Mike Donovan

Beginning as an air talent then progressing to programming, Mike’s career in broadcasting includes a successful career in Top 40, Classic Rock, Hot AC and Mainstream AC. In addition to a successful career as an on air radio talent, Mike has “on camera” experience in television and was a highly sought after voice and imaging talent whose work included national radio and TV commercials. Mike still enjoys the success to which he has grown accustomed but today, and since joining the firm in 1995, it’s in the consulting capacity.

Mike’s upbeat well-balanced personality and passionate approach to radio, plus his many years of radio experience in pop music formats compliments his ability to relate and perform well in both the creative and strategic environment. As a programmer, Mike’s keen ear for great radio and his analytical skills enabled him to win in highly competitive situations and he continues to use his skills to help client stations perform at a high level in markets around the country.

In 2005 we were proud to announce Mike’s promotion to Vice President of Vallie-Richards Consulting. In 2006, in recognition of Mike’s many contributions to the consulting firm, to the industry and as a “team player” to the clients he served, we made Mike a partner and placed his name on the door as we became Vallie-Richards-Donovan Consulting.
Mike continues to be in demand with client stations as he uses his unique talents and skills to serve a diversity of clients with an impressive winning ratio in Top 40, Hot AC and AC as well as other variations of Pop formats such as Classic Hits.

Because he has a passion for great air talent, Mike also enjoys working with and coaching talent and morning shows and heads up our “Morning Masters” talent coaching program which has helped grow talent, performance and revenue for many of our client stations.

In recent years, Mike has also been a panel moderator at National Association of Broadcasting conventions, a speaker and moderator at Morning Show Boot Camps, writes for the VRD Radio Focus Newsletter and has been a contributor to radio articles in various industry trades including Billboard Magazine.

As an aside, Mike is the only thrill seeking consultant we know who has sky dived from a plane and bungee jumped from a hot air balloon. In addition to Mike’s love for all things Radio, when he’s not listening to radio or working closely with programmers and managers, Mike enjoys playing guitar, reading, recording in his office studio, cooking, the beach and watching North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball. He heads up the Charlotte office and you can contact Mike here.