He wasn’t being coy or playing hard to get. Early in his management career, Levi May was reluctant to fraternize with his staff. He thought if he did something with one employee, others would ask why he wasn’t hanging out with them. Over the years, he’s relaxed with that a bit.
“I just didn’t want to project any favoritism,” May said. “I have always had an open-door policy. If somebody needs help I’m there. Whatever they tell me will never leave that office.”
May has served as 102.3 KRMG Tulsa’s News & Talk. director of branding and programming since 2012. He previously served as assistant program director for FM 96.5 in Orlando.
May said he prides himself on the staunch support of his employees. For example, May said a few employees have had serious health issues and were away from the station for months.
“We made sure they all came back and got their former positions,” May said. “We were there for them. We want to be their second family. If something happens, we’ll keep your seat warm.”
He said Tulsa feels like his true home. He was born in Big Piney, about 90 minutes south of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It’s about 7,000 feet above sea level.
“I worked in Yellowstone through high school and college summers and attended Wyoming College. Wyoming is an equality state, the cowboy state. There are a lot of oil field workers, farmers.”
May explained Wyoming is full of real-hard workers, salt of the earth people. They would take the shirts off their backs for others. May is quick to tip his hat to those at Cox Media Group that assisted him when he arrived in Tulsa.
“Since I’ve been here, I’m continuing to build on everything those before me had started,” May said. “I credit Drew Anderssen with a lot of our success and I’ve been very connected with him. I like to pick the brain of the person that used to run things here. They all laid a heck of a foundation. We’re powerful in a medium-sized market.”
May said he’s all about creating an audience in Tulsa. Making connections and forming relationships. May believes we should connect most solidly on a local level.
“We’ve got 20 people working around the clock working on our content,” May said. “That’s a lot of people for our market size.”
May said he believes the large staff shows his company’s willingness to invest in local radio.
“We’ve got Dan Potter on our morning show and he’s been here 10 years,” May said. “He’s got an incredible resume. He was news director in Dallas, then became an afternoon anchor at KRMG.”
May moved Potter to mornings and said Potter has won every imaginable award on the local level. In the past 10 years, Potter collected seven Marconi Awards and three NAB Crystal Awards. May said it’s like winning the Oscar and the Golden Globes.
“I always tell our team you can go your entire career without being nominated. Potter performs at the highest level. Our peers are telling us as we’re doing great. How quickly we can pivot from one story to another.”
Keeping its newsroom on its toes, Tulsa is in what is referred to as ‘Tornado Alley.’ After severe weather destruction, May said the community generates huge amounts of cash quickly to help those affected by the storms.
“Tulsa’s audience is the most giving city in the nation,” May said.
KRMG’s news director, April Hill, just celebrated her 10th anniversary with the station. She had been working full-time in television, then took the weekend shifts at KRMG.
“That’s how badly she wanted to get into radio,” May explained. “For three years she worked seven days a week.”
May is quick to point out that the success of the station is a tribute to everyone that touches the product.
“We’ve built a culture here,” May explained. “We want to work together. To live, play, and be able to understand not only each other but the community we serve. I want to be a sounding board for all employees. The corporation gives us the ability to run ourselves the way we need to. I’m just very pleased and blessed that they give us permission to do so.”
May said he informs new hires people must deliver as a team. He sets a high bar, but with a smile. He wants to hire people who enjoy waking up every day and be excited about going to work. When a new hire is brought onboard, May said he believes it’s critical to teach them the history of the station, and the town.
“It’s not just a job about pushing buttons,” May explained. “It’s also not about becoming a superstar. The sky’s the limit, but come in and understand what we’re all about first.” May said he and his staff can teach a newcomer all they need to know on the job. There’s more to it than just the job.
Dick Lofton has been in radio for 50 years in Oklahoma, and at KRMG for 15 years.
“Dick loves history,” May said. “One of the first things I do is have him go over the legacy of the station with new people. Express what that history means. Once you do that I challenge people to go out and look at our radio towers. See what your technology does for you.”
Entrenched In Tornado Alley, May said things can get rather hairy during storm season.
“We go wall-to-wall with our storm coverage,” May explained. “As long as the warnings are active. If we can save one life, that’s what we’re here to do.”
Tulsa has grappled with 200 tornados and has an average of 3 tornados a year. While the average of fatalities per year is only one, Tulsa is known as a high-risk area for tornados. The largest tornado ever recorded in Tulsa, Oklahoma was an F5 in the year 1960.
When May thanks everybody for their effort at the station, he means everybody. Not just those on the air.
“It’s amazing how many people will come to work in the building, but never visit the tower site. For us to do what we do, it takes every department. We rely on the engineering and IT departments. We understand how much work goes into it.”
May said he believes radio still has the legacy it has always enjoyed. He called it the ‘medium of intimacy. One person speaking to millions of people. He said he likes the analogy of 100 people on a bus all listening to the same show. Each is listening individually, developing their thoughts on a topic.
Tulsa is a hidden gem, May said.
“It’s got a strong music scene, it’s a foodie town. Outside of professional sports, this city has everything you’d need. Compared to most cities, the cost of living is low.”
Some consider Tulsa as a smaller version of Austin, Texas.
“There’s a pocket for everybody,” May said. “On paper, it’s one of the most conservative areas in the world, but you’d be surprised as it’s not plastered everywhere. Our news department reports facts, we’re not an opinionated show. We are news. Everybody has opinions. We’ve never squashed that. A topic can make for great conversations in the newsroom, but we know what our audience wants. We know how to serve our city.”
Jim Cryns writes features for Barrett News Media. He has spent time in radio as a reporter for WTMJ, and has served as an author and former writer for the Milwaukee Brewers. To touch base or pick up a copy of his new book: Talk To Me – Profiles on News Talkers and Media Leaders From Top 50 Markets, log on to Amazon or shoot Jim an email at jimcryns3_zhd@indeedemail.com.
