HISTORY AND MISSION STATEMENT OF KQKI KQKI has come from the newest and most amateur operation in St. Mary Parish to the local radio station with the finest, most professional and most community oriented staff in the parish. KQKI has an air staff with over 70 years experience, a News Director with over 12 years experience, a sales staff with 30 years of radio experience, and an OWNER with 35 plus years of radio experience, KQKI also has a Radio Marketing Master on staff. On December 31, 1976 When KQKI signed on the air we began operating as a little 3,000 watt Class "A" Radio Station. In 1990 the FCC informed KQKI that it was eligible to increase power to 16,500 watts with a 420 foot tower, As a Class "C-3" Radio Station. On September 29, 1995, We finally realized our dream and began operating with our new transmitter and tower. We have developed from a radio station with little credibility into the station that listeners tune to when the need information KQKI was the first station back on the air after Hurricane Andrew, and during the first week we were the information point for the parish. We ate and slept at the station for the first few days, and with the help of the Air National Guard were able to keep area residents in St. Mary, Assumption and St. Martin Parishes informed about shelters, food, ice, fuel and emergency services on a 24 hour basis. Our radio station has one of the best group of employees that can be found in a small market radio in this country. Many of KQKI's former employees have become successful as managers, salespeople, and on air personalities. According to one former employee, who is the manager of a large market station; "If you want to learn radio, KQKI is the place you will learn it." Each person who has been employed by KQKI, has been hired for his ability or for his perceived potential. There are approximately 42,000 people in St. Mary Parish over the age of 12.