Jim Senst
Jim Senst has worked in radio broadcasting for over 35-years with the majority of his time in Montana. Jim and his wife Jean reside in Great Falls.
Jim a Montana native began his radio career in Great Falls in 1977 at a standalone FM radio station. He then worked for a daytime AM station in Colville Washington and the pull of Montana lured him back to Great Falls where he worked for a public relations firm.
In 1980 he was recruited by Dan Snyder to work at KCAP AM & FM in Helena as an Account Executive. Jim spent 8 years in Helena working for his mentor Dan Snyder and while there the FM station power was increased from 3,000 watts to 100,000 watts and became a regional powerhouse. He was promoted to Sales Manager and then Station Manager in 1986.
Jim was then recruited to become the General Manager of KMON AM and FM in Great Falls in 1988. The parent company which had been forced into receivership appointed Jim as Vice-president of the receivership and his primary responsibility was to maintain the radio stations and facilitate the sale of the properties. Jim and three partners submitted a purchase proposal however the stations were ultimately sold to STARadio Corp. Jim became one of ten shareholders in STARadio Corp within six months as well as being appointed Vice President.
Over the next 13 years at STARadio, Jim helped facilitate the purchase of KLFM FM in Great Falls, KCAP, KZMT and KHKR FM in Helena, KEYZ AM, KYYZ FM and KTHC in Williston North Dakota and Sidney Montana.
In 2001 STARadio Corp received an unsolicited offer to purchase their radio stations in Montana and North Dakota which was accepted. Jim stayed on with the new owners for six months and then was recruited by Fisher Communications out of Seattle Washington to manage its 5-station cluster in Wenatchee Washington.
While in Wenatchee Jim and a partner founded a monthly publication, The Good Life. Jim served as the director of sales and marketing. While he missed radio, he enjoyed the challenge of a new venture.
In 2009 while Jim was in Wenatchee, his former partner in STARadio Corp and Jim elected to search for radio stations to purchase in the North West. Several opportunities were explored and they settled on pursuing the purchase of the remaining Fisher Radio Regional Groups six radio stations in Great Falls. In June of 2011 STARadio Corp agreed to purchase the stations and finalized the purchase in October of the same year.
Jim graduated from Great Falls High School in 1972 and attended the University of Montana 1973 – 1974.
His professional instruction and community involvement include; Hansen Advertising Carroll College 1982, Radio Advertising Bureau Managing Sales Conferences, Leadership Helena, Combined Training Inc. 1988 Received Leadership Award, R.A.B. Great Radio Station Promoter 1986, Lewis & Clark County Sheriff’s Award for Service 1986.
He was the Charter President of the Great Falls Broadcasters Association, President of the Montana Broadcasters Association, and President of the Great Falls Advertising Federation. Member of; Chamber of Commerce, Military Affairs Committee, Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, United Way, Legislative Leadership Chairman, Conventions Visitor Bureau, and NCW Home Builder Association.
