Robservations: Happy landing for Eddie Volkman at Star 96.7

Eddie Volkman

Robservations on the media beat:

It didn't take long for Eddie Volkman to land on his feet. Just days after the sale of northwest suburban classic rocker WFXF 103.9-FM cost him his job as morning personality, the longtime Chicago radio star has been hired by WSSR 96.7-FM, the Alpha Media southwest suburban adult-contemporary station. Starting today, he'll program Star 96.7 as content manager and double as afternoon host from 2 to 7 p.m. weekdays. Volkman succeeds Scott Childers, who exited the station after 15 years last week. “It’s a shame I won’t be working with my longtime friend Scott Childers," he said. "We go all the way back to when he was 'Rich Scott' doing traffic for us on B96. He has built a solid station here, and it will be an honor to inject some new energy into the operation." In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, Star 96.7 tied for 36th place with a 0.3 percent share.

David Roeder

David Roeder, former reporter for three Chicago area newspapers, is returning to the Chicago Sun-Times to take on the business and labor beat. Starting April 22, he’ll cover a variety of subjects, including real estate, tech and the impact of unions on the local economy and politics. A Chicago native who grew up in south suburban Dolton, Roeder worked for the Daily Herald and the Daily Southtown before he joined the Sun-Times, where he spent 17 years as a business reporter and columnist. He left in 2013 to serve as communications manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under Governor Pat Quinn. Since 2015 Roeder has been an organizer and consultant for the Chicago News Guild. “Dave's return to our newsroom continues to fulfill our goal of broadening our coverage base and competing ferociously on beats of regional interest,” said Chris Fusco, editor-in-chief of the Sun-Times. “His institutional knowledge of the economy, labor and politics not only will make him an asset to our readers but to everyone in the newsroom.”

Lady Red

A belated note on a change in middays at WSRB 106.3-FM, the Crawford Broadcasting urban adult-contemporary station known as Soul 106.3. Lady Red, who's been co-hosting mornings with Mike Love, has replaced Jaz Jackson from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. Now working both shifts, she's calling herself "Double Duty Cutie." Lady Red is the radio name of Kimberly Ricks, who grew up in south suburban Markham and attended Thornwood High School and Illinois State University. She's been a prominent DJ and host on the south suburban club scene for years.

Bob Zak

Another casualty of the sale of 103.9 The Fox, former Saturday morning host Bob Zak, has turned up on the air at WSRQ in Sarasota, Florida, and WMCE in Erie, Pennsylvania. From his studios here, he'll record his weekend shows for the two non-commercial stations owned by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Zak, a Joliet native who began at the former WJRC, has spent more than 30 years in Chicago area radio.

Sandra Cordova Micek

Sandra Cordova Micek, president and CEO of Window to the World Communications, has been named among the first chosen for The Daniel Burnham Fellowship. Funded by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation through Leadership Greater Chicago, the new initiative will help participants "integrate into the civic fabric of the city, understand its history and future trajectory and build relationships and networks across the greater Chicago region." Micek joined the parent company of WTTW-Channel 11 and WFMT 98.7-FM last May from Hyatt Hotels Corp., where she was a senior vice president. “Through telling local stories from diverse perspectives, WTTW and WFMT aim to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration – a purpose that is closely aligned with the goals of this fellowship," she said. "In the coming year, I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the city, its networks, and the business community.”

Friday’s comment of the day: Bionca Tate: A LIVING LEGEND OF CHICAGO IS BACK ON THE AIRWAVES!!! When you think of urban radio in Chicago, [Crazy Howard McGee] is up there with Tom Joyner, Doug Banks (RIP), and Herb Kent (RIP).