Ruppel Packing For Portland Move

• Congrats are in order for Jonathan “JR” Ruppel, OM of Saga’s Harrisonburg [VA] Radio Group and Brand Manager of Classic Country WSIG/Harrisonburg, VA for the past seven years, who has earned a transfer up to the company’s Portland Radio Group as the new Brand Manager of heritage Country WPOR/Portland, ME. He will succeed Crash Poteet, who is headed back home to family in West Virginia.

“There’s an undeniable synergy in the air at WPOR,” said Ruppel (left). “While I’m going to miss the Harrisonburg team tremendously, I’m excited to join my new radio family in Portland!” Ruppel previously programmed KSCN/Mt. Pleasant, TX and he also did traffic and swing for Citadel Nashville a few years back.

Stepping in to succeed Ruppel as OM of the eight-station Harrisonburg group and Brand Manager of WSIG is Virginia radio vet Paul McDaniel (left), who most recently programmed Monticello Media Country WCYK/Charlottesville, VA. McDaniel, a.k.a. “Uncle Pauly,” starts on June 24. “This is a one-of-a kind brand,” said McDaniel, a 23-year radio pro. “I couldn’t be more excited to grab the torch and build upon the success that JR and the winning team have created at Harrisonburg Radio Group.”

Bob Lawrence, Saga VP of Programming, commented, “It’s always such a thrill to be able to take our programming talent and move them up to another market. Crash has done a terrific job at WPOR over the past couple of years and we are truly sorry to see him leave. Moving up JR is just a natural, wonderful opportunity for all of us. When we couple that with being able to bring in a PD like Paul McDaniel for WSIG — well, it’s like winning the perfecta!”