Personalities

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Visit our sister stations:

KMZA 92.1 FM

KAIR 93.7 FM

KLZA-Sunny 101.3 FM

KTNC 1230 AM

LJ Trant --- Program Director / On-Air

Born and raised in Kanzaland, LJ moved away and started working right out of High School in Broadcasting in Hutchinson, KS.

LJ’s Voice was an on air presence for several years with Multiple Farm Station Owner & Agriculture broadcaster Larry Steckline in southern and western Kansas, and enjoyed doing the morning show at station WNAD/WWLS 640 AM, in the Oklahoma City Market.

LJ was lured back to the Sunflower state in the early ‘80’s and then came to Kanzland August 1987. Over the years, LJ has earned numerous awards through the Kansas Association Of Broadcaster’s, including 4 First place awards in categories from News Reporting to Commercial Advertising.

In 2007 KNZA was named “Station of the Year” by the KAB. L J enjoys Hunting and Fishing and although he has never had swimming lessons, would not hesitate to jump in a float plane and fly to a remote northern Canadian Lake to spend a week away from phones and computers.

LJ admits, “I do take a Radio along though, just to see what stations I can tune in." Be sure to listen to LJ on KNZA & KMZA from 5 am to Noon each weekday!

Brian Hagen --- News

Brian Hagen has worked as a radio broadcaster, in the local area, for over 20-years.

He has a passion for music, primarily hardcore country styles, ranging from Hank Williams, Sr. to Hank Williams III.

He also loves cats, and is a passionate political observer, with a long running love of studying Constitutional law in his spare time, proven by the Constitution always found in his back pocket proves it.

Brian attributes his love of broadcasting, country music, and the law to his father, Ronnie, who purchased Brian's first tape recorder at the age of 2, introduced him to the records of Willie Nelson at the age of 4, purchased his first law book at the age of 8, and taught him how to work with various recording devices throughout his youth.

Currently a resident of Horton, KS, Brian was born and raised in Atchison, KS where he returns most weekends to visit his mother, Sharon, who still does his laundry.

Mike Smith -- Sports

Kansas native, Mike Smith is the play-by-play announcer on 92.1 KMZA while giving daily sportscasts on both KMZA and 103.9 KNZA, with other responsibilities on top of that.

Mike got his start in broadcasting at the University of Kansas were he did play-by-play for KU sports on KU student station 90.7 KJHK and also hosted a sports talk show. Upon graduating from KU in 2010, Mike interned with Offense-Defense Sports out of South Carolina then worked for Division III school Roanoke College in media relations, while broadcasting games, also.

Smith moved back to Kansas in March of 2011 and did freelance high school play-by-play until accepting the KMZA Sports Director job in November of 2011.

Jeff Nichols --- On-Air / Sunny Morning Host

Jeff Nichols, host of the Sunny 101.3 morning show, was born and raised in Hiawatha, Ks. He left Hiawatha in 1969 and worked for the old Frontier Airlines and American Airlines until 2000. He then came back to Hiawatha and ran the Country Club for two years and began working part time for KNZA Inc. in 2001. He has done just about everything at KNZA and was given the Sunny Morning Show about six years ago. Jeff Said, “Have always loved all kinds of music so I really like the variety Sunny plays”. His mother lives in Hiawatha and he also has a younger sister in Lawrence, Ks. His hobbies include golf and boating and he likes all kinds of sports.

Justin Fluke --- Sales and Sports

After growing up in Medicine Lodge, Kansas then completing college at Fort Hays State University, Justin Fluke came to KNZA Radio as Sports Director in 2001. After being named the Kansas Sportscaster of the Year in 2006 by the KIAAA, Justin expanded his roles at the station as a sales consultant. Justin has totaled more than 20 awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for his sports and on-air talent and became the voice of Rainbow NEK Channel 68 Sports in 2010. He has also served as the Editor of the KNZA Pigskin Preview and Courtside Guide 80 page magazines.

After living in Hiawatha for eight years, Justin, along with wife Erin and four kids (Seth, Logan, Ethan and Kinley) moved to Holton in 2009 and he works from the KNZA office there a couple days each week.

After working for Complete Music through college, Justin started his own mobile DJ and Karaoke business "Music N Motion" in 2003 and has entertained at more than 200 events.

Justin has been active with the local Big Brothers and Big Sisters program as well as a Kiwanis member. He enjoys free time coaching his kids as well as spending time at the lake and fantasy sports.

Doug Weinberg --- Sales

Doug Weinberg, account rep for KNZA radio group, grew up in Hiawatha

and graduated from K-State in 1974. Doug taught school for a few years

and then got into sales as a manufacturer’s rep in the clothing industry.

In 1986 Doug joined KNZA and since then has worked primarily in sales.

Doug enjoys working with business owners and helping them promote and grow their businesses.

Others that work at KNZA:

Becky Buser
Greg Buser
Mike Slocum
Greg Bebermeyer
Cynthia Linck
Chance Linck
Heidi Wolfgang
Laura Vittetoe