Meet Steve Grosz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Grosz.

Steve, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was a student at EVIT (The East Valley Institute of Technology) in the 1980s in the radio broadcasting program. While I was in high school I became one of the youngest (16 years old) Disc Jockeys in America when I started hosting Weekend shows on KZZP 104.7fm.

I worked there until 1989 (the same year, I graduated from Dobson High School and EVIT).

In 1990, I started working in a station called Y-95 (95.5fm) in Phoenix and added duties as a morning show producer.

I also became an entrepreneur when I started my own Mobile Disc Jockey Company, FX Entertainment which has been providing DJ’s for almost 30 years for weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Corporate events, Private Parties, Schools and more.

In 1993, I moved as an on-air personality and morning show producer to Power 92.3fm (Now on 98.3 fm), I remained there for about an 18 months until I accepted a position as the Production Director on the Valley’s first alternative station, 106.3 the Edge. One year later, I returned to Power 92.3fm in my prior position as my love has always been current music, and it fit my personality better. During that stint at Power, I accepted the job as the Music Man and Emcee for The Phoenix Suns/Mercury/and AZ Rattlers. I have always been a mega-fan of the Suns and I redefined the music part of the entertainment of the teams. In 1997 I was approached by EVIT to take over the program that I was a product of and the school assured me that they would support my goal of building an educational radio station at EVIT. I joined the school as the Instructor of the radio program in August of 1997, as well as remaining part-time at Power 92.3, Keeping the job as the Suns Music Man, and continuing to run FX Entertainment. (Wonder why I’m not married? I married my career).

In 1998, I began the process of trying to build a radio station at EVIT. It became a very lengthy process that ended up with us signing on our first station-KVIT-FM(The Goldmine) in Apache Junction nearly fourteen years later, due to government red tape and legal challenges. This station is now Neon 90.7fm.

Through a partnership with an amazing community partner Robert (Bob) Schoose and his wife Louann, my dream became reality, as we signed on a 2000 watt FM Radio Station that could be heard in AJ, East Mesa, Gilbert, Queen Creek, and South Chandler.

That station expanded over the years and rebranded as The Pulse (KPNG-FM) in 2013. In 2015, we added a much stronger station on 88.7fm, with a 600-foot tower between Maricopa and Casa Grande. With 15,000 watts of power, our listening area includes about 90 percent of the Phoenix market, as well as the I-10 corridor south to Marana.

Currently, we operate both stations, 88.7fm The Pulse and Neon 90.7fm. The stations feature on-air shows performed and produced by current and former EVIT Radio/Audio Production Students, Sports Talk shows, and High School Sports Play by Play, from my comrade/instructor at EVIT/ESPN Chicago Veteran broadcaster, Dave Juday and students interested in careers in Sports Broadcasting. Public Service Announcements, Underwriting announcements, Promos, and music created and produced by EVIT Radio/Audio students. I personally co-host the morning show with Graduate from Desert Vista HS/EVIT 2019 Graduate Mateo Valdez. The Program has produced hundreds of successful broadcasters and musicians and producers. Recent success stories include Class of 2013 Graduate Michael John Roach-host of the Internationally syndicated “Dance Show with MJR”, Radio Personality, “Bootleg Kev” Kevin Ratliff” on Real 92.3fm Los Angeles ,(Class of 2005), Oakland A’s Broadcasting and Media Content Director, Joey Liberatore (Class of 2016), (Class of 2012) Viv Aguilar (Promotions Director at Mega 104.3/101.1 the Beat), and Class of 2019 Graduates, Noelia Moreno and Xandra Knebel (I-Heart Radio), and Mateo Valdez and Chase Andrade (Mega 104.3/101.1 the Beat)… and the list goes on and on.

I am proud to say that at The East Valley Institute of Technology I built my dream. Currently, those stations are my #1 priority as I left corporate radio, and The Phoenix Suns, to concentrate on these stations and helping educate and train Arizona’s future broadcasters, musicians, and music producers.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Struggle is an understatement. I don’t think there is a person in the USA that waited as long as I did for the Government and Federal Communication Commission to grant a construction permit for a radio station. The FCC instituted a Freeze on new non-commercial educational radio stations in January of 2000, that lasted nearly eight years. Then, it took three more years for them to sort out who would get the permit (Out of 11 applicants).

Legal challenges followed and finding a staff that was on the same page was also very difficult.

This business has always been a challenge, and my consistent messages to my students over the 22 years are:

1) You get what you give-Don’t expect anything in broadcasting or music to be handed to you.

2) Never Give up on your dream… the more you believe you belong in this industry, the better chance someone else will believe you belong too.

3) Understand that you won’t start in your dream job, you will pay your dues and it will take time.

88.7fm The Pulse/Neon 90.7-The East Valley Institute of Technology – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I work a lot… more than most people realize, including some of my bosses. I am the radio station General Manager, which is a full-time job supervising the Sales staff and operating two radio stations. In addition, I am the station Program Director and Music Director. I am responsible for everything that goes on-air. Nothing “should” get on either station without me listening to it. I develop the personalities and plan the promotions. I have spent more than two decades as the lead Instructor of the Radio/Audio Class, so 5 hours of my day includes teaching.” I am the Voice of EVIT at every ceremony and school assembly we do. I have spent twenty years coordinating the school student government and CTE Student Organization Involvement. I have visited more than 30 schools per year for the last several years singing the praises of the 40+ programs of EVIT and recruiting students to attend, so they can live their dream as I have mine. Oh yeah, I’m here at 5 am hosting the morning show too. I’m here seven days a week, and even when I’m out of town for a conference or on vacation, I will spend several hours a day doing work remotely.

As I look at the Phoenix Radio Market, and 50+ stations the broadcast into it, I don’t think that there is a person here that has done what I have done. I built two radio stations at a Career and Technical High School, that sound as good or better than many stations owned by Multi-billion dollar companies.

I have had the pleasure of educating and training more than 2000 young people over the last 22 years, who also have shared in this amazing journey.

After 33 years in this business in Arizona, I hope I someday will be inducted into the Arizona Broadcast Hall of Fame. If that honor ever is achieved, it will not be because of my career, it will be because of the careers of my former students who are all over the world doing what they love, and making this program at EVIT proud!

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were just starting out?
Honestly nothing. Outside of a few stupid things that you to set yourself back a bit, the path has been awesome, and as I look back at 33 years in this business, I quote Frank Sinatra, “I did it My Way.”

Contact Info:

• Address: Steve Grosz
  KVIT/KPNG-EVIT
  1601 West Main Street
  Mesa, AZ 85201
• Phone: (480)461-4049

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.