The newest addition to the KPR development team has a long title and a lot on her plate! Bobbi Washechek joined KPR in January.
As KPR's new Media, Sponsorship and Events Coordinator, Bobbi will be our point person for events and communications, and will be working with several of our corporate sponsorship clients. She has experience in radio, events planning and higher education, making her a very good fit for a station licensed by a university.
Bobbi recently moved to Lawrence, and has worked as a Temporary Events Coordinator at the KU William Allen White School of Journalism & Mass Communications, where she helped execute the events surrounding the William Allen White 150 Celebration. Her most recent position was as a Visit Coordinator at KU Admissions. Bobbi is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration.
Bobbi answered a few questions so we could get to know her better.
You come to KPR with a background in radio. Can you tell us a little bit more about your experience at other stations?
My experience in radio started at KSDJ 90.7 FM at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD. I’ve always been passionate about music and local radio, and when I went to college at SDSU, I knew I wanted to be a part of the KSDJ team. I started out there as a DJ and eventually became the Station Manager. In this role I spearheaded the first annual May Day Music Festival, which grew my love for event planning. After graduating SDSU with a degree in Advertising with an emphasis in Public Relations, I started at Brookings Radio as their Copywriter/Events Manager. At Brookings Radio, I wore many hats. I planned their events, wrote radio copy for our sales staff, recorded and produced commercials, and was the fill-in host for K-Country 102.3 FM.
What is your favorite show on Kansas Public Radio?
We’ve really enjoyed Retro Cocktail Hour since we’ve moved to Kansas. Always such great music! We also love Wait…Wait Don’t Tell Me!; my husband and I listen to it every weekend!
You moved to Lawrence from South Dakota. Had you been acquainted with Kansas or Lawrence before?
About two months before my husband had interviewed for his job here, we came to visit some friends that had moved here from South Dakota for their birthday, and we just fell in love with the city. We immediately started looking for jobs around here, and a few months later Evan got one, and we were moving our life to Kansas. We love it here and have loved getting to be a part of the community so far!
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have way more hobbies than I have time for, but I love singing and playing instruments. I primarily play guitar and ukulele, but I can also play bass guitar and trumpet. I enjoy knitting, singing at karaoke and open mic nights, watching movies and shows, going on walks with my boston terrier, Oswald, playing board games with my friends, and eating at many of the incredible restaurants in Lawrence.