DAVE EDWARDS JOINS THE RANKS OF PUBLIC MEDIA “FREE AGENTS”

Dave Edwards

Dave Edwards, formerly Director and General Manager of WUWM (aka Milwaukee Public Radio), has launched Dave Edwards Media LLC [link], a consulting service that specializes helping managers of nonprofit organizations be more effective leaders.

Edwards is banking on his three decades of experience at WUWM, one of the most successful organizations in public media. 

He was also the Chair of NPR’s Board of Directors, held several positions on Board of the influential Station Research Group and is currently the Board Chairman of the Radio Research Consortium (RRC).

Before he became GM of WUWM, Edwards was an anchor and reporter for all-news WRIT in Milwaukee and WBBM, Chicago.

By opening his own business, Edwards will be one of a handful of people who have taken their knowledge and contacts from working in established organizations and opened up an independent shop. “Free agents,” as they are sometimes called, have had an outsized influence on the growth of public media.

Consider the impact of consultant Steve Martin, researchers David Giovanni and Craig Oliver, headhunter Tom Livingston, program marketers Kathy Gronau and Sue Schardt and blogger/consultant Fred Jacobs.

We opened our own consultancy, Ken Mills Agency, LLC, in 1997. Not only has it been rewarding financially, being independent is a good way to make a mark on nonprofit media. Plus, most of time, it is a lot of fun.

But being a free agent is not for everyone. Being independent means adapting to a roller coaster ride from feast to famine and (hopefully) back to feast.

NOTE: DAVE EDWARDS IS NOT RETIRING!

Edwards at WUWM

Sometimes when people leave a job they loved and have done very well, there is a tendency to slow down and “smell the roses.” This is not the path Edwards is choosing.

In an essay on his website titled Why I Won’t Ever Retire [link], Edwards talked about his decision to start the new consulting venture:

“Sometime before leaving my full-time job managing WUWM…I had minor foot surgery. I spent almost three weeks in the house.  I couldn’t drive.  I eventually could hobble around the house, but it wasn’t easy.” 

“I wound up in a daily routine that included breakfast, followed by reading until my eyes hurt.  My wife was so nice; she would make me a sandwich for lunch, which I would eat while watching “Gunsmoke” reruns on a random cable channel.  That would be followed by “Bonanza” and a nap.” 

“I remember thinking that if this was retirement, I wanted no part of it.

John Hess is the new General Manager of WUWM.

To create additional buzz about his new venture, Edwards is offer a free guide on Effective Methods for Managing Difficult People. You can get a copy by emailing Edwards at daveedwards@outlook.com or by calling 262-236-6230.