Meet Our Staff

Paul Baker

Director of Ministry Relations

Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?', 'I've Got a New Song', 'Contemporary Christian Music', 'Paul Baker's Topical Index of Contemporary Christian Music', More than 400 magazine articles (appearing in Billboard, Saturday Evening Post, Christian Herald, Charisma, and Bookstore Journal.) More than 100 songs.
National promotions director and assistant A&R director Myrrh Records, Managing Editor CCM Magazine, Founding editor of CCM Update, 43 years in broadcasting (33 years in Christian broadcasting.)Host and producer of the nation's FIRST syndicated Contemporary Christian Music radio program 'A Joyful Noise'.
Billboard Magazine's Air Personality of the Year(1971)
Married to Debbie since 1978, two children 22 and 26.
Travel - China, Indonesia, Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Africa, Guatamala, El Salvador.

Miko Crouch

Traffic Director

Miko has made her way from the chill of Ontario, Canada to Ann Arbor, Michigan and, finally, to the greatly preferred warmth of Houston, Texas. Brought to this great state through industry of medicine, Miko has since then broadened her skills to embrace radio announcing and voiceover work. Her studies with Chuck Tiller enabled her to become a part-time on-air host from September of 2006 at KKHT and fill-in host for both KKHT and KNTH stations. Since October of 2007, she has crossed over to the administrative side of radio as Traffic Director, and continues to provide services in voiceover work. Miko is the mother of Mason and wife to Donny, a Christian family focused on living well through a healthy diet, exercise, positive attitude, and surrounding oneself with positive influences, and always remembering to rock out on a regular basis.

Jim Darling

Operations Manager

Jim's radio career started in 1982, with KSBJ, Christian music radio in Houston, Texas. Jim has been with Salem and the Houston group of stations, KKHT, KNTH, and KTEK, since 1977. He started part time with KKHT, went full time with afternoon drive, worked overnight for several years, moved to daytime and Assistance Program Director and now the greatest challenge of his radio career, Operations Manager. Jim states, he is looking forward to great success with the outstanding staff we have onboard.

Ken Garza

Public Affairs Director

Ken's radio career started at KGOL, Lake Jackson in 1972. Weekend work soon turned into full-time, and the radio ride began. After working at five different radio stations, five different music formats, and a cable television station he landed a job at a rock and roll station in his hometown of Houston, Texas. 'It was a dream come true for me, a rock and roll deejay in the 70's, but I soon realized the rock and roll lifestyle wasn't the answer - in fact it became part of the problem. After a series of let downs and a sense of emptiness, I heard, then said yes to the Gospel, married the one that almost got away and have served the Lord ever since'. Over the years Ken has served in various ministries which include: marriage counseling, various homeless ministries, drug and alcohol rehabs as well as prison outreach. Ken is married to Marta and together they have three adult children and seven grandchildren. He serves as Public Affairs Director and is KKHT's afternoon voice Monday - Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. and hosts 'Drive Time Houston' at 4 p.m.   

Steven Gay

Chief Engineer

Graduate of Southwest Texas State University, he has worked in broadcasting for nearly 20 years. He has worked in 2 major markets, Houston and Washington DC. Before coming to work for Salem Communications, he was Chief Engineer for Noalmark Broadcasting overseeing 16 stations across Arkansas. He has also worked for the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets and built the Quachita Baptist Radio Network. He also built a broadcast studio inside US Senate building in Washington DC. He has 1 daughter and 1 grandson.

Carol Hamilton

Receptionist

Krystal Hardeman

Visual Sales Associate

Chuck Jewell

General Manager

I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa.  I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in radio & TV with a minor in economics from Drake University, Des Moines, IA 1972.  I have been in the radio business for over thirty years and a general manager for the last nineteen.  I managed WHO in Des Moines, KFAB in Omaha as well as stations in Binghamton, NY, Harrisburg, PA and Johnstown, PA. I am currently the General Manager of Salem's Houston cluster of stations and am married to wife Jane and have two children Chad (33) and Angela (30).

Lana Joseph

Air Staff

Marsha Lambeth

Air Staff

Marsha Lambeth earned a degree in Communications while working an internship and part time work at KILT, KRBE, and KSBJ from 1982-1984.  Marsha went full time with KTEK in 1984 as a weekday air personality and eventually was promoted to Program Director in 1989.  A position that she held for ten years until KTEK was bought by Salem Communications.  Salem brought Marsha over to their FM Christian Teaching and Talk station where she is still currently the mid-day host.  Marsha wears several hats for Salem.  In addition to Mid-Day duties on 100.7, The Word-KKHT, she is Assistant Production Director; Music Director for Salem’s Houston cluster; host of a fiction book club in conjunction with Borders books; and the host of the public affairs program, “Impact Houston” which airs on all three of Salem’s Houston stations…100.7, FM-KKHT, 1070, AM-KNTH and 1110 AM-KTEK.

Marla Mandrell

Account Executive

Marla Mandrell is new to the KKHT team and finds she loves it!  She just celebrated her two year anniversary with her loving husband, Joshua, and wants to say a big HELLO to her special Kennedy and her wonderful parents.  Marla is doing her first precept Bible study and cannot imagine studying The Word any other way!  She is happy to say that she finally committed to singing at her church and is now a part of their Praise Band.  Marla is a graduate of New York University’s TISCH School of the Arts, is an avid bird lover and wants to praise God for the rich blessings in her life.

Brian Runge

Account Executive

Susan Simon

General Sales Manager

Chuck Tiller

Program Director

A native Houstonian, Chuck has been on the air in Houston for over 33 years. Chuck’s career began at KTLW, Texas City-Houston in 1972. His travels in radio have taken him to KIOX Bay City, KIKR Conroe, and KIKN Corpus Christi, returning to Houston in 1975 to do the morning show and handle program director duties at KTLW.

He was at KILT for 15 years between 1984 and 1997 and 2001-2002. During that time, he had the number one overnight show in the city, as well as the first producer of very successful “Hudson & Harrigan Show” on KILT. In addition, his career on the air has included some of Houston’s most popular stations - KIKK, KRBE, KNUZ, KKHT and KHJZ.

In December 2004, he assisted in the launch of Newstalk 1070 KNTH as the morning announcer/host and producer of Bill Bennett’s Morning In America, in addition to becoming program director for KNTH and KKHT stations.

Scott VanPelt

Business Manager

Scott began his career with KKHT as an intern while working on his degree from Houston Baptist University.  Moving to part-time work as the overnight weekend board operator, he soon moved to full-time in 1997.  He has worked as Assistant Program Director & Production Director before moving to the business office as the Traffic Director.  He became the Business Manager in 2007.