Ontario, CA – Lacey Kendall, a local radio host, producer and broadcaster, will deliver the Westwood College commencement address on May 21 at the Ontario Convention Center. Over 3,000 are expected to attend the ceremony honoring graduates of the Los Angeles, Torrance, Upland, and Anaheim campuses.
Kendall has an extensive background as a reporter, host, disc jockey, broadcaster, station general manager and college instructor in the Inland Empire and in Los Angeles. She is the weekly host of her own weekly program on KCAL FM as well as ‘My Awesome Empire,’ a locally syndicated radio show about innovative business and community leaders in the Inland Empire. The program is heard weekly on KVCR, KCAA, KMET, Coyote Radio and iTunes worldwide and produced entirely by Communication students at CSUSB.
In addition to her radio accomplishments, Kendall is the broadcast and media marketing consultant at Cal State San Bernardino where she manages Coyote Radio, the university radio station that is operated by students. She also counsels students on job opportunities and internships in the broadcast industry.
“We selected Lacey to deliver our commencement address because of her distinguished career in radio and her commitment to student success in the field of broadcasting,” said Eric McDanel, Director of Career Services at Westwood College. “Lacey believes in career focused education and her record of achievement is remarkable,” he said. Westwood College offers associates and bachelor’s degrees in business, graphic design, healthcare, criminal justice and technology.
Kendall is the current president of the American Advertising Federation-Inland Empire, the professional organization for the advertising industry in the Inland Empire. Each year the AAF host’s the American Advertising Awards, which recognize excellence in advertising, both for student work and professional ad campaigns throughout the United States. She was also credited with bringing the Inland Empire radio community back into the local chapter after an absence of many years.
Over the course of her career, Kendall has worked with companies such as NBC News Radio KCAA, KCAL FM, CNN, Voice Over L.A. Studios and national ad agencies such as Chiat Day; McCann-Erikson; Foote, Cone & Belding. She is the audio engineer for the Isla Earth Radio series, broadcast on 300 stations in the U.S., and is heard by over five million weekly listeners.
After attending San Bernardino Valley College, Kendall earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcasting at the University of La Verne. Later she returned to teach broadcasting and radio advertising and marketing at both schools. She earned a master’s degree in communications from CSUSB, graduating magna cum laude.
The graduation ceremony at the Ontario Convention Center will begin at 5pm on May 21.