Stay Tuned with Mary Beth Zolik

7/21/2008
Zolik
Zolik

You have heard their voices on radio and seen their faces on TV. Now The Blade goes behind the scenes to introduce you to your favorite media personalities. Stay Tuned appears the third Monday of every month.

First salary: My first radio job was doing an internship at WJR in Detroit. So my salary was somewhere between pittance and paltry. I remember I wanted to make $30,000 by the time I was 30. That was my first career lesson in learning to lower my expectations.

My idol: My 89 year-old father. Each day he looks more and more like the Travelocity gnome. But he is still a shining example of self-sufficiency, determination, and great humor. And if he ever figures out how to use a computer he wants to go to law school.

Most embarrassing radio moment: When I lived in Lansing, I did the weekend radio news leading into Michigan State University sports broadcasts. One busy Saturday, my brain transposed a few letters of the alphabet and I proudly pronounced: I m Mary Beth Zolik, WJIM news and now welcome to another afternoon of Michigan State Fartan Spootball! (To this day, it still sounds right to me.)

Highlight of my career: Being named Mother of the Year by the generous people at Mom s House of Toledo. Mom s House is a great organization that helps young, single moms continue their education and work toward high school diplomas and college degrees. I was also very honored to be inducted into the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame several years ago along with my former partner, Jack Mitchell.

My favorite thing outside of work: Walking and reading. Not at the same time. If I can walk 2 to 3 miles a day, I feel great. And no matter how hectic my day gets, I can always visualize my self being snug in my bed at night with a good book. I always have a small stack on the nightstand. I recommend Water For Elephants and Barbara Walters autobiography Audition as my most recent faves.

Toledo s best kept secret: The waterfront! Will somebody with clout and cash please recognize what a tremendous asset we have in waterfront property downtown. My favorite place downtown to watch the setting sun is from the restaurants at the Docks. My husband has even repeated my absurd logic while sitting there: If you didn t know where you were would you think you were somewhere else?

People would be surprised to know that I: Never miss a Detroit Pistons basketball game on TV. That s just sick, but I have loved basketball since making the team at Immaculata High School in Detroit.

In five years, I see myself: Hopefully in the midst of a long-term contract with my new radio partner, Rick Woodell. In five years, his son may be in med school and I will have two children in college and one in high school. Yikes! That is a sobering thought!

My dream job is: Are ya kidding? I am living the dream!