Building a Dream, Serving the Community

Building a Dream, Serving the Community

When Laura and Steve purchased KDOM Radio in November 2020, they were fulfilling a long-held dream. Steve, whose passion for radio spans over 40 years, always aspired to own a station. The journey began in 2017 when Steve and Laura, along with their partners, purchased KDOM in Windom and KBEW in Blue Earth. Their partners owned a station that Steve managed, in Pierre, South Dakota, and provided the couple an opportunity to partner in radio ownership.  In 2020 the opportunity of full ownership of KDOM was presented and Steve and Laura decided to take the chance and make the station their own.

“It was always Steve’s dream to own a radio station,” Laura shared. Both she and Steve attended college and earned telecommunications degrees, starting their careers at competing radio stations. Radio has always been a staple in their lives. At this time, their past experiences of on-air, sales, programming, engineering, news, and everything else and in-between allows them to run every aspect of the station.

A Community-Focused Station

KDOM Radio serves as a trusted voice in Southwest Minnesota, with their listening area covering eight counties. KDOM’s presence includes 1580 AM, 103.1 FM, and Hot Country 94.3 FM. They are affiliates of Minnesota News, The Brownfield Network, Your Ag Network, Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Gophers Sports Networks, and ABC News, ensuring listeners stay informed with news, weather updates through Weather Eye, and extensive sports coverage.

“We are a very community-minded station,” Laura emphasized. “We try to participate in area celebrations and parades, serve on local boards, volunteer and show up wherever someone invites us.” KDOM’s website, windomradio.com, reflects this dedication by offering programming details, podcasts, a community calendar, and resources such as daily deals, job searches, and weather announcements.

Creative Promotions to Engage Listeners

KDOM keeps listeners entertained with creative promotions throughout the year. Seasonal Promotions include Farm 40 Free (Everything you need to Farm 40 Acres- a prize worth approximately $10,000), Wheel of Meat, Dairy Month Giveaway, Ice Cream Month, Halloween Bags, Turkey Shoot, Story Time and Reindeer Races (Winner gets their December Electric Bill Paid in Full).  Shop Local is a yearly promotion highlighting the importance of supporting local businesses. “These are just a few of the ways we keep our listeners engaged,” Laura explained.

Building a Business, Overcoming Challenges

Running KDOM has been both rewarding and challenging. Steve and Laura appreciate the ability to operate their business with integrity and treat their employees like family. “One of my favorite quotes is to be the person you want to work with,” Laura said. “We live by that. We’re old-school and want our employees to personify what we stand for.”

However, owning a business comes with obstacles. Staffing remains one of the biggest challenges, another hurdle is continuously keeping equipment up to date which can be costly and time-consuming.

Laura offered advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: “It’s not easy. You have to be willing to do everything and put in long hours—but eventually, it will pay off. People don’t always see the risks, or the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a business, but it all makes a difference in the end.”

A Helping Hand from SRDC

Laura credits the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC) for helping KDOM during a critical time. “The SRDC came along at just the right time during the Covid epidemic. Due to Minnesota shutting businesses down, and we were keeping KDOM running as usual, we found ourselves financially strapped,” she said. “SRDC, gave us the boost we needed to get over the hump and the process was so simple. I kept thinking… what’s the catch? But there wasn’t one. I believe God sends angels, and I’ve got a really good line of angels who pop up when I need them.”

Looking Ahead

With their commitment to community, creativity, and strong ethics, Steve and Laura have made KDOM a staple in Southwest Minnesota. Their passion for radio, combined with hard work and perseverance, has turned a dream into reality. As they continue to grow, KDOM remains a shining example of what local radio can accomplish—connecting people, supporting businesses, and serving the community.