Daniel Zea Zapata is passionate and persistent, but he’s also patient.
So while the Lakeland graduate’s dream of becoming an on-air radio personality motivates him daily, he’s happy to learn and wait his turn.
“It would be awesome to someday host my own radio variety show, interviewing guests, interacting with people and playing music,” he says. “But I hate to get ahead of myself, because I’m absolutely loving where I’m at in my career right now. Still, you have to dream.”
Zea Zapata, who graduated in 2015 from Lakeland with a double major (communications and Spanish), works full time for national radio giant Entercom Communications in Milwaukee. He was recently promoted to full-time production assistant and deejay. Five nights a week, he plays music from midnight to 5 a.m., then helps produce and lends his smooth voice to advertisements.
“I introduce songs, take calls, talk about contests and provide necessary information to listeners,” he says of his nightly on-air duties. “The timing is huge. You don’t want to ‘step on the song’ and you don’t want dead air. It’s those little things that make radio run smoothly.”
Zea Zapata arrived at Lakeland from Gurnee, Ill., in 2011, a football recruit who thought he might become a teacher. He flourished, serving as an ambassador and resident assistant and working for Lakeland’s campus safety and security office. His naturally gregarious personality and Colombian heritage helped him interact seamlessly with everyone in Lakeland’s diverse population. He also fell in love with Erin Carlson, who he will marry on Oct. 1.
“Lakeland welcomed me into a very tight-knit community, a place where I was able to connect with people on a whole different level than I ever experienced before,” he says.
“I credit my parents, who taught me to say hello, make eye contact and treat everyone with respect. Once I got to Lakeland, I grew. The communications program was great for me academically. Socially, I was with a great group of guys on the football team, and made many other friends, as well.
“Lakeland really helped me come into my own as an adult.”
Zea Zapata interned with Entercom as a junior and senior, working on a Milwaukee Brewers postgame show on “The Fan,” and “doing whatever needed to be done.”
Shortly after graduating, he landed a position with Entercom – the parent company of Milwaukee stations 103.7 FM, 99.1 FM, 105.7 FM and 1250 AM (“The Fan”) – in promotions. He’s been steadily moving up ever since.
“I realize it’s a huge break for me to start my radio career in a market like Milwaukee,” he says. “Many people in this industry start out at small stations in remote locations. I’m at a great place. It’s a blessing to say the least.”
A few months ago, a car full of Lakeland students was headed back to Sheboygan County after a spring break trip to Florida. In the very early morning hours, the students heard a familiar voice on the popular Milwaukee hit music station 103.7. They excitedly alerted the world through social media that their friend, Dan, was playing tunes on one of the state’s most popular stations.
That made Zea Zapata smile, of course. He’s really happy where he’s at. But also excited about where he’s going.
“If you have a dream, you should focus on it and strive to put yourself in position to grow and achieve it,” he says. “If your faith is strong enough, anything is possible.”
So while the Lakeland graduate’s dream of becoming an on-air radio personality motivates him daily, he’s happy to learn and wait his turn.
“It would be awesome to someday host my own radio variety show, interviewing guests, interacting with people and playing music,” he says. “But I hate to get ahead of myself, because I’m absolutely loving where I’m at in my career right now. Still, you have to dream.”
Zea Zapata, who graduated in 2015 from Lakeland with a double major (communications and Spanish), works full time for national radio giant Entercom Communications in Milwaukee. He was recently promoted to full-time production assistant and deejay. Five nights a week, he plays music from midnight to 5 a.m., then helps produce and lends his smooth voice to advertisements.
“I introduce songs, take calls, talk about contests and provide necessary information to listeners,” he says of his nightly on-air duties. “The timing is huge. You don’t want to ‘step on the song’ and you don’t want dead air. It’s those little things that make radio run smoothly.”
Zea Zapata arrived at Lakeland from Gurnee, Ill., in 2011, a football recruit who thought he might become a teacher. He flourished, serving as an ambassador and resident assistant and working for Lakeland’s campus safety and security office. His naturally gregarious personality and Colombian heritage helped him interact seamlessly with everyone in Lakeland’s diverse population. He also fell in love with Erin Carlson, who he will marry on Oct. 1.
“Lakeland welcomed me into a very tight-knit community, a place where I was able to connect with people on a whole different level than I ever experienced before,” he says.
“I credit my parents, who taught me to say hello, make eye contact and treat everyone with respect. Once I got to Lakeland, I grew. The communications program was great for me academically. Socially, I was with a great group of guys on the football team, and made many other friends, as well.
“Lakeland really helped me come into my own as an adult.”
Zea Zapata interned with Entercom as a junior and senior, working on a Milwaukee Brewers postgame show on “The Fan,” and “doing whatever needed to be done.”
Shortly after graduating, he landed a position with Entercom – the parent company of Milwaukee stations 103.7 FM, 99.1 FM, 105.7 FM and 1250 AM (“The Fan”) – in promotions. He’s been steadily moving up ever since.
“I realize it’s a huge break for me to start my radio career in a market like Milwaukee,” he says. “Many people in this industry start out at small stations in remote locations. I’m at a great place. It’s a blessing to say the least.”
A few months ago, a car full of Lakeland students was headed back to Sheboygan County after a spring break trip to Florida. In the very early morning hours, the students heard a familiar voice on the popular Milwaukee hit music station 103.7. They excitedly alerted the world through social media that their friend, Dan, was playing tunes on one of the state’s most popular stations.
That made Zea Zapata smile, of course. He’s really happy where he’s at. But also excited about where he’s going.
“If you have a dream, you should focus on it and strive to put yourself in position to grow and achieve it,” he says. “If your faith is strong enough, anything is possible.”
