(April 29, 2013) Sometimes, you find opportunity. Other times, opportunity finds you. The latter is the case for Dan Lucero. An STAA client, Lucero is joining 1410 Sports Radio KGSO in Wichita as a sports talk host, play-by-play broadcaster and account executive.
Lucero is the fourth STAA client currently on the KGSO sports staff. (Two others formerly worked at the station.) He moves to Wichita from ESPN Radio 1410 in North Platte, NE where he spent the past three and-a-half years as Sports Director.
“I get a chance to improve my on-air skills in a competitive Top-100 market,” says Lucero. “I also will get a chance to jump into sales and add that skill to my resume.”
The Wichita opportunity came to Lucero after KGSO General Manager Harry Finch found Lucero’s Talent Page on the STAA website. Finch then asked STAA for Lucero’s contact information.
“[Mr. Finch] must have liked what he saw and heard,” says Lucero. “He emailed me to gauge my interest and we went from there. I went down on a weekend to interview and to see the city for the first time, and the offer came shortly after.
“Wichita is a tremendous college and minor league sports market. The day I went to Wichita to interview was the day the Wichita State Shockers were playing Louisville in the Final Four. You could feel the excitement all over the city – everybody in black and gold, everybody fired up for the game. It showed me how passionate the city is about sports and I can’t wait to interact with fans throughout the city.”
Another part of the job about which Lucero is excited is the sales. “It’s a skill I am excited to learn and I believe it will make me even more well-rounded as a broadcaster.”
Lucero joined STAA in May 2012. “Being an STAA client gave me a tremendous amount of confidence and guidance as I looked to make the next step in my career,” says Lucero. “[STAA CEO] Jon Chelesnik’s advice has been invaluable, as have the monthly chats and eBlasts. I would recommend STAA to anybody looking to pursue a sportscasting dream. I know that I’ve benefited a great deal from all it has to offer.
“Thank you again so much for being available to help talk me through this process and for everything that STAA provides. I am certain I would not have gotten this opportunity without STAA.”
(Visit Dan’s STAA Talent Page).