Debra Anderson

I was an on-air personality in Chicago for WJPC 106.3fm. The format was hits and oldies. I was the "All Woman" sultry, sexy, and professional. I recorded commercials for advertisers. For the past 20 years, I have served as mistress of ceremonies at the reviewing stand for the annual Chicago Defender Newspaper Charities Bud Billiken Parade. I am brought back each year because of my recognizable voice. About 10 years ago, I served as narrator for motivational video. I have done several commercials while working as an independent consulting and on staff at radio stations. I majored in Broadcasting and Journalism at Columbia College. During my TV Directing class, the instructor always requested that I do the talent portion, when I was not directing. He said I was a natural and should pursue a career in public speaking. I have also taken several public speaking and announcing classes. My career as an on-air personality also provided me with extensive experience by doing voice over work for commercials. Of course, my tenure as Mistress of Ceremonies for the Bud Billiken Parade helped tremendously. Most of my career has been in sales, which calls for presentations to one person or hundreds of people. It was important to appeal to the audiences' emotions using my voice. My career in television, radio, and print allows me to understand the importance of voiceover work. I have also studied marketing and taken other courses that allowed me to use my talent as a voice specialist. While working as an Administrative Assistant for Amoco Chemical Company, clients would always say, Debra, you should be on radio. I took their advice and got a job 12m-6a on weekends at WJPC-106.3FM in Chicago. By the time Johnson Publishing sold the station (less than 18 months), I had been promoted twice--Sat/Sun 7p-12m, then Sat/Sun 10a-3p. Additionally, I achieved the some of highest ratings/shares in WJPC's history, outdelivering the #1 station in Chicago, especially in key women demos.