“Many of these kids have had really tough


lives and can’t see a reality outside of their immediate world,” says Washington, who grew up in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. “I once asked a group of students what they wanted to do with their lives. Most of the girls wanted to work in a salon; the boys wanted to play basketball. I asked them to dream bigger and not limit themselves. Go to college and learn how to manage a group of hair salons. Or get a business degree and become a sports agent. I tell them life is bigger than the couple of blocks around their neighborhood.” Throughout his career, Washington has continually


expanded his own horizons and crafted a marketable persona for radio and television. “I’ve been developing my brand ever since I was 10,” says


Washington, who informally goes by his on-air moniker “K Dubb.” “I want to be informative, entertaining and inspirational. However you interact with me, I hope you learn something, laugh or feel inspired.” Although Washington dreamed


athletes. Then he worked in promotions for Clear Channel Radio and gained some part-time on-air experience at WKQI-FM in Detroit. Bigger breaks came in Flint, where he hosted a weekly entertainment segment at WJRT-TV and an afternoon-drive program at WRCL-FM. “I built a lot of industry relationships, which helped advance my career,” Washington says. “I’m forever grateful for


my time in Flint. I was able to stub my toe and learn from my experiences. That’s also when I started mentoring high school kids.” Washington made the big leap in 2011, when


he and his wife Toni moved to Los Angeles. While he


“I’ve been developing my brand ever since I was 10.”


as a kid of working for cable sports giant ESPN, he wasn’t fully confi dent in his communications skills until taking a sports broadcasting class taught by EMU Professor of Electronic Media and Film Studies Geoff rey Hammill. “I think Professor Hammill saw I had potential,” Washington


says. “One in-class assignment involved reading a list of 20 sports scores aloud and making each one sound interesting. He asked me to demonstrate how to do it for the class. At that moment, I thought, ‘Wow, maybe broadcasting is something I really can do.’” Washington cut his radio teeth on WQBR (now Eagle Radio),


a student-run station that broadcast, in those days, only to on- campus buildings. “My mom came to campus to listen a couple of times,”


Washington says. “Other than that, I didn’t know if anyone else was listening. But I had fun and was able to hone my craft.” After graduating, he landed a sports internship at WJBK-TV in Detroit, where he wrote scripts and interviewed professional


looked for work, she launched MissFit Activewear, a women’s clothing line. The couple reside in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. He began working as a correspondent for HotNewHipHop.com and RandBLive.com, music and entertainment streaming websites that also features artist and celebrity interviews. “I got to interview people like


Magic Johnson, Snoop Dogg and Drake,” Washington says. “I met people, built relationships and told everyone I was looking for


more work. Then I got a job with Radio Disney playing artists like Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift on SiriusXM. People got to hear me around the country. It really helped me step up my game.” Through savvy networking, Washington submitted a hosting


reel to HLN. Shortly afterwards, he began appearing as a commentator on the network’s programs. A fi ll-in spot on ESPN radio quickly led to his full-time sports talk show. It’s natural for anyone in the entertainment industry to


wonder if their career has peaked. At those times, Washington remembers the advice he shares with high school students. “I know I have a lot more to learn and give,” he says. “I maintain a vision, have faith in myself and learn by studying and emulating industry role models, like [former NFL player and current TV host] Michael Strahan. He’s leveraged his talents and built a very diverse career. If you can diversify and put enough time in any industry, you’re limited only by your talent and ambition.”3


Eastern | WINTER 2016 41


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44