KQUA Names Joseph Ziegler and Shane Hayes as New Program Directors

The founders of The Roseburg Plug and The Roseburg Receiver will help lead the community radio station into its next chapter while building on the foundation established by longtime manager and engineer Patrick Schneider.

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Two of Douglas County’s growing local media organizations are joining forces with KQUA Community Radio in a partnership that could significantly expand how local news, public safety information, music and community programming reach residents across the region.

KQUA announced Monday that Shane Hayes, founder of The Roseburg Plug, and Joseph Ziegler, founder of The Roseburg Receiver, have been appointed as the station’s new program directors.

Hayes and Ziegler are stepping into the station’s programming leadership role following Patrick Schneider’s resignation as program manager.

The two will oversee programming development, work with volunteers and existing show hosts, build community partnerships and create new opportunities for local residents and organizations to get involved with the station.

The announcement represents a major new chapter for KQUA, which broadcasts on 99.7-LP (low power) in Roseburg and is rebroadcasted on 90.5 FM (high power) in Glide. It also brings together a traditional community radio station and two locally founded digital media platforms that have developed substantial audiences of their own.

KQUA is a volunteer-driven nonprofit station operated as a community service of Umpqua Watersheds.

For Hayes and Ziegler, the goal is not to replace the station’s identity or move it away from its community-radio roots. Instead, they say they want to strengthen what is already there while introducing more timely local information, new voices and additional programming opportunities.

“Our goal isn’t to change what makes KQUA special,” Ziegler said. “Patrick, John Dyer, Kasey Hovik, our volunteers, board members and supporters have built something truly unique for Douglas County.”

Ziegler said one of the priorities will be bringing more local news, weather, public safety alerts and community information to the air. The station will also continue serving as a place for music, conversation, educational programming and locally produced shows.

The Roseburg Receiver has built its audience around breaking news, weather, emergency information, scanner traffic, original reporting and real-time community updates. Ziegler said the partnership with KQUA creates another way to reach people, particularly residents who may not regularly receive local information through websites or social media.

“The Roseburg Receiver has become the fastest-growing local news outlet in Douglas County, and this partnership gives us another powerful way to share important information, raise awareness and reach people who may not always see it online,” Ziegler said.

Plans also include opening the station to more community members who may be interested in producing or hosting programs of their own.

That could mean more airtime for local musicians, nonprofit organizations, educators, subject-matter experts, amateur radio operators, community leaders and residents with ideas for original shows.

Ziegler’s interest in radio goes back to childhood. He began using CB radio at age 11 and later worked as a DJ at 89.5 KTEC, the student radio station at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, while earning his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. He also holds a General Class amateur radio license.

Hayes brings a different but complementary background to the station.

Through The Roseburg Plug, Hayes has worked with local businesses, nonprofits and organizations on marketing, storytelling, video production, brand development and community outreach. He said KQUA offers an opportunity to take that work beyond digital platforms and bring more local stories directly to listeners.

“We’ve built The Roseburg Plug into one of the region’s leading local marketing platforms by helping businesses and nonprofits craft stories that actually connect with their audience,” Hayes said. “KQUA represents another powerful channel to do that work at scale, and Patrick laid the groundwork to make it possible.”

Recognizing Patrick Schneider’s Contributions

While the appointment looks toward KQUA’s future, station leadership said the announcement is equally about recognizing the person whose work made much of that future possible.

Patrick Schneider, who joined KQUA in 2018, has served as the station’s program manager and station engineer. During that time, he has maintained its broadcast systems, developed technical and operational procedures, worked with volunteers and spent thousands of hours keeping the station operating.

Much of that work happened behind the scenes.

From maintaining transmitters and studio equipment to troubleshooting technical failures and expanding the station’s reach, Schneider became one of the central figures in KQUA’s development.

“Patrick’s impact on KQUA cannot be overstated,” said Kasey Hovik, executive director of Umpqua Watersheds. “His passion, technical knowledge and dedication have helped shape this station from the very beginning. We are incredibly grateful for everything he has done and continues to do for KQUA and our community.”

Although Schneider is transitioning out of the program manager position, the announcement is not being treated as a departure from KQUA. His knowledge, experience and continued involvement remain important to the station as Hayes and Ziegler step into their new roles.

The new program directors said they intend to build upon the systems, infrastructure and culture Schneider helped create rather than starting over.

A Growing Broadcast Reach

The leadership change follows a period of expansion for KQUA.

The station recently added a second broadcast signal, allowing its Roseburg programming on 99.7 FM to also be heard on 90.5 FM in Glide. The additional signal extends KQUA’s reach farther into Douglas County and gives the station a larger potential audience for local programming.

Station leaders believe the combination of expanded coverage and new programming leadership could help KQUA become a more prominent source of information and community connection.

The partnership also creates opportunities for KQUA, The Roseburg Receiver and The Roseburg Plug to work together while remaining separate organizations.

The Roseburg Receiver will continue operating as an independent local news and information outlet. The Roseburg Plug will continue its work as a digital media, marketing and business development company. KQUA will remain a nonprofit, volunteer-driven community radio station under Umpqua Watersheds.

The organizations will now have additional opportunities to collaborate on local event promotion, nonprofit outreach, public safety information, interviews, community storytelling and original broadcast programming.

For listeners, that could eventually mean a wider variety of locally produced content alongside KQUA’s existing music, public affairs and educational programs.

For community organizations, it could provide another way to reach people throughout the region.

For residents interested in radio, it could also create a path to step behind a microphone and develop a program of their own.

Hayes and Ziegler said community participation will be essential to what comes next. KQUA is inviting residents interested in volunteering, producing a show, underwriting programming or otherwise supporting the station to reach out and become involved.

The station’s next chapter will not be built by its program directors alone. It will depend on volunteers, listeners, supporters, local organizations and community members willing to bring their ideas to the air.

That community-driven approach has always been at the heart of KQUA.

Now, with expanded broadcast coverage, new leadership and stronger connections to Douglas County’s growing local media landscape, the station is preparing to build on that foundation and reach more people than ever before.