Pierce Named OM, Wreaths Across America Radio
• Maine-based Wreaths Across America (WAA) announced the hire of veteran programmer Jeff Pierce as the new Operations Manager for Wreaths Across America Radio (WAAR), a 24/7 Internet stream with a unique format of informational and inspiring content about members of the U.S. armed forces, their families, military veterans, and volunteers throughout the country and overseas who support the nonprofit’s mission to “Remember, Honor, and Teach.” The stream also has a live morning show weekdays from 6-10am ET, along with a variety of special programs.
A Vermont native and a 35-year broadcast pro, Pierce was most recently Operations Manager at Saga’s Portland Radio Group in Portland, ME until March 2020, when his position was eliminated due to the pandemic. He previously spent two decades with iHeartMedia — the first 11 years as OM of the company’s Bangor, ME cluster, followed by an eight-year stint as SVP of Programming for iHeart’s eight-station group in Portsmouth and Manchester, NH. A member of the Maine Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame, Pierce has been working part-time for WAAR since May 2020.
“When Jeff came on board, we saw an immediate impact from his level of experience, and he has complimented our team of broadcast and communications professionals,” said Amber Caron, Communications Director for Wreaths Across America. “We are excited for the future of the Wreaths Across America Radio stream and the opportunities to reach to listeners as a result of Jeff and the team’s efforts.”
Pierce said, “My wife and I made a decision that I would not just take a job for the sake of taking a job. I wanted to do something with a higher purpose, and Wreaths Across America and Wreaths Across America Radio embodies all of the volunteer work I’ve done over the years while allowing me the opportunity to draw on my broadcast experience to further the mission of Wreaths Across America to Remember, Honor and Teach.” He added, “If you raised your hand and swore an oath to defend this country, you should never be forgotten. Wreaths Across America’s goal is to ensure that it never does. I’m grateful for this opportunity. My industry friends and former colleagues can look forward to me reaching out to get them involved in supporting this mission.”
• Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992.
