Troy Hanson
Cumulus Media has promoted Troy Hanson to the newly created position of vice president of operations for its four-station group in Chicago. Additionally, the Chicago cluster signed WLS(FM) PD Brian Thomas to a multiyear contract extension. In Baton Rouge, La., Cumulus tapped Della Berning as sales manager for its four stations. And in Fresno, Calif., Steve Pleshe takes over as program director for KSKS(FM).
Brian Thomas
Hanson most recently held the titles of WKQX(FM) program director and VP of rock programming, roles he will continue to fill. He joined Cumulus in 2013 as corporate program director of rock formats and as PD for WNNX(FM) in Atlanta. Prior to Cumulus, Hanson was operations manager for Cromwell Radio Group in Nashville, Tenn. He has held various programming positions at stations in markets including: Duluth, Minn.; Saginaw, Mich.; Milwaukee; Des Moines, Iowa; Detroit; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; and Atlanta.
Della Berning
Brian Thomas has held his position in Chicago since July 2015. He also serves Cumulus as corporate PD for the country format and is VP of classic hits programming. Thomas was previously PD for WNSH(FM) in New York. Prior to joining Cumulus, he was national VP of classic hits programming for CBS Radio. He was also PD of WQYK(FM) and WRBQ(FM), and VP of programming for CBS Radio in Tampa.
Steve Pleshe
New Cumulus Baton Rouge Sales Manager Della Berning joins the company from Velocity Agency in Baton Rouge, where she was director of business development. Prior to that, she was local and national sales manager for WBRZ, also in Baton Rouge. Berning was previously national sales manager for WFLA in Tampa, Fla., and held local and national sales manager posts for WFTS in Tampa and for WUPL in New Orleans. She was also account executive for WTVT in Tampa and for WWL in New Orleans.
For Steve Pleshe, Fresno and KSKS are a return to his roots. He’s a grad of Fresno State University, began his radio career as an intern at KSKS and eventually was its program director before taking a sojourn into the record industry.