The best MIX of music, with Big Poppa in the Morning!
Big Poppa in the Morning
Weekdays, 6 am – 10 am
Middays w/ Brett
Weekdays 10AM-3PM
WUMX-FM
Utica, NY
102.5 FM
The Best Mix From The 90’s To Now!
Website: http://mix1025.com
Studio Phone: 315.721.0102
General Email: mixpd@galaxymediapartners.com
Reach your customer base, increase loyalty, and do more business with targeted advertising & events.
Brian Badger is our Events Operations Manager, as well as the Operations Manager for the Syracuse Nationals. He joined the Galaxy family after spending decades in the world of live events. Badger (no one around here calls him by his first name!) has done everything from serving as the stage manager for 98 degrees and Ben Platt to working as a set carpenter for Shinedown and Big Time Rush. In the unpredictable world of live events, there’s very little that he hasn’t seen or experienced, especially after spending years out on national tours. We’re all thankful for his cool, calm, and collected attitude and willingness to take on any job, no matter how big or small.
Now the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at?
Organizing
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star-struck?
Michael Jordan
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made?
Definitely the streaming box I use to watch all my football games (Go Niners!)
4.) What could the world use more of?
People who want to make a positive difference.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you?
I have an irrational fear of artichokes.
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be:
Most likely to spill something on their shirt.
Now the fun stuff!
Tricia Thornhill comes to Galaxy with a decade’s worth of sales experience. “Sales is truly a passion of mine,” she says. She brings enthusiasm and a genuine interest in helping small businesses thrive. Though she loves what she does, being a mom to her three kids is Tricia’s life’s greatest work. She has a degree in criminal justice and works out of our Syracuse office.
Brandon is Galaxy Media’s Digital Marketing Director. He’s a Utica local with extensive media experience. Before joining our team, he worked for The Utica Observer-Dispatch, USA Today, and Townsquare Media. He even spent time working for the Department of Homeland Security. When he’s not at work, you can find Brandon fishing, playing sports, and enjoying time with his family.
Q. What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at?
A. Cooking!
Q. What celebrity encounter would leave you star-struck?
A. Robert Downey Jr or Denzel Washington
Q. What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made?
A. Upgraded my wall phone chargers to usb-c (charges my phone 4 times as fast)
Q. What could the world use more of?
A. Good People
Q. What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you?
A. I’m a huge sport card and Funko pop collector. Oh, and I’m the Galaxy Fantasy Football Champ.
Q. The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be:
A. Life of the party
Aimee joined our team in 2021 as the Director of Digital Sales. She’s a Syracuse native and was born and raised in Liverpool, NY. She graduated from UAlbany in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in journalism. Aimee is a craft beer enthusiast (according to untapped she’s tried 644 different beers) and a cat mom to Luna and Riley. She boasts an extensive vinyl record collection, ranging from Frank Sinatra to Lil Peep.
Q. What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at?
A. Flexibility/adaptability, being open to change
Q. What celebrity encounter would leave you star-struck?
A. Demi Lovato. I actually did meet her back in 2014 and I was so nervous I asked if it was okay if I stood next to her when we took a picture… she laughed when I asked that but she was super nice. At least I get to say I made demi Lovato laugh
Q. What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made?
A. A pet camera so I can see what my babies are up to when I’m not home.
Q. What could the world use more of?
A. Acceptance & Compassion
Q. What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you?
A. I am unbeatable in Mario Kart. I even have a tattoo of Koopa Troopa drinking a beer on my ankle
Q. The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be:
A. Most accident prone or tallest
As our Chief Revenue Officer, Nick’s the go-to guy when it comes to helping clients get their message heard. He creates highly customized packages to help businesses reach their ideal audience. If you need a killer marketing idea, Nick’s more than ready to come up with something unforgettable. His high-energy personality (you never have trouble figuring out where Nick is in the office at any given moment) and passion for what he does has earned him some serious hardware during his time with us. He’s been named Employee of the Month, Employee of the Year, and Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year. Want to brainstorm about how to get your business’s message heard? He’s your guy. Email him at NMaine@GalaxyMediaCompany.com.
Now the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Fixing things and managing money.
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star struck? Troy Aikman
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? Instant Pot (haha – that thing is amazing!)
4.) What could the world use more of? Focus on what helps the collective and less selfish thinking.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? I was in a fraternity. (Actually was President)
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: Most likely to succeed
If you love listening to all things Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith, Alex Conn is the guy behind your favorite station. As Brand Manager of TK99, Alex is responsible for curating TK99’s classic rock selection, crafting creative station promotions that our listeners love, and putting together the fun audio bits that keep you laughing at work. Alex has been with us since he was an intern with The Gomez and Lisa Morning Show and has held many different roles since then. He’s worked nights, run the audio board that powers the station, and worked in our production department. Now he’s taken the TK99 reins and takes great pride in the fact that the entirety of his radio career has happened in one place. We love that we’ve been able to retain talent like Alex as his career has developed. Besides loving classic rock, Alex is a major foodie. If there are fire and smoke involved, he’s happy, and he loves making meals from scratch. In fact, if he wasn’t in this job, you could probably find him working as a chef at a barbeque joint. If you need tips on making the perfect steak in a cast iron pan or want some music trivia that’ll impress your friends, he’s your guy. Email him at AConn@GalaxyMediaCompany.com.
Now the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Other than cooking… I can make an abnormally loud and fast bubble gum pop. Skill? Maybe not so much haha.
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star struck? No doubt about it – Ken Griffey Jr. THE KID! Best ballplayer ever!
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? Cast Iron Pan… You’ve never had steak if it wasn’t done in a cast iron.
4.) What could the world use more of? Bill Murray movies. I am convinced there will never be enough.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? I am a huge fan of heavy music. I love all kinds of music but grew up in my teenage years listening to heavy metal and punk bands – still love it today!
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: I won the “Best Smile” award… but I WOULD have won best hair when it was over a foot long!
Lauren Corriher is our Senior Digital Content Specialist. Basically, if you’ve got an idea you’d like to bring to life and don’t quite have the words to explain it, she can help with that. She’s been published in the American Airlines in-flight magazine, U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, The Post-Standard, and has work coming out soon in Conde Nast Traveler. Ask the people in her life how they’d describe her, and they’d tell you she’s a good listener, empathetic, and has absolutely no sense of direction.
Now for the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Empathy.
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star-struck? Elin Hilderbrand. She’s my favorite author. I read everything she writes!
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? A reusable stainless steel water bottle. I drink a lot more water now that I have it, plus it’s so much better for the environment than plastic bottles.
4.) What could the world use more of? Selflessness. It’s so easy to think about “What do *I* want?” or “What do *I* need?” but the world would be a much better place if we could set our own needs, wants, and perspectives aside for a minute and think about what others might be going through.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? I’m an extroverted introvert, but some people are surprised to find out that I’m not just an extrovert. I’m quiet at first, but then get chatty when I’m comfortable. Being in a large group for a while drains me and I have to watch TV or read to recharge my batteries.
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: I was this close to winning Most Likely to Be Famous, but I lost by one vote. (I was on the yearbook committee, so I know this to be true). The best part is I didn’t vote for myself because I thought it was in poor taste. Lessons were learned that day…
Mention the name “Big Poppa” in the Mohawk Valley and everyone knows who you’re talking about. For two decades, residents have looked forward to hearing Gary “Big Poppa” Spears tell them what’s new both around town and with their favorite celebrities, leading many to feel like they know him personally. Gary is the Brand Manager and afternoon drive personality for Mix 102.5. His bold on-air presence, passion for connecting with listeners, and seemingly endless fountain of energy make coming to work each day fun. Big Poppa’s interviews have appeared on national sites like TMZ, and he’s used his presence in the community to put on events that raise funds for meaningful charities. Whether you want to talk about the new Justin Bieber song or ask him what’s going on in Utica this weekend that you need to know about, he’s your guy. E-mail him at GSpears@GalaxyMediaCompany.com.
Now for the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? I can make a mean grilled cheese, I can wiggle my ears, random useless knowledge
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star struck? Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, or Ed Sheeran
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? Portable fan, I use it when I DJ events, it’s a life saver
4.) What could the world use more of? People looking at life through others’ point of view.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? During college, I worked as a singer in a theme park in Cincinnati Ohio
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: Most likely to be recognized by their laugh
The running joke around the Galaxy office is that we need to install a deli number machine outside of Chief Operating Officer Carrie Wojtaszek’s office, as there’s always a steady stream of people looking to meet with her. “My door is always open, and I wouldn’t have it any other way!” she laughs. Carrie loves creative collaboration and truly does a little bit of everything here at Galaxy. One day she’s out measuring vendor spaces for an upcoming event, and the next she’s in a meeting putting together a comprehensive plan for a client that involves radio, digital, and sports marketing elements.
Though she’s passionate about all aspects of our business, our Taste of Syracuse festival is definitely Carrie’s baby. Successfully executing the festival each year is one of her favorite career highlights year after year. It makes sense because Carrie spent the majority of her ten-year career with Galaxy in our events division. She started as Event Sales Manager, then moved into the General Manager Role. In October, she was promoted to COO. You can try to get her to tell you who’s headlining next year’s Taste of Syracuse festival by emailing her at Carrie@GalaxyMediaPartners.com.
Now for the fun stuff:
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Multitasking. The key to getting everything accomplished in my day is a handwritten list! There’s something about checking things off a list that is VERY rewarding!
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star-struck? I once met John Voight in an airport. I’m not usually star struck, but I was with him. I love the show Ray Donovan and had a hard time thinking of him as anyone else besides Mickey Donovan! He was really kind and friendly- I spoke to him for about an hour and never told him that I knew who he was.
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? My sunglasses… a wise woman once told me that if I invested in a good pair of sunglasses, I would stop losing them!
4.) What could the world use more of? Small acts of kindness
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? I’m also a small business owner and entrepreneur on the side. My husband and I own a local self-storage facility.
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: I won best eyes!
Marissa Greenlar has one of the coolest “full circle” stories you’ll find at Galaxy. As KROCK’s Brand Manager & the Chief Content Officer, she gets to oversee a station she grew up listening to every day. The power of this really sank in for Marissa at the annual KRockathon summer concert a few years back. Attending the show with her dad was a summer ritual for Marissa, but this time, she was backstage running the concert. The moment happened because of Marissa’s incredible willingness to put in the work, even when the job is far outside her specified job description. Her creativity yields innovative content on both the programming and client sides of the equation. If you’re in need of a clever idea or a logo, she’s the person whose brain you need to borrow. She joined us as a recent college graduate in 2008, and we’ve all benefitted from her hard work and commitment to Galaxy ever since.
Now for the fun stuff:
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Eating – I am a serious foodie & I love to check out new restaurants!
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star struck? If you ask around the office, they’ll tell you I was pretty star struck when Taylor Hanson showed up in our parking lot, but I would be equally as shook if Justin Timberlake showed up unannounced.
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? A hammock chair for my backyard. So relaxing!
4.) What could the world use more of? I would stand behind a movement increasing the number of naps taken.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? I won a limo trip to Rochester to see New Found Glory when I turned 16, courtesy of KROCK!
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: High school is a distant memory I’d like to forget.
No matter your allegiance, sports fans have Paulie Scibilia to thank for keeping their favorite sports programming on the air here at Galaxy. Sorry, he can’t do much about your team’s record. As the Operations Manager for ESPN Syracuse & Utica, Paulie is in charge of all of the sports talk and play-by-play programming you love to listen to and debate along with during your work day. He’s also the engineer for the Syracuse football and basketball broadcasts, in partnership with the Syracuse Learfield/IMG radio network. That means if you watch the games on TV, you’ll often see him courtside. It’s like a fun, local game of Where’s Waldo? Feel free to ask him what Coach Boeheim is really saying to the players, he’s pscibilia@galaxymediapartners.com.
Now for the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? (Ex: parallel parking, carrying all the groceries in one trip, etc.)
Waking up. I understand the struggle but my intestinal fortitude and strong mind allow me to get out of bed daily.
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you starstruck?
Danny Elfman. If you don’t know who he is, open another window and use the Google.
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made?
MLB.TV you mean I can watch every baseball game anywhere for $99.99? Yes Please!
4.) What could the world use more of?
Me.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you?
I still watch the TV show Different Strokes. I own every episode on DVD. When I need a pick me up. I turn to the Drummond family.
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be:
Mutt & Jeff or Class Clown
Brittney Christie is the Sales Manager for Galaxy Events, meaning she’s one of the people that brings our ever-popular signature events to life. Whether you love Taste of Syracuse, our Wine and Chocolate Festivals, Lights on the Lake, or others, Brittney is one of the people to thank. She finds creative ways to incorporate local businesses into these events in a way that makes sense for both business owner and attendee. Her outgoing, what’s-not-to-love nature make her a hit with clients, who view her as both a friend and a trusted marketing resource. Outside of work, she’s a devoted wife and is a mom to Emma and Parker.
Now for the fun stuff!
1.) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Multitasking. Wife, employee, driving while putting on makeup, and talking on the phone
2.) What celebrity encounter would leave you star struck? Jason Momoa
3.) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? Blow dryer that was also a brush
4.) What could the world use more of? Less selfish people. In my opinion, people have become very consumed with themselves and their needs that they forget that not every person can afford to be “happy” like they are. So as individuals we need to take more time out to help those who struggle to help themselves. Instead of standing by and pointing and laughing and making up your own story, why not stop to ask that person their story and help them out. You NEVER know what is truly going on in someone else’s life.
5.) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? I delivered my son Parker all by myself, no nurses, and no doctors. I am Super Woman!
6.) The senior superlative you would have won in high school would be: Life of the Party
President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Levine is our fearless leader and the founder of Galaxy Media. One of the rare owner/operators who came up through the programming side of the business, Ed is passionate about merging quality, local programming with community-focused events to provide real value to listeners in our communities. The variety in his job is what he loves, explaining that he goes from talking with brand managers about music to planning events in other cities to giving Coach Boeheim advice about the zone. We’re pretty sure he’s kidding about that last part, though the two are actually friends. Like any great baseball manager (he’s a die-hard Yankees fan) Ed loves fostering young talent and helping these professionals to grow into impactful leaders within the organization. His passion for local radio and events is evident within the first few minutes of meeting Ed and will leave you hoping that you have a career you love just as much as he loves his.
Now for the fun stuff….
1) What’s an everyday skill you’re really good at? Knowing just how fast I can drive on the New York State Thruway without getting a speeding ticket. The only tickets I get are when I ignore my own advice.
2) What celebrity encounter would leave you star struck? The one person I haven’t met, but have always wanted to was Bob Dylan. I’m not sure I would know what to say.
3) What’s the best purchase under $100 you’ve ever made? I do a lot of walking for exercise and I couldn’t do it without a good headset.
4) What could the world use more of? Laughter
5) What’s one thing someone might be surprised to learn about you? In my 6th-grade autograph book, I said I’d become an astronomer. Maybe subliminally that’s why I named the company Galaxy.
6) The senior superlative you’d have won in high school would be: Most Optimistic.