Personalities

Jeffrey Steffen - Jeffrey has served as the host of KEXL's legendary "Breakfast Call" on 106.7 the X since December, 1986. His magic comes from the fact that he knows his audience and approaches the entertainment portions of his 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. show with professional and personal charm. His professional crowning achievement came in October, 1994. While attending the National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Awards presentation, Jeffrey was named "Small Market Personality of the Year." He serves as program and operations manager of both WJAG and KEXL. He married his smokin hot bride Amy on October 13, 1990 in Norfolk at St. Mary's Catholic Church.  They are the parents of five beautiful and rowdy children, two boys and three girls.  Twin boys Landon & Lukas are 13, Andrea is 10, Kassidy is eight, and Audrey Rose is three.  Jeffrey is an avid golfer and the family loves to go camping together in the summertime.  He considers the employees and listeners of the stations his extended family.

 Jim Curry - Jim began with WJAG/KEXL Radio in February, 1980, serving as news director since August, 1989. Jim has lived most of his life in Norfolk graduating locally from high school and college. He has led a news department that has earned hundreds of awards in Nebraska and several Midwest states. Jim is a past member of the Nebraska Associated Press Broadcasters Association board of directors and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Freedom of Information Committee.

 Susan Risinger - Susan joined the WJAG/KEXL staff in 1989, and has been the stations' National Association of Farm Broadcasting (NAFB) Farm Director Since 1991. In 2007, she received the New Holland Oscar in Agriculture, presented to one NAFB farm broadcaster each year for agricultural broadcast excellence. She has won several Associated Press, Nebraska Broadcast Association and Northwest Broadcast News Association awards for agricultural reporting. Susan has been honored by the Nebraska Cooperative Extension Association and the Nebraska Forestry Association, and in 1992, Susan received the Profitable Agriculture through Conservation Technology (PACT) Award, an award presented to a single broadcaster in North America each year for reporting on a conservation issue.

Joe Tjaden - As the Sports Director, Joe reports the sports seven times a day on The X & WJAG.  He is the play-by-play announcer of the award winning sports team which he has assembled that covers football and basketball.  He hosts SportsTalk on 780 WJAG on Saturday mornings from late August through mid-March and has interviewed such notables over the years as Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, John Havlicek, Joe Theismann, Brian Baldinger, Ivan Maisel, Tom Osborne, Frank Solich, Bill Callahan, Doc Sadler, Dana Altman, John Cook, and many others. Joe grew up in central Iowa and attended Iowa State University in the mid to late '90's. He has worked at a handful of stations before joining KEXL and WJAG in August of 2000.  Joe has earned various awards from the Nebraska Broadcasters News Association, Northwest Broadcast News Association, and the Nebraska A-P Broadcasters.  Joe's hobbies include spending time in the gym working out & traveling.

 Abe Schoenherr - "Captain Happiness" Prior to his highly anticipated debut on The X, Mr. Beautiful worked at several orphanages in Latin America. Abe spent his time (community service hours) entertaining the lost children of Guatemala, Nicaragua and Belize. He has also worked/participated in numerous man-pageants, garnering the much-coveted Mr. Congeniality title 17 times. Abe's boy-band good looks also lead him to a brief, yet prosperous stint as a television news reporter. In addition to his Nobel Peace prize for discovering "What Women Really Want" Abe was also chosen as Hot Wheels magazine Man of the Year in 2002 and the NAACP's Sexiest Man Alive in 2005. When he's not busy being special at The X,  Abe enjoys doing whatever his extremely hot wife tells him to do (Awww Yeah) and spending time with their two gifted sons.

  
Michael J. Nissen - An acknowledged music junkie, Michael was first drawn to radio at the early age of ten as he would frequently invite friends over to spin records while pretending he was on the air announcing song titles. It became creative satisfaction for the Norfolk, Nebraska native. After high school he quickly became heavily involved in the areas of television, radio and theatre arts at Wayne State College graduating in 2004. Michael is now the voice of The X Factor, M - F from 2 - 7 p.m. on 106.7 the X. He also hosts "Rock Rewind" on the X Saturday evenings from 6 - 10 p.m.

 Bradley Hughes (V.P. & General Manager) - Brad is responsible for directing the efforts of the WJAG/KEXL staff. He was appointed corporate Vice President and general sales manager in 2003, and later, in October 2007, took over general management of the Norfolk radio operations and the future Pierce radio operation. Reared in California, Brad "summered" with his grandparents in Nebraska. After doing some initial radio work at KBRX in O'Neill, NE and KKSD Gregory, SD, Brad came to the WJAG/KEXL Radio in the summer of 1985. He has served on numerous community and church boards serving as an officer of many; including Norfolk Area United Way past two time President and board member, Faith Regional Health Services Foundation and Community Advisory Council, Northeast Community College Business Advisory Committee, Norfolk Catholic Spirit Chairman and committee member , past Sacred Heart Parish Council member, Norfolk Arts Center President and Board member, Miss Nebraska USA Committee, National Association of Farm Broadcasters Management Council among others. Brad along with his wife Teri of  22 years have two children, Chase 18 and Guerin 4, can't imagine calling anywhere other than Norfolk home.

Sally Lewis (Local Sales Manager) - As one of 16 children, Sally learned early on how to think on her feet and be a survivor. A native of Northeast Nebraska, Sally began her career with WJAG & KEXL in 1979 after being "discovered" while giving a speech to the Norfolk Noon Rotary Club. She started out in advertising sales where she continues to serve today as Local Sales Manager. She is active in various civic groups including the Women's Division of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce, where she served as President in 1993-94. She takes an active role in Sacred Heart-St. Mary's Catholic Church and Sacred Heart School.

Jean Schmeckpeper (Account Executive) - Jean joined the staff of WJAG & KEXL in September 1989, working part time in the traffic and bookkeeping department and filling in for employees on vacation. In January 1992, she spent some time working as a sales representative while one of the sales people was on leave for a few weeks. Later that year she was asked to split time between her clerical duties and sales. In late 1993, Jean began working in her current position as a fulltime account representative.

Marci Pierce (Office Manager/Bookkeeper) - Marci began her career with the stations in 1976 as a member of our clerical staff. Over the years she learned the commercial traffic and bookkeeping systems. She helped the stations make the jump to the computer world in 1983. She continues as a valuable member of our radio team in the capacity of office manager.

Denise Reikofski (Traffic Director) - Denise takes care of our commercial traffic department for both WJAG & KEXL. Denise must take each advertising order and process it through our computer traffic system to be certain commercials play for the right client, at the right time and on the right days. Denise joined the WJAG and KEXL team in 1992.

Leanne Silhacek (Office Assistant) - Leanne started at WJAG/KEXL part time in 1995, and became full time in 1997. Leanne is most likely the person answering the phone if you call in, and occasionally pops in on the Breakfast Call with Jeffrey as: "Miss Vancouver". She is involved with the usual office duties and helps with the stations  website updates of Community Calendar and Grain Markets, and also tracks our prize winners. You may even hear her voice on commercial ads.  Leanne originally hails from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, but now considers herself at home in Pierce County. 

Paula Beckman (Account Representative) - Paula joined the KEXL/WJAG sales team in August of 2007 as the territory account executive. Paula resides in Columbus but can be seen all over Northeast Nebraska driving the KEXL/WJAG P.T. Cruiser! If you see her out and about in your town have her hook you up with a bumper sticker! When Paula's not working she enjoys spending time at home with her five children, vacations on the beach, a good book, and watching Grey's Anatomy!