Jesse Garcia is adding a second market to his programming portfolio. Federated Media has named him Program Director of country station K105 (WQHK) in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
What We Know: Garcia takes on the K105 role while retaining his programming duties at sister country station B100 (WBYT) in South Bend. He has led B100 for more than 16 years, building it into one of the region’s strongest country brands. He also hosts weekday afternoons there. A Southern Illinois University graduate in Radio & Television Broadcasting, Garcia has worked across Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, Massachusetts, and Colorado.
What They Said: Kyle Guderian, Federated Media’s Director of Operations, made clear this move was deliberate. “Jesse has built an incredibly strong country brand in our South Bend market, and he’s earned this opportunity in Fort Wayne,” Guderian said. “He knows the format, he knows our company, and he knows how to connect with listeners.” Garcia called the assignment energizing, saying he looks forward to getting connected with the Fort Wayne community.
What Remains Unclear: Federated Media has not announced whether Garcia will eventually take on a full-time presence in Fort Wayne. It is also unclear how his dual-market responsibilities will affect his afternoon on-air shift at B100.
What It Means: This move signals Federated Media’s confidence in Garcia’s ability to manage multiple markets simultaneously. Rather than hire externally, the company promoted from within — a telling sign of organizational trust. For K105, it means continuity and stability under a proven country programmer. Fort Wayne listeners should expect a sharper, more defined brand direction ahead.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
