WQSV Announces Ben Leonard As New General Manager
June 15, 2020 • STAUNTON, VA — Ben Leonard has been appointed the new General Manager of The Staunton Media Alliance, which operates Staunton’s first listener-powered community radio station 106.3 FM. Ben will succeed the station’s founder Tom DuMontier, who is leaving Staunton after more than 18 years to pursue a Masters of Divinity at The University Of The South in Sewanee, TN.
Ben’s relationship with WQSV began in February of 2018, as the host of the Astral Traveling show on Tuesday nights. Born and raised in Staunton, he cut his teeth in radio at WXJM in Harrisonburg before receiving his BA in Film Scoring from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Ben’s musical insights expanded from his years as an electric bass player in Latin music ensembles, jazz combos, various rock and metal bands, and stints in the orchestra pit of the Heritage Repertory Theatre in Charlottesville. He has been working in the live events industry for the past ten years and his experiences with artists, venues, and festivals have underscored his belief in radio’s importance to connect people, businesses, and events. In his spare moments Ben can be found fueling his obsession with synthesizers and electronics. He lives in the Parkview neighborhood of Staunton with his wife, Heather, and their son.
Ben joins the station at an exciting time in its fourth year of broadcasting, along with new board members Deena Warner, Tony Davenport, and Melissa Terry. “We thank Tom for his enthusiasm, leadership and vision in bringing the realization of his dream to our city. We welcome Ben, whose commitment to our mission of fostering community through music, broadcast education and discovery, and his excellent skill set make him the ideal person to take WQSV forward.” said new Board President Theresa Hoffman.
