As part of WWOZ’s continuing effort to align staffing for the media world of 2016 and beyond, Scott Borne has been promoted to Director of Music. The semantic change from his previous title, Music Director, indicates that his duties now extend to supervision of music across all platforms, including live recordings and broadcasts, online audio and artist relations. He will be the primary supervisor of the volunteer DJ’s. Borne was born and raised in Metairie and has deep connection in the local music scene. “I snuck into Tipitina’s for the first time at 16,” says Borne. He started working in music promotion in Austin in 2000 and moved back to New Orleans in 2005, helping to move the station into its current location after Katrina. In 2015, he received the JazzWeek Programmer of the Year (mid-size market) award.

Jorge Fuentes has also been promoted to Operations Director (from Operations Assistant). His scope will include continuity, radio production, and facilities management. Jorge is a native of El Salvador who went to high school in New Orleans and graduated from the University of New Orleans. He was the first programming director of the first Spanish-language TV station in the city. His radio experience began in the late 1980s when he volunteered at WWOZ, then located in Armstrong Park. He joined the Operations Department at WWOZ in 2008. Both Jorge and Scott will participate in the training of volunteer show hosts and producers.

Chief Engineer Damond Jacob will also assume greater management responsibilities. A New Orleans native, he has worked at WWOZ since being hired in 1993 as Production Director. Prior to that, he worked in the music industry in Dallas and was an RCA recording artist. He’s been a session and touring bassist with acts such as Vanilla Ice, Marvin Gaye, Charlie Pride, Cameo, The Bar-Kays, and Chuck Berry.

The trio of Borne, Jacob, and Fuentes are now the radio leadership team.

“There will likely be some adjustments ahead as we identify areas needing attention. For now, the position of Program Director will remain unfilled as we work out the exact duties of each position,” says Arthur Cohen, WWOZ’s newly appointed Chief Operating Officer.

In the WWOZ New Media department, Carrie Booher has been named Digital Content Editor. She has been guiding social media efforts as Digital Content Assistant over the last eighteen months and will now join the full-time team.

“In all areas, we intend to fully utilize the deep pool of talent that is already part of WWOZ, while continuing to seek and welcome others from all parts of our community,” Cohen says. “Volunteer Coordinator Maryse Déjean will be working on updating our volunteer management systems and developing ways to optimize and increase communications within ‘OZ.”  

Cohen continues: “Our goal is to maximize the impact of the tremendous capabilities that WWOZ now has—radio, audio, video, streaming, apps, social media and other digital platforms (including a new website in the near future). The pieces and people are already in place with the talent, skills and understanding to shepherd WWOZ to even greater service to the community and to the music and musicians of New Orleans.“