People
Staff
Melissa Anderson
Membership Director
Born listening to WAMC, Melissa Anderson's affinity for music and public radio began at an early age. After completing an internship with the station, Melissa joined the staff of WICN in 2001. As Membership Director, Melissa looks after all aspects of our individual fundraising including membership drives, mail, and online giving. Melissa is passionate about WICN and its possibilities, providing membership services that help inform and inspire WICN's members! Melissa is a graduate of Worcester State College where she earned a degree in Communications. Highlights of her time spent at WICN include meeting Richie Havens and Kurt Elling, having birthday cake with David "Fathead" Newman, and learning that Marcus Miller really likes cookies. When not working behind the scenes at WICN, Melissa can be found in her garden, at the local flea market, trying to learn a new knitting stitch, or exploring the cultural significance of New England's Puritan graveyards.
Email: melissa@wicn.org
Mary Casiello
Production Coordinator
Mary is one of our newest employees, having just happily signed on as production coordinator. Originally from Traverse City, MI, Mary moved out to Boston in 2003 to attend the Berklee College of Music. She graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Music in songwriting. She says attending Berklee was one of the best decisions she ever made.
In addition to audio editing, Mary is a dedicated working musician and songwriter. Mary wrote her first song at age nine, but started writing more seriously at age 14. Since then, she has composed scores of songs in a variety of styles, from R&B to pop, rock to blues, secular to religious, and even the occasional classical composition. She doesn’t wish to tie herself down to any one genre, but always seeks to write music that speaks to the heart of the human experience in a way that is accessible, unique, and honest.
Other fun facts: Mary is the oldest of seven children, has a cat named Shiri, and loves gelato.
Email: mary@wicn.org
Don DeMarsh
Operations Director
Don has been associated with WICN for 25 years as a volunteer engineer. He has been involved with the design of the previous and current studios, moved the station twice and installed two transmitters and in general has kept the station functioning. He brings a lifelong love of Public Radio as well as technical experience to the position.
Email: operations@wicn.org
Audrey Hall
General Manager
When she joined WICN as General Manager, Audrey Hall returned to the radio roots of her media career which launched as a college DJ and led her into news radio. From there she moved into television as a news reporter and broadcast journalist for NBC affiliate WIVB-TV. After that it was on to the New York advertising agency business working account management and network programming at Benton & Bowles Advertising. It was from there that she charted a course into the evolving cable television industry where she developed and built one of the first cable television advertising sales operations in the New York market working with MTV, CNN, ESPN, USA Network and SportsChannel while collaborating with the newly established Cable Advertising Bureau. It was a trail blazing success which changed the face of advertising and grew into a core business in that industry. She shared her expertise throughout the industry as a speaker, consultant, trainer and writer. She went on to manage marketing, sales, advertising, public relations and programming for American Cablesystems Corp. and Continental Cablevision at the local, regional, district and corporate levels. She was recruited into General Management which began a nine year journey of building, transitioning, and growing overall cable television system operations for both Sutton Capital Associates, L.P. and Cablevision Systems Corporation. When Audrey left the cable industry to devote time to family, she founded a strategic marketing and communications consulting practice and also donated her time and services as an officer and board member of non-profit organizations. Audrey is an elected Town Meeting Member and Chairman of the Standing Committee on Ways and Means in Framingham, MA. She continues to produce and host a cable TV talk show while focusing most of her attention on keeping jazz and folk music alive for all to enjoy on WICN Public Radio, New England's NPR Jazz and Folk Station.
Email: audrey@wicn.org
Vince Lombardi
Jazz Host
A Tasteful Blend, 6am-9pm, Monday through Wednesday
Born in Rockville Centre, NY, raised in New Jersey, Vince has been a New England resident since 1976. He was named after his extremely inventive grandfather, who had no knowledge of, nor connection to American football, although Vince loves the sport.
Following a career in printing and publishing, he became involved in voice work. He is currently the Director of Audio Journal, a nonprofit radio reading service for residents of Worcester County who are blind. A life-long lover of all the arts, his concentration has been in radio and theatre. He has received awards for producing, hosting, and voice talent for several radio productions. He is also a professional audio describer for live theatre and other performances, and produces and narrates audio tours of museum and art exhibitions. He is a Corporator of the Worcester Art Museum and a member of their Diversity Committee. He is also a member of ArtsWorcester, recently working on miniature sculptures in clay polymer.
Vince began volunteering at WICN in 1996 as a substitute jazz host. He presently hosts A Tasteful Blend from 6-9am on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays.
He is married to jazz vocalist/artist Linda Dagnello. They reside in Worcester.
Following a career in printing and publishing, he became involved in voice work. He is currently the Director of Audio Journal, a nonprofit radio reading service for residents of Worcester County who are blind. A life-long lover of all the arts, his concentration has been in radio and theatre. He has received awards for producing, hosting, and voice talent for several radio productions. He is also a professional audio describer for live theatre and other performances, and produces and narrates audio tours of museum and art exhibitions. He is a Corporator of the Worcester Art Museum and a member of their Diversity Committee. He is also a member of ArtsWorcester, recently working on miniature sculptures in clay polymer.
Vince began volunteering at WICN in 1996 as a substitute jazz host. He presently hosts A Tasteful Blend from 6-9am on Mondays, Tuesdays, & Wednesdays.
He is married to jazz vocalist/artist Linda Dagnello. They reside in Worcester.
Email: vince@wicn.org
John Stevens
Jazz Host
A Tasteful Blend, 6am-9pm, Thursday and Friday
Born in East Amherst, NY, John participated in school choruses and choirs from 3rd grade, until he graduated from high school in 2005. NYSSMA adjudications, All County, Area All-State, and All State choirs were all a part of his training. John started piano lessons at 8 and had four years of instruction with a vocal coach.
John was not the last contestant standing on the TV series “American Idol”, but finishing 6th in the 3rd season paved the way for him to pursue his dreams. John spent the summer of 2004 touring with the “top 10” from season 3, appearing in 49 shows in 46 cities across the USA and Canada. He also had the opportunity to appear on several national television shows including: Ryan Seacrest Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Live with Regis and Kelly.
In May 2009, John graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. After graduation, John returned home to Buffalo, NY for the release of “Home For Christmas”. John has recently moved back to the Greater Boston area with plans to make Massachusetts his home. In his time spent in Boston, he has performed with various big bands in the New England area including the White Heat Swing Orchestra and the Beantown Swing Orchestra. John also began teaching kids ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old at the School of Rock in Watertown, MA. He continues to tour as the lead vocalist with the Beantown Swing Orchestra and has just become the youngest host on WICN 90.5 FM, New England’s NPR Jazz and Folk Station, hosting “A Tasteful Blend” from 6 AM to 9 AM on Thursdays and Fridays. John plans to continue pursuing a career in music: performing, teaching, recording, and writing.
John was not the last contestant standing on the TV series “American Idol”, but finishing 6th in the 3rd season paved the way for him to pursue his dreams. John spent the summer of 2004 touring with the “top 10” from season 3, appearing in 49 shows in 46 cities across the USA and Canada. He also had the opportunity to appear on several national television shows including: Ryan Seacrest Live, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Live with Regis and Kelly.
In May 2009, John graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. After graduation, John returned home to Buffalo, NY for the release of “Home For Christmas”. John has recently moved back to the Greater Boston area with plans to make Massachusetts his home. In his time spent in Boston, he has performed with various big bands in the New England area including the White Heat Swing Orchestra and the Beantown Swing Orchestra. John also began teaching kids ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old at the School of Rock in Watertown, MA. He continues to tour as the lead vocalist with the Beantown Swing Orchestra and has just become the youngest host on WICN 90.5 FM, New England’s NPR Jazz and Folk Station, hosting “A Tasteful Blend” from 6 AM to 9 AM on Thursdays and Fridays. John plans to continue pursuing a career in music: performing, teaching, recording, and writing.
Email: johns@wicn.org
Kate Travaline
Administration/ Development Coordinator
Kate Travaline joined the WICN family in December 2009 as Administrative & Development Coordinator. She works closely with the General Manager in Underwriting development, marketing communications and administrative duties. A graduate of Villanova University with a degree in Theater/English, Kate attended the Lee Strasburg Theater Institute before beginning a career in Marketing Communications at Eastman Radio in New York City. She soon joined an upstart company, Screenvision, Inc. and learned the ins and outs of commercial advertising in the Big Apple. After moving to the Philadelphia area in the late 80’s, Kate worked in the Marketing Department of The PMA Group, working her way from Communications Coordinator to Sr. Writer/Editor. She brought these skills to Fleer/Skybox, Inc. a division of Marvel Comics, where she wrote and edited licensed entertainment cards which led to her appointment as PR Manager of Entertainment. Kate often volunteers in her community, and as the President of the Uxbridge Education Foundation, she raises monies for scholarships and grants within the schools. Kate enjoys spending time with her four children, including twelve-year old twin boys, attending baseball games, watching old movies, writing poetry and gardening.
Kate’s musical tastes tend to be more “Against the Grain,” but she’s loving and learning all about jazz and the public radio experience – every day is an adventure!
Email: kate@wicn.org
Joe Zupan
Jazz Host
Jazz Matinee, 3-6pm, Monday through Friday
Jazz New England, 2-3pm, Monday through Thursday
Joe begins his second life at WICN as host of "The Jazz Matinee" Mondays through Thursdays. "It's pretty much the same thing this time around," Joe says. "only now I get more sleep." Joe hosted "A Tasteful Blend" on WICN between 1999 and 2005 before heading to WVTF at Virginia Tech and a return to the world of news production. Joe has also received pay checks from public radio stations KPBX in Spokane, Washington and WDET in Detroit. Joe has been public radio-active since 1980, broken only by a four-year stint teaching in Southern California and two years as a Broadcast Advisor in the Peace Corps serving in the South Pacific Republic of Vanuatu. Music also resonates in Joe's life away from WICN. He plays percussion in the Red Riders and Jubilee Gardens. Joe holds a bachelors degree in History from Eastern Washington University and still knows all the state capitals.
Email: jzupan@wicn.org
Also check out Board of Directors and Hosts.
