Recently, Past President John Sullivan, introduced returning Rotarian Jim McKernan. Jim was inspired with what Rotary does to the community that upon his return he decided to become Paul Harris Fellow.Jim McKernan is Vice President and General Manager of WOWT-TV in Omaha, Nebraska. Jim is a longtime broadcaster with an extensive background in senior leadership positions. Jim was appointed Vice President and General Manager in Omaha after 10 years with Quincy Media where he served as a Regional Vice President while also managing KWWL-TV. McKernan oversaw 8 TV markets for Quincy in his regional management role. During his tenure at KWWL, McKernan and Quincy Media oversaw the multi million dollar renovation of the KWWL Building and broadcasting facilities utilizing federal and state historic tax credits in Waterloo, Iowa. The 105-year-old building is now a beautiful award-winning structure which has enhanced Waterloo’s downtown area. McKernan takes over in Omaha at a time when WOWT is also constructing a new 22M state of the art broadcasting facility at Blackstone Plaza in Omaha.
Jim McKernan with John Sullivan and President Sean Connolly
Prior to Quincy Media, McKernan was Regional Vice President for Bonten Media Group, overseeing several company stations while serving as General Manager for WCYB-TV. This was the second company in which McKernan worked for Randy Bongarten, a well-known and respected broadcast leader. Randy was the principal with Bonten Media. McKernan was also VP/GM of KMTV in Omaha for Emmis Communications when Bonten was Television Division President. McKernan was with Bongarten a total of 10 years in the two positions.
McKernan began his career as an Account Executive with WOW Radio in Omaha. McKernan was with Pappas Telecasting in Omaha for nearly a decade and was on the teams that built two television stations from the ground up – KPTM (FOX) and KXVO (CW). He also managed the Journal Broadcast Group’s 8 radio station cluster in Omaha. As Market Manager for Journal Broadcast Group, McKernan and his team brought Spanish language radio to Omaha and created both Star 104.5 and Channel 977 (now 941) all of which are on the air today – 20 years later.
During his career, McKernan has been active in industry and community work. He has served on boards with the NBC Affiliates Association, TVB/SAC, the CBS Sales Advisory Committee, the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, the Tennessee Broadcasters Association, the American Red Cross Omaha, the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, the Cedar Valley Alliance, the University of Northern Iowa Advisory Council, CASA, the Arthritis Foundation, the Cedar Valley United Way and has raised more than $1M in various fundraising programs to assist communities in need – particularly those hit with severe weather events. He is a graduate of the TVB/Harvard course for Television General Managers and attended Bellevue College. McKernan is a U.S. Air Force veteran. He is married to Amy (Roth) and has 4 children and 7 grandchildren.
