Lawyer-turned-Internet radio host loves new gig
Al Weissman was a lawyer for about 25 years, handling real estate and other cases. He never expected to be an entertainer.
When he retired in 2003, he planned to travel all over the country in an RV with his wife, Delores Weissman. But after visiting a niece in Antioch for two months, they decided to move there instead of traveling around. That's when Delores suggested Al start a new career on the radio, since their son was already on a station at the College of Lake County. Al got started at WRLR 98.3 FM in Round Lake. He's been on the air for about six years.
"It's amazing the number of people who listen to your voice and when you realize that, you really have to get our courage up," he said about himself and his wife, Delores, the co-host.
With that experience, he and his wife started their own 24/7 Internet radio station called WORD: World Of Rock Destination at www.wordurock.com. It had its formal grand opening last week. The new station originates in the back bedroom of the Weissman home on Victoria Street in Antioch and features music from the 1960s to now.
It also can be found on Comcast Channel 17 in 53 towns in Lake and McHenry counties, plus in West Chicago, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays. It also rebroadcasts in West Chicago from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
They've had some notable program hosts, including Thomas Doody, the lead singer of the Chicago-based 1960s rock group The Cryan' Shames, Ted Aliotta, one of the Aliotta brothers from Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, famous for the song "Lake Shore Drive," and others. The hosts prerecord their programs and send them to Weissman via email, he said.
Al and Delores Weissman also appear on "In a Nutshell with Al Weissman" that also features musical guests. His show also continues to run on WRLR 98.3 FM.
"I love it," Al said. "I've never had so much fun in my life."
Dems in DuPage
Deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, gubernatorial candidates Chris Kennedy and Ameya Pawar, Poland's Secretary of Solidarity Ewa Zydorek, and others are expected to attend the Democratic Party of DuPage County's annual gala on April 23 at Carlisle Banquets in Lombard.
NFL star hypes Field
Former Pro Bowl NFL quarterback and Super Bowl Champion Jay Schroeder has become a spokesman for Warrenville-based Sports Field Holdings Inc. and will promote the company's artificial turf for college and university playing fields. Schroeder was a third-round pick in the 1984 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins. During the 1986 season, he passed for more than 4,000 yards on his way to the Pro Bowl. In 1987, he led the Redskins to a Super Bowl championship. He retired in 1994. He said he wanted to stay involved in sports and athletics and Sports Field's FirstForm brand provided that opportunity.
FastTracks
•David Navarro, president of Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group in Oak Brook, has returned from the Commonwealth Financial Network Chairman's Retreat conference in Georgia. Also Jae Ha, a financial planner at Chicago Oakbrook Financial Group, has achieved the Commonwealth Financial Network's Vista Club status for 2017.
•Dave Czajkowski marks his anniversary as owner/manager of Snap Fitness in Palatine.
•Melissa Rigoni, Laura Reilly, Stacy Johnson, and Elizabeth Bryant, brokers with Century 21 Kreuser & Seiler in Libertyville, were recently recognized as certified staging consultants by the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors. Stagers are like interior decorators and help to arrange the interior of a home just as it goes on the market for sale. This certification is held by about 900 brokers in Illinois.
•Event and destination service planner Diane Brisk of Elmhurst will lead Milwaukee-based Underwood Events's event planning and destination management efforts in the Chicago market.
•Rick Gordon is the new senior associate and a director of the National Land Group at Oakbrook Terrace-based Marcus & Millichap, a commercial real estate investment services firm.
•Lawyer Shawn McKenna has been appointed to St. Mary's Services board of trustees in Arlington
Heights.
•Mike Polacek is the new president of Intelligent Audio at Knowles Corp., a provider of advanced micro-acoustic, audio processing and other devices in Itasca.
•There's more to business than just the bottom line. We want to tell you about the people who make business work. Send news about people in business to akukec@dailyherald.com. Follow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter.