My Wenatchee

My Wenatchee

This is Connor. I remember seeing the Wenatchee Valley the morning after a Prince concert at the Gorge in September 1997. Instead of driving back to Seattle after the show - I booked a room at Nendel’s Four Seasons Inn in East Wenatchee.

The sun was out when I woke up the following day to walk to my car in the parking lot.

I remember seeing the houses across the Columbia River - and the view of Saddle Rock and the beautiful foothills. 

I didn’t think this place would become my home.

My radio jobs allowed me to work and live in Seattle, Spokane - and then return to Seattle. I then went off into the unknown to work in Long Island & New York City - I was on the air in NYC only hours before the horrid events at the World Trade Center. 

I spent 5 years in Cleveland, Ohio, before coming to the Wenatchee Valley. I admit that I thought my stay here would be short - a springboard to return to Seattle or Portland. 

Then something happened. 

I met the woman who would become my wife. It was then that my attachment to this area - took root. 

I learned how to grill. 

I learned how to run up and down gnarly terrain in our spectacular hills. 

I learned as I listened to you - the passionate radio audience - through many conversations, both in person and via messages and emails:

I learned what you wanted and expected. 

Listening and humbly adapting and changing would allow me to experience longevity in the Wenatchee Valley. 

Something also happened to me - I developed a growing love for hockey.

I never thought or even dreamt of being a public address announcer for the Wenatchee Wild or any team here in the Valley. When Uncle Ernie passed away, and with the surprise arrival of the Western Hockey League - I threw my name into the hat to continue Ernie’s legacy of turning up the thermostat at the Town Toyota Center - the Wolves Den.

Ernie’s energy stoked the flames of the Wenatchee Wild faithful. It gave our “Wild Boys” a considerable home-ice advantage.

In the past year or so - I’ve been dialing it in and learning how to inject excitement into a microphone. It's wonderful to hear you respond in full volume.

This is my way of giving back to you. The community that I love.