WHQR back in the black

For the first time in the past six years, local public radio station WHQR 91.3fm, is in the black.

“We’ve lost money since 2004,” said Jeff Hunter, WHQR board chairman, to members and staff of the station at its annual meeting on June 30. “We’ll break even this year.”

This time last year the member-supported, non-profit station had lost $170,000, he said.

To regain financial footing, the board eliminated the station’s top four positions including former station manager, John Milligan, in December 2008. Since then, the volunteer board has managed the station, which broadcasts local news, music and National Public Radio programs.

After three successful pledge drives last year, the station now can afford to hire a full-time station manager.

The station raised about $200,000 during the spring 2009 pledge drive, exceeding its goal by about $25,000. It continued to exceed its fundraising markers in fall 2009 and raised about $150,000. And in spring 2010, it raised $152,000, Hunter said earlier this year.

Now the board is entering the final process of hiring a station manager, a leadership position that has been vacant for more than a year. The station manager will be primarily responsible for overseeing fundraising, underwriting and the station’s fiscal management.

The candidate search is led by current and past board members Ian Oeschger, Jeff Hunter, Rob Zapple, Donn Ansell, Terry Richman and Ruth Funk. Applications have come in from Alaska, California, Washington, the Midwest and North Carolina, Hunter said. And the committee has narrowed down its selection to the top four candidates, all of whom have backgrounds in public radio. They are wrapping up the second round of interviews and plan to fill the position by the end of July.

During the past year, public radio station WUNC in Raleigh had approached the Wilmington station about assuming this market. WUNC’s market analysis showed that this area had two times as much underwriting opportunities than what WHQR has been receiving.

Following the three successful pledge drives, WHQR’s board voted to not pursue the Raleigh station’s offer and to remain independent and in Wilmington.

About three months ago, WHQR met with UNCW’s chancellor Rosemary DePaolo to discuss developing a partnership with the university. However, because of budget cuts the university is not in the position to buy a radio station now. DePaolo is a big fan of the station though, Hunter said.

With two board members out of town, the board was not able to approve the 2011 budget in time to present to members at its annual meeting. The board plans to fine tune and approve the budget in July.

Three board members – Jeff Hovis, Betsy Kahn and Marla Rice-Evans- rotated off the board while the current officers- Jeff Hunter, Paul Lawler, Barbara Sullivan and Rob Zapple- will retain their same posts. The board added Mark Moulin, Dorothy Rankin, Leah Kane, Philip Stine, Margaret Haynes and David Zumbro as new board members for 2011.