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Salwa Khan: 
Susan, you are the underwriting guru here at KWVH. What is it you do in that role?

Susan Sisson:
I go out and look for underwriters. I knock on doors, I email, I text, I make phone calls, trying to get more underwriters. I sell air.

Salwa Khan:
Why is it important for KWVH to have underwriters?

Susan Sisson:
We need the money. Besides our fundraisers, underwriters keep the radio station working and pay salaries and bills, and so the more, the better.

Salwa Khan:
When you approach a potential underwriter, what do you say to convince them to become part of the KWVH community?

Susan Sisson: 
I just talk to people and say, would you be interested? The radio station is a good way to get your word out into the community. It's local, and it's a community support thing because some people say, I don't need the business. I say, you could just support the community. Some will do it, and some will say, I'll donate. It just depends.

Salwa Khan:
What is the difference between donating and being an underwriter?

Susan Sisson:
With the underwriter, we get a certain amount of money per month. They sign a contract, like if they want to be a sports underwriter, that means that they are heard during all the Wimberley ISD athletics. That's when we have the most listeners, and that's the most popular segment because everybody's tuning in to the kid’s sports. We have the sports package and that's 400-dollars a month.
Then we have a standard package, which is a little bit less. We have a tactical package. It is not a twelve-month commitment. because most of the contracts are nine or 12 months. With the tactical package, they can do a month at a time or a few months here and there.
Right now, we're working on what I'm calling a storm special, for roofers, anything that has to do with the hail damage, for roofers, glass, cars, collision centers that have to fix all the dents and dings. That's going over fairly well.

Salwa Khan:
Yes, I would imagine! (This follows a severe storm in May 2024 that brought strong winds and large hail to Wimberley.)

Susan Sisson:
We've made it very inexpensive, so most people should be able to do it.

Salwa Khan:
Have you gotten feedback from current underwriters or past underwriters? And if so, what do they say? What do they see as the benefit of supporting the station?

Susan Sisson:
It varies. Some have gotten business from being an underwriter and people hearing them. Some have not. The more you participate in the community, the more the community is going to embrace you. The more you do for us, the more we're going to do for you. We all try to buy local, like painters and contractors, and a lot of it is word of mouth, too. I have a base of underwriters that stay with us. They just stay with us.

Salwa Khan:
What did you do before you came to KWVH?

Susan Sisson:
I worked at the Wimberley View newspaper. I sold advertising. I was there for seven years and loved it. It was, it was busy, busy, busy. Before that, I've mostly been in telecom. I worked for MCI, Southwestern Bell, mostly sales, customer service type jobs. I've lived here since 2000, so I've been around Wimberley for a long time.

Salwa Khan:
So you already had contacts in the community?

Susan Sisson:
Oh yeah! Tons and tons. I already know so many people in town. And I do all the chamber events. I go to all the ribbon cuttings. I go to all the mixers. I go to all the luncheons. I'm kind of a PR person, also, because I'm out there. I might generate some business off of that.
You never know who you're going to meet. I just work the room. I don't hard sell anybody. I tell them what we do. I tell them what the radio station does for the community. And they're either interested or they're not.
Everybody you talk to says I love the radio station, I love the radio station, but that doesn't mean they're going to give you money. The shows and the programming, all that helps.
I love people. I like being out with people. I'm very social. I'm very outgoing. And I like doing all the chamber stuff, because I think the chamber, that partnership is very important. And that's another thing we do in partnership with the chamber, which was Tim's idea, which I think is a great idea. Any time we get a new chamber member, we give them thirty days of free underwriting. And then some will stick and stay on, and others may not. But it's good for them, because if they get a benefit from that, then they're going to go, I need to stay on the radio. So, that's been good plan. That's working out well.

Salwa Khan: 
What are your thoughts for the future of KWVH?

Susan Sisson:
I'm here to help the radio station however I can. It makes me get up and get out. We need the radio station. It needs to continue on. And, like I said, Tim (Kiesling) does a great job. Brach (Thomas), we couldn't live without him. Tanya (Tyler) has just been a blessing. We all have our little parts. It takes a team.