WDRB’S Marti Hazel Announces Retirement

Marti Hazel

Marti Hazel, longtime VP and director of sales at Block Communications’ Fox affiliate WDRB Louisville, Ky. (DMA 48), announced her retirement Monday.

She began at WDRB as an account executive in January 1989. Prior to her 30 years at WDRB, she worked for radio stations in Greensburg and then Campbellsville, Ky., beginning as a disc jockey at WGRK at the age of 16, while she was still in high school.

“This has been the toughest decision, by far, I have ever had to make,” Hazel said, “but after 45 years in broadcasting, I feel it’s time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life. Over the past 30 years, I have had the privilege of being a member of the team who took WDRB from the number four position in a four-station market to where it is today, the number one rated TV news station in Louisville, and even more importantly for me, the number one station in revenue.”

Bill Lamb, president-GM of WDRB, said: “Marti is the smartest and most effective director of sales I’ve ever worked with in my 40 years in broadcasting, but she has been more than that. She has always put the station(s) first, always been a selfless mentor, and a great ambassador for broadcasting.  She has been and remains a great friend too.”

Hazel added: “I’m extremely proud that my last full year with WDRB was spent as chairman of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association, serving with such a wonderful group of broadcasters, some of whom I’ve known for more than forty years.”

She cited spending more time with her new husband, Paul Baker, as one of the primary reasons for her decision.

One of the achievements of which Hazel said she is most proud is a series of what she calls “from the heart” TV ads, aimed at business owners about the power of television, specifically the power of WDRB. The spots, which have resulted in literally hundreds of calls and emails from potential advertisers, all conclude with, “If you knew what we know, you’d have called us already.”

“Maybe I’ll write a book, and that will be the title,” she said.

Her last day with WDRB will be Saturday, May 4.