Specs Howard Broadcast School To Close Southfield Location

The Specs Howard School of Media Arts has been around for 51 years, and their Southfield location has been a place where thousands of talented people would go on to pursue their radio or broadcasting careers. Now, Freep is reporting that over 40 instructors and staff will be losing their jobs, after Specs Howard merges with what has been said to be "another highly regarded school." The good news is that Specs the brand, the institution, will continue according to Alisa Zee, who has been a broadcaster and staff member of Specs for some time.

It was around this time ten years ago that I found myself to be completely lost. It had been 4 years since my best friend passed away, yet I kept putting myself in positions of complete failure. I was making very self sabotaging decisions for my life and I hit a brick wall. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. Then an add came on the radio for Specs Howard and my mind was totally blown. I never really considered that people got paid to do radio for a living.

I've always been a natural talker, and from the moment I got in the School in 2011, I knew I had found my calling. Most importantly, I knew it would take time and patience to get into a career that is more of a lifestyle than anything else. 10 years later and I can say I'm finally at a place where I saw myself back then. It was absolutely worth the patience, the grinding, the sleepless nights, working 3 jobs. I'm living in Kalamazoo and living my dream. I get to wake up everyday and entertain and express myself through many different avenues.

A Thank You To Those Who Made A Difference

I was so lucky to come to Specs at a time where we had the dream team of instructors: Bob Palmateer, Tony Sherock, Dick Kernen (RIP), Jim Bell, Steve Strasz, Heather Kozlakowski, Jennifer Michaels, Kelia Karson, Eric Braun. These people each shaped me to be the personality and worker I am in this industry and each pushed me to be better than I ever was before, whether they knew it or not.

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Hearing that radio advertisement was a serious blessing and something I needed, otherwise I may have never discovered how amazing working in radio is. People will tell you it's a dying industry. People have been saying that for years. Radio is an evolving industry, and with that evolution you either change with the times or you grow bitter about the glory days about how radio used to be. But that wasn't my time. My time is now and I'm taking full advantage of all the opportunities I can.

Losing the Specs Howard Southfield location is the end of a long 51 year story, but the beginning of a new chapter, which I hope will continue to bring in young, hungry talent to keep this industry strong and bring further help and support to the local communities that keep radio important. Thank you to all Specs Howard staff, classmates and graduates past and present.