Jeff Johnson is the "new guy" at KVNE, though he's not new to radio. In an industry known for moving around, Jeff has done everything possible to put the movers' kids through college. In fact, the only thing he's done in more states than work in radio is sing karaoke!

Ten Questions with Jeff Johnson

1. When did you join Encouragement FM?

During a momentary lapse of reason, for which he should not be held accountable, Troy Kriechbaum hired me in September of 2008. Interestingly enough, I had actually interviewed for a different job here in the mid-1990s. My hiring may very well be the result of the longest background check in radio history! :-)

2. What do you do?

Currently, I host the afternoon show, design and maintain the stations' websites, and serve as production director for KVNE and KGLY. In the future, I hope there will be enough work to make this a full-time job! :-)

3. Where else have you done similar work?

I've been in radio for most of my adult life, including at Focus on the Family, Sirius Satellite Radio, American Family Radio, and at other regional networks or local stations in Washington, DC; Baton Rouge, LA; Little Rock, Jonesboro, Arkadelphia, and Malvern, AR. Oh, yeah, and one TV station in Arkansas. (Well, I had to try it!)

4. Where did you go to school?

In 2001, I graduated from Excelsior College in Albany, NY, with a degree in communications. But I've actually attended more colleges than most people visit their senior year in high school because my radio career has moved me around so much. I've lost count, but I think I actually have classroom credit hours from eight or nine colleges and universities, and it took me 17 years to finish my first degree. I'm working on another degree, which I hope to finish before my daughter starts college ... sometime around 2024!

5. Describe your family.

Since 1994, I've been married to the most patient woman in the world, as is evidenced by the fact that I'm still breathing! Deleisa (or "DJ" as I refer to her on the air) is a fellow media-type. She's been the vice president of communications for a Washington, DC, trade association, a magazine and newspaper editor, a reporter, and she even tried her hand in radio for about a year back in high school - but was smart enough not to make a career of it! :-) She currently does public relations and marketing for one of the finest hospitals in the country, which just happens to be located right here in East Texas. She also has the most important job in the world as the primary caregiver, lesson teacher, room cleaner, lunch packer, wound kisser and hug distribution specialist (a.k.a. "mommy") for our daughter, Caroline, who was born in 2005.

Caroline has her mother's beautiful hair and spunky disposition, and her grandmother's brilliant blue eyes. Unfortunately for Caroline, she got her sense of humor from me. :-) She constantly delights us with imaginative stories about visiting her grandma's house, even though both of her grandmothers passed away before she was born. One of my favorites was when she announced that she and her grandma had baked a cake for Paul Baloche. We saw Paul and Rita at a restaurant in Tyler the next day and got to introduce Caroline to them and tell them about Paul's cake! (Sorry Paul, I guess that cake is in heaven with her grandmas!)

The rest of our families live throughout Arkansas (Go Hogs!), except for one stray brother-in-law who - for some inexplicable reason - is a math professor at the University of Maine. :-)

6. What do you enjoy most about working here?

On an almost daily basis, we get letters, emails or calls from people who say that we played just the right song, or read just the right Scripture, or said just the right thing to minister to them in a time of need. I know that God is in control of everything and that everything that happens because He either allows it or causes it to happen. But it is so incredible to see Him working so specifically and personally in the lives of individuals through this ministry. And to be used in that way is an incredible - and very humbling blessing.

7. Why are you working in this ministry rather than in the for-profit/secular world?

The first 10 years of my broadcasting career, and a few stops more recently, were spent in secular radio and TV. There are some great people, including a lot of Christians, in secular media. But, at least for this season in my life, I believe God has called me to use the talents and skills He's given me to serve Him in Christian music radio. It's a dream He placed in my heart when I was a teenager, when the nearest contemporary Christian radio station was literally hundreds of miles from my hometown. Twenty years later, this is still just as much fun as it was the first time I played Keith Green's "So You Wanna Go Back to Egypt?"

8. Share a funny story about working here?

Jennifer will tell you that she has quickly become the little sister I never had, and I have quickly become the big brother she never wanted. :-) Jennifer is a germ-o-phobe, and I mean a serious germ-o-phobe! One day we were sitting in a staff meeting and Margie had passed out animal crackers for us to snack on. Jennifer had carefully placed her crackers on a napkin to "protect them" from the icky, nasty germies on the table. I reached over, picked up one of Jennifer's crackers, licked it, and then placed it back on her napkin, making sure to mix up the crackers so she couldn't tell which one I had violated. (Don't worry, she's speaking to me, again, now... finally!)

9. What is your best memory or proudest accomplishment from your time here?

Accomplishment? I've been here since September 2008. A little time to settle in, please? :-) Seriously, though, very quickly when I came to work here, my co-workers became an extended family to me. Especially since, during my first month here, my wife and daughter had to stay in Mississippi to sell our house. The wonderful family here at Encouragement FM accepted me - the new guy - into their family, even though some of them have been here for a quarter of a century! (Gary, that sounds so much longer than "25 years.") No matter how long God chooses to keep me here, I will always remember the love and acceptance I felt when I first arrived.

10. What do you hope to accomplish here?

My prayer is that we will continue to be used by God to minister to people. There are lots of things I would like to accomplish, technically, with the stations and the websites, and personally to become a better broadcaster. But those things are only important if they are God's will and they minister to those He has placed us here to reach.

Bonus Question: What is that thing you say at the end of your show every day?

"That's gonna do it for me, Jeff Johnson. It's time for Joe and Betty's baby boy to call it a day, once again. I'm going out to look for myself. If I show up here before I find me, do, please, keep me here 'til I get back."

It's corny, I know, but I ended my first show that way in 1979 as a way of thanking my parents for making my radio career possible and I just kept doing it. Mom died in 2001 and Dad in 2008, but I'll always be "Joe and Betty's baby boy." I've since added "DJ's dee-jay" and "Caroline's daddy" to the rotation as a tribute to my wife and daughter for supporting what I do. Recently, I started saying "DJ's  hubby" instead of "DJ's dee-jay" because some people said "DJ's dee-jay" was confusing, if you didn't know that I call my wife "DJ" on the air. Hey, if that's the only thing I say all day that's confusing... :-)

Vital Statistics

Name: Jeff Johnson

Position: Afternoon Host/Production Dir./Webmaster

Birthday: January 3

Originally from: Little Rock, Arkansas

When I was a kid I wanted to be: A "disc jockey" (no, really, I did!) or a police officer (I've done both!)

Favorite Verse: John 15:15 (NIV)

Favorite Artists: Current: Warren Barfield, Classic: Petra

Favorite Pastimes: Anything that lets me spend time with DJ and Caroline, but especially going for drives through the countryside, working out at Premier Fitness, and dreaming about the motorcycle that I don't really need and probably won't ever own.

Favorite Food: "Five Guys" Burgers and Fries!

Listen to Jeff weekdays from 3-9pm on 89.5 KVNE!