RADIO, VIDEO & FILM PROGRAM
Single & Dual Concentration Programs
Specs Howard School of Media Arts is committed to providing quality hands-on education to our students; so all instructors are required to have a minimum of three years of work experience in their field of expertise and/or a college degree. We also encourage our faculty to continue working in the field on a freelance or part-time basis to keep their skills and experience current. Below is a complete roster of our current faculty for this program and their individual accomplishments.
RADIO FACULTY
Sue Kinney, Radio Department Supervisor | email
Graduate of Specs Howard School. Currently pursuing B.S. in Mass Communication/Public Relations at Rochester College. Past experience includes News Reporter/Anchor, Co-producer of weekly public affairs program "Viewpoint," WHMI, Howell, MI; News Reporter/Anchor, WTRC, Elkhart, IN. Currently on-air part-time with Westwood One – WJR, Detroit and Sirius XM Satellite. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2002.
Jim Bell, Chief Instructor | email
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Western Kentucky University. Graduate of Specs Howard School. Past experience includes Production and News, WCAR; Announcer, WTWR; Announcer, WKQI. Former member of National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Member of Specs Howard School staff since 1980.
Eric Braun, Radio Instructor | email
Master of Arts, Telecommunications, Central Michigan University; Bachelor of Arts, Telecommunications, Eastern Michigan University; Graduate of Specs Howard School. Past experience includes Production Director/On-air Personality, Northern Star Broadcasting (Big Country 102.9, Classic Rock, The Bear and the Zone); Air Personality/Producer, WHNN, WCFX; Voiceover Talent, on computer games, film projects and commercials. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2005.
Kelia Karson, Radio Instructor | email
Attended Oakland Community College. Graduate of Specs Howard School. Past experiences include News Producer/Reporter, WOWF/WOW-FM; News Director/Air Personality, Tower 98; Producer/Co-Host, WMXD-Mix 92.3 Morning Show; News Director/Co-Host, WIMX, Toledo; Evening Air Personality, WJUC/107.3, Toledo; Host of FOX 36 Toledo KID'S CLUB, where she was honored by the FOX Television Network with the MONUMENT AWARD as #1 Kid's Club Host in America; Weathercaster, WNWO/NBC-24, Toledo; Producer/Reporter, WWJ Radio, Detroit. Until recently Kelia was an on-air personality for Radio One Detroit but now she is focusing on the future of internet radio with the launch of kkarson.com. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2003.
Heather Kozlakowski, Radio Instructor | email
Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Mass Communication degree at Rochester College. Graduate of Specs Howard School. Graduate of Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle for Stand-up and Improv comedy. Currently a student at Redbud Productions for continued Meisner scene study. Past experience includes Mid-day Announcer and Production Assistant, WEEG, Saginaw, MI; Evening Announcer and PSA Director, WMJK/WMJA. Signed to several talent agencies as an actor and voiceover talent. Cast in several feature films including “Betty Anne Waters”, “Trap,” and “Corrupted Minds”. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2003.
Bob Palmateer, Radio Instructor | email
Bachelor of Arts, Michigan State University, graduate of Specs Howard School. Past experience includes on-air personality WONW, on-air and production director WBNO-WQCT, on-air, music director WABJ, on-air WPZA 1981 to 1989. Writer, editor and producer, WWJ-Newsradio 950, Detroit 2006-2008. Member of the Specs Howard staff since 1989.
Lyn Peraino, Radio Instructor | email
Graduate of Specs Howard School. Attended Henry Ford Community College, Lansing Community College. Past experience includes: Air personality WJML, Petoskey; Air personality, WIBM, WXIK, WBHR, Lansing; Air personality, WNOR, Norfolk VA; PSA Director/Afternoon drive personality, WKQZ, Saginaw; Production Director/Promotion Director/Afternoon drive air personality, WMMQ, Lansing; Television news production assistant/Certified Chyron operator/Audio technician, WLNS TV6, Lansing. Currently Program Director/on-air personality, WLNZ, Lansing; Host of “Strings and Things”, acoustic music radio show on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio; Voice-over talent/business owner since 1988. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2010.
Julia Belcher, Radio Instructor | email
Graduate of Rochester College, A.A., the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts and Siena Heights University, B.A. Past experience includes Program and Music Director for WMUZ as well as Air Talent and commercial production assistant for Detroit radio stations at CBS, Greater Media, Radio One and Clear Channel. Also a freelance voice over artist, and part-time reporter for Metro News Networks.
VIDEO & FILM FACULTY
Jeff McHale, Video/Film Department Supervisor |email
Bachelor of Science, Telecommunications & Film, Eastern Michigan University. Past experience includes ENG Camera Operator, Producer, Editor, Director, Floor Manager, for the City of Dearborn’s Government Access Station (5 Yrs); Freelance Videographer, Audio Engineer, Grip, for Comcast, FSN (Fox Sports Network), CBS Sports, and Future Worlds Media. Worked as Camera Operator, Grip for an Independent Film, (“Shadows on the Wall”) while working with Future Worlds Media. Owner/Operator, Sonic-FX Professional DJ Service. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2007.
Shaher Batroukh, Video/Film Instructor | email
Master of Arts in Education from Pepperdine University; Bachelor of Arts in Filmmaking, Western Washington University. Past experience includes 10 years in motion picture, commercial and television production in Los Angeles. Produced, directed, and edited various independent short films such as “Angel Riot” and “Fast Fiction.” Teaching experience includes three years at Manhattan Beach Middle School teaching art and television production. Apple Certified Pro, Final Cut Pro, level 1. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 1987. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2007.
Gary Bosek, Video/Film Instructor | email
A.A., Liberal Arts, Oakland Community College. Currently pursuing B.A. degree in Cinema Studies, Oakland University. Fifteen years video production experience includes four years producing an Award- Winning sketch comedy television show, ten completed short psycho-thriller films for his own sci-fi series titled, “The Other Universe,” with many more in pre-production. He produced and directed a full-length feature film titled “Harmless Thoughts” shot in the summer of ’08 and completed in 2009 with two more scripts in development, and is currently developing a short-online comedy series titled “Pointless Shorts,” in which he also stars. "The Police Report" won "Best Screenplay" in the 2006 Comcast/Independent Film Channel Contest. Gary has five years instructional experience at Clintondale High School in Clinton Township, where he produced countless short films and commercials with the students.
Dave Daniele, Video/Film Instructor | email
Associate of Arts in Music Performance, St. Petersburg Jr. College. Attended University of South Florida as a Composition Music Major. Past experience includes producing and directing for Omnicom Cable and Wayne Cable. Senior Producer at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, producing PBS programming, faculty research projects, staff development and student presentations. Recipient of many national awards, including the Top 100 Media Producer award in 1999 and winner of a University of Michigan Diversity Grant to produce a special CD featuring the musical talents of the staff, faculty and students of U of M. Nominee of over 20 Detroit Music Awards presented by the Motor City Music Foundation for musical production and performance. Final Cut Pro certificate. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2006.
Aaron Nowak, Video/Film Instructor | email
Graduate of Specs Howard School, recipient of Outstanding Achievement Award and Rossano Award. Past experience includes Digital Media Group at WDIV Local 4, complete post-production of 3 episodes of Lee Martin’s “The Midnight Hour” and freelance videographer/editor since 2005. Detroit Music Award winner with over 15 nominations for drum work with local rock band MindCandy; 2005 win for “Outstanding Rock Recording” for MindCandy’s “Recognize”; 2006 nomination for “Outstanding Video Low Budget” for MindCandy’s “Recognize”; 3 consecutive “Great Stuff Reader’s Choice Award” wins at the Detroit Music Awards for “Favorite Detroit Band” in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and “Favorite Detroit Album” for MindCandy’s “Revelations” in 2006. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2009.
Jose Perez, Video/Film Instructor | email
Attended Macomb County Community College and Rochester College. Graduate of Specs Howard School. Recipient of Specs Howard "VIDI" Award and Radio Presentation Award. Past experience includes Owner, International Training Videos; Assistant Director, Michigan Opera Theatre musical production; Director/Producer, "The People's Court" (52nd and 54th District Courts), "The 'Y' Generation," both for Birmingham Community Access. Attended Avid and Final Cut Pro certified classes at Media Power. Member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). Member of Specs Howard School staff since 1996.
Tony Sherock, Video/Film Instructor | email
Bachelor of Arts, University of Toledo, majoring in broadcasting. Graduate of Specs Howard School. Past experience includes Production Assistant, WTOL-TV, Toledo; Sports Reporter, Sports Talk Show Host, Play-by-play Announcer, WXUT; Announcer, WWWM; Camera Operator, Broadcast Services (including live broadcasts of University of Toledo football and basketball games); Sports Anchor and News Reporter, WLIO-TV. Currently doing freelance camera and voice over work in Toledo, OH area. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 1997.
Steve Strasz, Video/Film Instructor | email
Graduate of Specs Howard School. Past experience includes 14 years at Comcast Cable, serving as a Writer, Producer and Director for local programming; Department Supervisor for Ad Sales Production. Recipient, Innovative Cable Excellence Award for Government Public Affairs Series “Comcast Newsmakers,” seen on CNN Headline news, 1998. Nat’l Academy of Television Arts & Sciences MI Chapter Emmy nomination for “Michigan Mysteries: The Houdini File.” Telly Award finalist for local commercial advertisement, 2002. Thirteen years experience with non-linear editing software and graphics software. Freelance camera operator for Catholic Television Network Detroit. Wedding Videographer, 11-4 productions, 2008-09 seasons. Member of Specs Howard School staff since 2006.
