Hello my friends! Thanks for taking a minute to read my bio… I’m sure you’ll be completely underwhelmed. First of all, I am a second generation Floridian, was born in Lakeland and except for a few years in Montana and Orlando, I’ve lived here all my life. I graduated from Lakeland High School, and the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. My parents owned a hearing aid business in downtown Lakeland for several years, and an uncle had a produce business at the Farmer’s Market in Plant City and now owns The Vintage Wine Cellars in Lakeland and Tampa.
When someone has a degree in English Literature, you’d think they’d become a teacher or maybe even go into Law or Politics, right? Yeah, not me. I immediately put my degree to good use and became a financial professional and a licensed Personal Financial Engineer. Oooohhhh, doesn’t that sound impressive? I opened the financial consulting firm MELA Professional Services in 1999 and recently opened the video production company MELApro Studios with my wife Kris. In my spare time, I’m a loving husband, father, and all around really great guy.
My life long desire to be in the radio business comes naturally. In fact, my uncle Graham Mela was a broadcaster on our sister station WONN using the name “Cracker Graham” in the 1960’s. Sadly, Graham passed away the year I was born.
I got my start in broadcasting in 2004 when a colleague invited me to be on a financial talk show once a month. That turned into a regular weekly appearance, then into an offer to host my own financial show. Eventually, because I never stopped pestering the station management, I got my own morning show in 2007! I must have done a really good job with the morning show because when the station sold in 2008, I was told by the new owners, as often happens in the radio biz, “We love your show, it’s a shame we have to take you off the air”. I still have the bruise where the door hit me on the way out.
The family at WLKF took pity on me when they saw me standing on the street corner outside the studios holding a sign that read, “will do radio for food” and offered me the chance to be on the crew of Mayhem in the AM. I’ve enjoyed a rather interesting life so far, and sometimes to the chagrin of my family, I’m quick to share my experiences and observations with you. Now, you’ll just have to listen every morning to find out what’s next… I’ll give you just a hint; WORLD DOMINATION.
Here's where I'm going to be making public appearances the next few weeeks. Come see me!:
10/29 - 2:30 to 3:30pm - Southeastern University Career Fair
10/29 - 4:00 to 6:00pm - Bartow Halloween Parade
11/06 - 6:00 to 8:00pm - First Friday - "Honoring Service"- Military & Service Clubs
11/21 - 10:00 to 1:00pm - Victory Lane Car Show at First Baptist Church at the Mall
12/03 - 6:00 to 9:00pm - The Lakeland Christmas Parade
12/04 - 6:00 to 8:00pm - First Friday - "Holiday Happenings"
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