Image
Raye Kimberlin’s career has found her working for a variety of different kinds of companies in a variety of different roles. But she says it all was possible thanks to the strong communications and media foundation she got at Ohio University and WOUB.
“I remember when I toured the Ohio University campus and I saw satellite dishes on top of the Radio and TV Building. We went inside and saw the WOUB studios,” said Kimberlin. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study at that point, but I was fascinated with all I saw there, and it seemed like it was an important part of university.”
Kimberlin grew up in Lebanon, Ohio and ended up majoring in telecommunications. During her sophomore year, she received a work study position at WOUB where she had the opportunity to help host John Ray put together the daily radio program Afternoon Edition.
“I learned how to splice tape and helped him write promos,” said Kimberlin. “I was there Monday through Friday and did that for about a year and a half.”
When she graduated in 1990, Kimberlin started looking for a job. She wanted to find something in radio but ended up getting a position selling newspaper advertising.
“After about six months of doing that, I was able to find a position in radio.”
Early in her radio career, Kimberlin worked in traffic and continuity for an Oldies format radio station in Xenia, Ohio. When the station changed its format to Country Music, Kimberlin applied for the promotions director position and got it.
“My mom was a big fan of Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers,” said Kimberlin. “So, it was a good fit for me.”
Early in her career, Kimberlin worked for a few different radio stations and also landed jobs in marketing and public relations. Radio professionals were affected by the 2008 economic downturn including Kimberlin. She was able to transition her radio marketing experience and work in other fields.
She got a job as a national media sales coordinator at Time Warner Cable and then as a marketing and alumni relations manager at Payne Theological Seminary before becoming the marketing supervisor at Sharefax Credit Union.
“I feel that the experience at WOUB allowed me to see how the technical side of radio functioned and the collaboration and teamwork it took to put on a show. The professionals that worked at WOUB were great to work with and great mentors,” said Kimberlin. “Being at WOUB opened my eyes to the possibility of working in radio and gave me the skills to follow my career wherever it took me.”