Meet Our Staff
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Brad Walhof, Station ManagerBrad Walhof’s career in the communications industry spans over four decades. Most of the forty-four years have been spent in radio. Walhof also worked briefly in newspaper and television. In radio Walhof worked his way up in the ranks from disc jockey to morning show host and then sales manager and finally general manager.
Walhof has been a station manager for over thirty years for various radio stations in northern Minnesota. Walhof has broadcast over 1000 sporting events on the radio including basketball, volleyball, hockey and football. Highlights include high school events from the Fargodome, Metrodome, Williams Arena, Mariucci Arena and the Target Center. The most memorable sports broadcast was the Class” A” Minnesota High School Basketball Championship game in 2007 when Cass Lake Bena was defeated by Ellsworth 74-73 on a three pointer at the buzzer at Target Center. Walhof also received a MBA Crystal Award for best small market live news coverage from the Minnesota Broadcasters Association for reporting live on the Minnesota Log Homes/ Chippewa Tribe fire. In 2007 Walhof chaired the media portion of the Minnesota Governors Fishing Opener on Leech Lake. Over 30 media outlets broadcast live from the event. Walhof’s resume includes interviews with U.S. Senators, Congressmen, Governors, and state and local political leaders. Walhof served on the Walker City Council for eight years and was mayor of Walker for sixteen years. Under his leadership Walker built a new three million dollar state of the art water facility, rebuilt the wastewater treatment facility to expand capacity and worked with Congressman Jim Oberstar to complete a one million dollar expansion of the Walker Airport runway to accommodate twin engine aircraft. Walhof is proud of the fact that the KOJB broadcast studios, tower, and transmitter facility were built entirely with grant money. The radio project included a 500-foot tower in Bena and two additional 400 foot towers were built for Leech Lake MIS in Ball Club and Cutfoot. The towers now owned by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe with Bena managed by KOJB Radio and the Cutfoot and Ball Club towers managed by Leech Lake MIS. The radio project including the three towers totals 1.9 million…all without using band funds. Walhof and his family live in rural Laporte. His wife Cindy worked in car and boat sales, and for Arvig Communications Systems on the Leech Lake Reservation providing telephone, internet and cable to area residents. Walhof’s interests include sports, fishing, four wheeling and family activities. |
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Marie Rock, Program ManagerMy name is Marie Rock. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where I graduated from Maryvale High School. I moved to Denver, Colorado to get married in 1984, and eventually moved to Minnesota.
I am a former Contracting Officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs – I worked there for 10 years, and at the same time, held a part time position as an Announcer for C.D. Broadcasting in Bemidji for KKBJ. When the government eliminated most P.L. 93-628 Contract positions, I went to work for R.P. Broadcasting as a full-time Announcer. I moved up to Promotions Director, and eventually added Assistant Program Director to my title. I worked in that building for 12 years – in various shifts on three stations (Adult Contemporary, Oldies, and Classic Country) with my last shift being a morning show host and a Friday night 80’s show host. After working for R.P. Broadcasting, and a few casino jobs later, I decided to attend college. I attended Bemidji State University in 2004 and graduated in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, and a minor emphasis in Sociology. After college I went to work for Oshki Manidoo – White Earth’s Adolescent Treatment Center in Bemidji. I worked there as a Youth Counselor. I really enjoyed working with kids, but the opportunity for radio came, and I went to work as Program Manager for KOJB here in Cass Lake. I have been here since 2011. I live in Cass Lake with my husband Lee and my son Justin. I am the proud grandmother of six grandchildren, and I have a daughter that lives in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. |
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Shontel Isham, Business ManagerAhneen, Hello from my beautiful state of MN. Born with Leech Lake Ojibwe in my blood and Bear clan in my soul. I enjoy every season and I am inspired by the plant kingdom. I have been in the holistic business for nearly 20 years with teachings of well-rounded healthy living - naturally ( health care system for 17 years prior). I moved to Hackensack and comes in the radio movement. I volunteered at KOJB for the past ten years with the Southern Country Gospel Show and working with Amper's Arts and Heritage Cultural Grant with the Traditional Plants Program-for every illness there is a plant for healing. With a forward drive on life - The position of Business Manager came up and I thought my brain is ready for new knowledge. I am passionate about the radio biz- hosting, programming shows and now Business Manager, bringing educational, informative content to the band members.
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Governing Body:
Chairman: Faron Jackson, Sr, Secretary/Treasurer: Leonard Fineday District I Representative: Kyle Fairbanks, District II Representative: Steve White, District III Representative: LeRoy Staples Fairbanks III |
CAB Members:
Bonnie Fairbanks Stangle - Chair Sandra Fairbanks Terry Smith Toby Losh Gary Charwood |
