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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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Powerful players behind the scenes are moving on
Two heavyweight players are leaving Hawaii's
Clear Channel cluster of radio stations.
"Perry and Price Show" producer Baron Baroza, part of the state's No. 1 radio team for more than two decades, will work his last morning show on Dec. 29.
Baroza has been studying toward a Masters of Library Science degree, which he will use in his new job with the Hawaii State Public Library System.
Baroza could not be reached, but then, he is "shy and humble," said Michael W. Perry, "the exact opposite of who you'd expect to be in radio."
He was not often heard during the morning show but regularly covered midday air shifts.
"Baron has just been such an integral part of our morning life for 23 years," said Perry, whose radio partner Larry Price said, "There is only one Baron Baroza, he is one of a kind."
The show has amassed 25 years of recorded treasures and Baroza "knows where everything is," Perry said.
"He knows everything about everything" and "is a walking library himself, so it's fitting that he gets into library science," he said. Price encouraged the Farrington and UH grad to get an advanced degree.
"We will sorely miss him," said Chuck Cotton, vice president and general manager.
Imaging and production staffer Chaz Michaels, who has filled in for Baroza, will step into the slot. "He was the unanimous choice of everybody here ... he won't miss a beat," Cotton said.
The seven-station cluster is also losing Jamie Hartnett, director of marketing and promotions. The loss is double-barreled, as she is also leaving her decade-long job as executive director of the Hawaii Association of Broadcasters.
"I'm losing her twice and I'm not very happy about that," said Cotton, also an HAB officer.
Her husband, John Magnus, has been hired as business manager at the U.S. Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton near San Diego.
Bittersweet "is my word," Hartnett said. "On the one hand I'm extremely excited. On the other hand, on a moment's notice ... I'm a puddle of tears," thinking about the people and jobs she will miss.
Hartnett has worked for Cotton twice, for the past eight years and at the old KPOI-FM 97.5 from 1993 to 1996. In between she did marketing for Hard Rock Cafe, then promotions for another radio group.
"She is just phenomenal -- such an awesome addition to the Hawaii broadcast community as well as a wonderful person," said Susii Hearst, HAB president. Hearst hopes she and the search committee net a new ED soon but said Hartnett can't be replaced.
At Clear Channel, Christine Yasuma will become director of group promotions.
Once Hartnett rejoins her husband, "I'll take a little bit of a break and see what's next for me," she said..
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4747, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com