Page 35 - Final Inspirational Women Issue

Inspirational Women

and excited by America." position, she jumped at the major hit. " While I was build- "I focused on my career
Karen was studying Mar- opportunity. ing my career in San Diego, and put everything into my
keting at night and helping “I'd been there just over my husband was getting in- work. After some time I met
to take care of three young a year and was very happy, I volved with drugs and having an English man who was a
children in the family's home learned a lot, both radio and an affair with a waitress. I was musician, and eventually, we
where she was staying. "It TV, and knew I was going to devastated, and our marriage moved in together. I became
was here that I met a young stay in broadcasting.” ended. We had not yet bought pregnant, and we moved
American man and, by the It was at this point that a house, nor had children, so into a bigger apartment, and
end of the year, it became her fiance was offered a it was a straightforward disso- I had our son, but we never
serious. When her year in prestigious position as a Sous lution - at least on paper!" married, let's just say, he was a
America was over, this young Chef at Lowe's Coronado Bay “I realized I was on my free spirit."
man followed her back to Resort in San Diego. They own and 6,000 miles from So Karen worked on her
England. He was an up and packed up and relocated to home, however, due to the career and caring for her son,
coming Chef in Washington San Diego. On their drive momentum in my career and Finchley, "I tried to make the
DC at one of the best restau- from East Coast to West, they the friends and contacts I had, relationship with Finchley's
rants in town, but there were made several stops including I made a very conscious de- father work, but he was absent
no restaurants of that caliber Berkeley, where Damon’s cision to stay in San Diego. I evenings and weekends with
where she lived in England, family lived and Lake Tahoe, landed a position with KFMB his music, triathlon training,
so he went back to DC to where they were married. TV and radio stations, which soccer, and squash. Family
continue his career. He wasn't life wasn't happening; except
there long when he called for my son and I. By the time
said he missed her and asked my son was eight years old, I
Karen to marry him and to decided to separate from his
move back to DC. She agreed, father."
packed up some belongings Finchley was diagnosed
and sold what was left. with a serious neurological
Karen's first full-time job medical condition at age 7,
in Washington DC was as an so on top of being a single
Office Manager for a temp parent, Karen had to be there
agency, four blocks from the for her son through several
White House. It was a great hospitalizations and many
job, but it was not fulfilling. doctors and therapists visits.
"It was just a job, I wasn't very Karen's son is about to turn
happy and decided I need- 18, is doing great health-wise,
ed to find something about is a straight-A student and is
which I was passionate At off to college this coming year.
about this time, a friend asked Karen was delighted at
if I would accompany her to "Broadcasting was my was one of the most beloved the offer to return to KFMB
an audition to be a volunteer passion, and over the years broadcasting companies, it TV/Radio for a second tour,
at our favorite radio station, I would manage to work for was family owned and oper- this time as National Sales
WKYS." just about every station group ated and very well respected Manager, and was there for
It was a fun volunteer in San Diego, big and small. in the industry. I started there seven years when she received
job, with the opportunity I worked for Clear Channel, as an executive assistant to the an offer she could not refuse
to see concerts, go to movie which is now iheart. I worked General Manager.” from Entercom radio, in 2015,
premieres and station events. for KPRI FM, KFMB AM/ Radio consolidation which meant bigger respon-
Karen went along for moral FM/TV, Entercom and for began, and my then boss at sibilities, more stations, and a
support. However, the people then Mexican owned and KFMB was let go. I left to join two-year contract.
at the radio station had other operated XHRM FM. I held a fast growing radio com- "Not long after I joined
ideas and recruited Karen, not several different positions pany named Capstar, which Entercom, they merged with
her friend. at the stations, including merged with Chancellor to CBS, and my position was
"Volunteering at the Promotions Director, Local become AM/ FM and then eliminated. I realized a new
radio station was brilliant, Sales Executive, National and within a year, we were all career path might be in order,
and I knew that I had found Regional Sales Manager. I Clear Channel employees. as commercial TV and Radio
my passion." When they have never been afraid to get There were six of us in a cor- revenues continued to be in
offered her a full-time job to my hands dirty. porate office responsible for rapid decline and as consoli-
work at WKYS, at the NBC Though her professional overseeing 40 radio stations dation and layoffs continued.
studios, at less money than life was going well her per- in the beginning and then it I wondered what might be
she was making at her current sonal life was about to take a grew to 256 stations.” next; the bulk of my expe-

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