Dave Santrella bio
[Editor: Another WMTH-FM Success Story. From a previous interview when asked if he were launching his career tomorrow, it would be in radio. “Oh, my goodness, I would jump at it with even more enthusiasm than I did when I started at my high school radio station, WMTH 88.5 FM, back when I was 14 years old. Radio has so much to offer!”
David “Dave” Santrella Bio – 1/6/2022
In January 2022 Dave was promoted to Chief Executive Officer after serving 12 years as the President of Broadcast Media for Salem Media Group. Salem is a publicly traded company (SALM) specializing in Christian and Conservative content with over 1400 employees and 3500 affiliates in 30 markets. He continues to oversee all local stations as well as the network assets and rep firms.
Under Dave’s leadership, Salem has launched Salem Surround – a digital platform – which has been a powerful revenue growth engine for the company and has dramatically increased Salem’s digital abilities and footprint to help their clients. Salem Podcast Network, SalemNOW, and the Salem News Channel have also been launched under his leadership.
Throughout his nearly 40-year career in the radio broadcast communications industry, Dave has provided leadership in promotions, marketing, sales, and management. A Chicago native, Dave worked for NBC’s locally-owned radio station WMAQ for 12+ years and then for CBS’s WBBM for 8+ years.
In 2001, Dave felt called to use his talents and abilities in a more significant way and joined Salem to manage the Chicago market. He progressed steadily through Salem ranks, becoming VP/GM over his region within two years and five years later to Ops VP. In 2010 he moved to his current role, governing the entire broadcast division.
Due to his depth of expertise in the industry, Dave collaborates with many industry organizations. He is currently the Joint Board Chair for the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) and served as Radio Board Chair of the organization the previous year. He is also on the President’s Council for NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) and is on the RAB (Radio Advertising Bureau) board.
Most recently and with Dave’s specific work with religious content, he has been honored with the “Eye To Zion” award in 2020 by The Genesis 123 Foundation and is on the advisory board for the Museum of the Jewish People in Israel. In 2021 he was included in the Radio Ink “The 40 Most Powerful People in Radio,” and was featured on the cover of Radio Ink Magazine in December 2021.
Dave and his wife Barb have four adult children and have been married for over 30 years and reside in Camarillo, California.
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