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anthony "tony "renda |
Anthony Renda was born at home, 105 N 5th Street, in Indiana. Being born at home was a common practice in those days. What was memorable was that his father, who was to make his weekly trip to the Pittsburgh produce yards that day, stayed home. Smart man.
In the next 18 years, he attended St Bernard Grade School, Indiana High School ---no jointure then, and worked in the grocery store with his parents, John and Natalie, and his brothers Joe and Frank.
After graduating from high school in l954, Tony joined the Marine Corps. Paris Island, Camp Pendleton, California, and Yokosouka, Japan were his duty stations. Following his stint in the Marine Corps, Tony returned to Indiana and enrolled at Indiana State Teachers College. He then transferred to Syracuse University and enrolled in the School of Dramatic Arts with a major in Radio and Television.
Broadcasting had always been a dream for Tony. He had spent some time as an announcer on WDAD, but was more interested in the Sales and Management end of the business. His plan was to work for a broadcasting company, gain experience, and then buy his own radio station. Maybe WDAD ....maybe buy a house on North Sixth Street.
With his degree from Syracuse, Tony headed to Pittsburgh. Interviews at all of the TV stations and several radio stations got him an offer from WIIC-TV, channel 11 for a job as a sales trainee. Starting at $90 a week. "In six months, if you're still here, you will get a $10 raise." Really not a bad deal. In the Marine Corps his top pay was $115 A MONTH.
In eleven years Tony went from Sales Trainee to Salesman to #1 Salesman to Local Sales Manager to Assistant General Sales Manager to General Sales Manager. His success was driving away his dream of owning his own radio station.
Now married to Cathy Talerico, an English teacher who graduated from Indiana State College, they had two children, Natalie, John, and another on the way, Anthony (TR). Then disaster. A new General Manager at WIIC decided he needed his "own team." In a short time, all of the department heads were out. Tony was next to last to go.
What to do? With an offer of a job in New York and more money, Tony decided instead to chase his dream…buy a radio station He called the owner of WDAD, but it was not for sale. Wanting to stay in the Pittsburgh area, he purchased WIXZ in McKeesport, Pa. Then two stations in Punxsutawney/Brookville. For ten years the company owned stations in only those two markets. Then in 1984 he bought WISH 99.7 in Pittsburgh and the company began to grow. Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, Naples, Indiana and Greensburg. In 2012 Renda Broadcasting sold off the Oklahoma stations and now is the owner of 18 radio stations with 125 employees in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Through the years Tony has received a number of awards. The Western Pennsylvania Business of the Year Award, The Western Pennsylvania Entrepreneur Award in the Masters category, The Pittsburgh Radio -TV Club Radio Award. A Jimmy Stewart award and several others. He is also on the Wall of Fame in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he is on the Advisory Board.
Tony and Cathy live in Sewickley Pennsylvania. Natalie also resides in Sewickley with her husband Bill and their three children, Jack, Alex, and Catherine. John, is an attorney in Pittsburgh, TR lives in Naples, Florida and is General Manager of RBC’s four stations there.
In the next 18 years, he attended St Bernard Grade School, Indiana High School ---no jointure then, and worked in the grocery store with his parents, John and Natalie, and his brothers Joe and Frank.
After graduating from high school in l954, Tony joined the Marine Corps. Paris Island, Camp Pendleton, California, and Yokosouka, Japan were his duty stations. Following his stint in the Marine Corps, Tony returned to Indiana and enrolled at Indiana State Teachers College. He then transferred to Syracuse University and enrolled in the School of Dramatic Arts with a major in Radio and Television.
Broadcasting had always been a dream for Tony. He had spent some time as an announcer on WDAD, but was more interested in the Sales and Management end of the business. His plan was to work for a broadcasting company, gain experience, and then buy his own radio station. Maybe WDAD ....maybe buy a house on North Sixth Street.
With his degree from Syracuse, Tony headed to Pittsburgh. Interviews at all of the TV stations and several radio stations got him an offer from WIIC-TV, channel 11 for a job as a sales trainee. Starting at $90 a week. "In six months, if you're still here, you will get a $10 raise." Really not a bad deal. In the Marine Corps his top pay was $115 A MONTH.
In eleven years Tony went from Sales Trainee to Salesman to #1 Salesman to Local Sales Manager to Assistant General Sales Manager to General Sales Manager. His success was driving away his dream of owning his own radio station.
Now married to Cathy Talerico, an English teacher who graduated from Indiana State College, they had two children, Natalie, John, and another on the way, Anthony (TR). Then disaster. A new General Manager at WIIC decided he needed his "own team." In a short time, all of the department heads were out. Tony was next to last to go.
What to do? With an offer of a job in New York and more money, Tony decided instead to chase his dream…buy a radio station He called the owner of WDAD, but it was not for sale. Wanting to stay in the Pittsburgh area, he purchased WIXZ in McKeesport, Pa. Then two stations in Punxsutawney/Brookville. For ten years the company owned stations in only those two markets. Then in 1984 he bought WISH 99.7 in Pittsburgh and the company began to grow. Pittsburgh, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, Naples, Indiana and Greensburg. In 2012 Renda Broadcasting sold off the Oklahoma stations and now is the owner of 18 radio stations with 125 employees in Pennsylvania and Florida.
Through the years Tony has received a number of awards. The Western Pennsylvania Business of the Year Award, The Western Pennsylvania Entrepreneur Award in the Masters category, The Pittsburgh Radio -TV Club Radio Award. A Jimmy Stewart award and several others. He is also on the Wall of Fame in the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he is on the Advisory Board.
Tony and Cathy live in Sewickley Pennsylvania. Natalie also resides in Sewickley with her husband Bill and their three children, Jack, Alex, and Catherine. John, is an attorney in Pittsburgh, TR lives in Naples, Florida and is General Manager of RBC’s four stations there.
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