From the Radio World People News page: Jeffrey Parke will retire this month from Inland Empire broadcasting after four decades.
He is general manager of California stations KCAL-FM in Redlands and KOLA(FM) in San Bernadino. He joined the company as sales manager for KCAL in 1987, was promoted to GM two years later, and managed the acquisition and relaunch of KOLA in 1991.
“At the time, KOLA(FM) was an automated oldies station,” according to a press release.
“Under Parke’s leadership, the station was transformed into the market’s dominant radio brand, a distinction it continues to hold today.” For May 2026, Nielsen ranks KOLA as No. 2 in the market by AQH share, Persons 6+, Mon-Sun 6 a.m. to midnight, with a 5.3 share.
Parke began his career as an air personality in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara, switched to radio sales in 1982 and later went to KMGG(FM) and KPWR(FM) in Los Angeles, working for General Manager Tim Sullivan, who later purchased KCAL and recruited Parke.
“I will forever be indebted to Tim Sullivan, who gave me my chance and trusted me to run the stations and make them the powerhouses they are today,” Parke said. “He was my mentor and taught me all about leadership.” Sullivan died in 2024.
Parke also led KCBQ-FM in San Diego under Sullivan’s ownership, helping the company flip it to Jefferson Pilot after three years.
“Very few people get the opportunity to spend four decades doing work they genuinely love,” Parke said in the release.
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