SummitMedia says Springfield, Mo., cluster general manager/vice president Rex Hansen will retire next month after nearly two decades in that role.
“Serving Springfield and the surrounding communities has been a passion of our team. Helping create a better community has been and continues to be our mission. I’m looking forward to spending time with Pam, my wife and our family. There is a strong leadership team in place at SummitMedia Springfield that has been developed and fully prepared for this moment,” Hansen said in the announcement.
[Read Hansen’s thoughts on programming and management from a previous article — has his philosophy changed?]
In 2000, Hansen was hired by KTTS(FM) as GM/VP and stayed on as Journal Broadcast Group sold the stations to E.W.Scripps and then current owner SummitMedia. He also oversight for KSPW(FM), KRVI(FM) and KSGF(AM/FM), which launched during his tenure.
Hansen began his broadcast career as an account executive in 1980 at Madison’s WISM(AM) and WMGN(FM). He was then upped to sales manager in Madison and station manager at WJBC and WBNQ in Bloomington, Ill. Hansen next was named GM for WYMG in Springfield, Ill. In 1992 he moved to Springfield, Mo., initiating work for Mid-West Family Broadcasting with the launch of KOSP(FM).
During his 38-year career, he has received plenty of accolades. In 2011, he was named “Distinguished Broadcaster” by the Missouri Broadcast Association, in addition to regional and state awards for his stations; he had served as the association’s board chairman from 2000–2002. KTTS was also honored with the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal Radio Award for community service in 2017.
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