Programs Director
Don Williams
Don began his media career as a radio announcer/disc jockey in his hometown of Painesville, Ohio. After a decade of spinning 45 rpm records, he decided to move into advertising sales. This decision followed his walking through a radio station parking lot and noticing that the cars driven by the djs were older and not as nice as the cars driven by the sales people. Thus did he discover that the money is to be made in the sales department unless you’re Dick Clark, which he determined he was not.
Among the major broadcasting companies and stations that Don has worked for are Susquehanna Broadcasting (WHLO, Akron, Ohio), Metromedia (WHK, Cleveland), Group One (WONE, Dayton, Ohio, Booth American Co. (WTOD, Toledo), Storer Broadcasting Co. (WSPD-TV & WSPD-AM, Toledo), The Amaturo Group (WFTL/WEWZ-FM Ft. Lauderdale-Miami), The University of Florida (WRUF-AM/FM), Multimedia Broadcasting (WMAZ-TV, Macon, Georgia), Cox Radio (WDBO-AM, Orlando), Clear Channel Communications (WFLF-AM & WQTM-AM, Orlando). He also was co-owner, President & General Manager of WQBZ-FM, Macon, Georgia.
In 1982, he moved from radio stations to Birch/Scarborough Research, a firm that measured radio listening in all major radio markets in the USA and Canada. Initially, Don was assigned all radio markets east of the Mississippi River, from Maine to Florida. He was responsible for starting up Birch service in more than 45 radio markets.
Don has had three careers with Watermark Media over the past 10 years. He began his third career on June 1, 2009 and is happy to be back. He lives with his partner of ten years, Jeremy, in downtown Orlando. They are owned by a miniature pinscher, Tina and Coco, a cocker spaniel. They also double as a splendid alarm system.
Fun Fact: Don collects vinyl records of all three speeds, CDs and DVDs of classic movies from the 30s through today, including many of the Disney Treasures series. He always has at least one book that he is reading, ranging from pop culture, mysteries, biographies, suspense and novels.