussions since junior high school and is a live band and movie hound.  Marc is also a proud owner and rider of a 1981 (that’s right -- 27 years old) six-cylinder Honda CBX motorcycle.

Contact Marc
(970) 241-8801 x 55

Jeff Driehorst - Operations Assistant

People and Paper

Jeff joined the KAFM staff in December, 2006 to fill the newly created position of Operations Assistant.  He has been a programmer for the Saturday morning Americana show “Mountain Bound” since the Fall of 2005 and a volunteer since the previous Spring.  He first became involved in radio as a high school student many, many years ago.  KAFM renewed his longstanding love of radio.  Jeff brings a passion for music and the unique stories of the people of our community and those who pass through our doors.

Jeff has a profound appreciation of the Grand Valley after living in Denver, several places in the South and growing up in Pennsylvania.  An avid cyclist and backcountry enthusiast, he can be found (or not found) outside somewhere during his time off from his three vocations.  Jeff invites you to drop by the station to say hello, take the tour and become more involved in your community radio station.

Contact Jeff
(970) 241-8801 x 7