Radio industry veteran returns to region to run five AM stations

Radio industry veteran Carolyn Cassidy has been named general manager of Salem Media Group’s five-station portfolio in Tampa and Sarasota. 

Cassidy replaces Barb Yoder, who had been GM of Salem’s Tampa-Sarasota market for 12 years, according to a statement. Cassidy is also the GM of Salem’s Columbus, Ohio, operation, the release adds, and she will retain those responsibilities in addition to her new role.

Irving, Texas-based Salem Media specializes in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book and newsletter publishing. Its stations in the Tampa Sarasota market include: Faith Talk Tampa, 570 AM, 910 AM, and 760 AM, in addition to 860 AM and 930 AM The Answer. The publicly traded company (Nasdaq: SALM) had $266.96 million in revenue in 2022. 

“As we worked to fill the big shoes that Barb Yoder has worn so effectively these past 12 years as general manager, we were thrilled to learn that Carolyn had a strong desire to return to her Florida roots and serve the communities in her home state,” Salem Media Group Regional Vice President Val Carolin says in the statement. “Carolyn has proven herself to be a tireless leader with a deep commitment to service. She’s a hard and smart worker who gets involved and gets things done. I’m confident that the dedication and the skills she possesses will prove to be a great fit for our strong Tampa/Sarasota operation.”

Cassidy has served in sales leadership and general management roles in Colorado Springs and Denver, Colorado; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Vermont; and Ohio. She’s an active member of the board of the Ohio Association of Broadcasters, the release states, and has twice been recognized by Radio Ink magazine as a General Manager of the Year.

“I’m honored to be leading our talented Tampa/Sarasota team,” Cassidy says in the statement. “The vision that Dave Santrella and Allen Power have laid out for the growth of our company is clear and is one that we are striving to achieve here in Tampa Bay and beyond. We look forward to the future and to building upon the success that Barb Yoder and her great team have created.”

“I started my radio career in the sunshine state,” she adds, “so it is wonderful to be home.”