After nearly two years leading the Grand Rapids community radio station, Griffin will return to life as a musician, teacher and entrepreneur. A search for his replacement will begin in March.
WYCE Station Manager Hayes Griffin has announced that he’ll step down from his post in April, with the Grand Rapids Community Media Center that oversees the station expected to start a formal search for his replacement next month.
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Griffin has served for nearly two years at the helm of WYCE (88.1 FM) – a community radio station that regularly showcases local and regional artists — taking over from previous station manager Quinn Mathews, who left to take over operations of Listening Room in downtown Grand Rapids.
In a message to WYCE staff and volunteer programmers, Griffin said it was “a distinct honor to bear the title of WYCE Station Manager” and that together they had “accomplished some truly extraordinary things” during his tenure. His plans to leave WYCE on April 18, after the station’s spring fund drive.
Griffin, an acoustic bluegrass guitarist, told Local Spins that he wants to spend more time teaching, working on a new musical project and concentrating on his own business venture.
“I’ll be teaching classes and lessons at Michigan Academy of Folk Music in Holland, releasing a new Western swing project featuring Joe Wilson in June and focusing on my online publishing business, Built to Last Music Notes,” he said.
During his tenure at WYCE, Griffin noted the station has been able to “process more new music, book more nationally and internationally acclaimed artist in-studios, gain over 1,200 new listener-sponsors, and create a large number of new partnerships within our local business community.” He also cited the success of the recent Jammie Awards show at The Intersection.
“Needless to say, I am extremely proud of this staff team and all of the hard work and support we receive from you, our beloved volunteer programmers,” he noted in his farewell message.
“In the remainder of my time here, I will be working with our staff, volunteers, the CMC leadership team, and our board to continue to help craft policies and procedures that can help lead to a healthier, more positive relationship between all of us. Everyone reading this knows that WYCE is one of the most important pillars of our local music scene.”
‘MORE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS’
Linda Gellasch, executive director of the Community Media Center, praised Griffin and Mathews for elevating the station manager position and “making more community connections” that have served WYCE well.
In particular, she said, Griffin “really supported the artist community” that depends on WYCE for showcasing local and regional music.
She also said Griffin’s early announcement of his departure gives the Community Media Center time to mount a “careful and deliberate” search for his successor. She said she expects the formal search for a new station manager to begin in mid-March..
Although WYCE has seen a succession of station managers with relatively short tenures in recent years, Gellasch attributed it to the “nature of the era” as businesses and organizations adjust to more frequent job-shifting by employees and administrators.
Griffin – who took over as manager in the summer of 2018 – insisted he’ll remain a part of the WYCE family, which depends on an army of volunteers as well as a small paid staff.
“Don’t be surprised if you see me behind the board for an in-studio, or trimming branches at the tower site,” he quipped. “I love this station with all my heart and will do everything I can to ensure its continued success as I move back into music education and performing.”
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