Tim Wesolek ’81

Communication

Biography

I was one of the first graduates to use a communication degree to get a job in TV. I spent over 30 years working for various TV stations, starting in Master Control and ended up working as a National Sales Manager for a dominate CBS affiliate.

What were some of your most valuable experiences at Taylor?

When I was there the in-house radio station WTUC started and I used that opportunity to begin to get experience in radio. For 2 years I did football and basketball play by play. These helped me by pushing me outside my comfort zone to learn new technology—accessing phone lines to get the broadcast back to campus and looking for sponsors to cover travel costs, arranging travel to away games, etc.

How did your classes or interactions with professors at Taylor impact your growth?

There was one professor who bought into the vision and spent time showing me how to set up things. He helped arrange travel, etc. And he never said how bad we sounded on air.

How can Taylor graduates use their unique Taylor education and its liberal arts foundational core as an asset in your discipline?

Foundational core helped me think outside the box. I wanted to direct a TV newscast when I left Taylor, but I needed some upper division hours so I took advertising, since the year before I made all the TV commercials for that class. Little did I know that I would end up spending close to 50% of my life in that field!

What advice or encouragement could you provide for Taylor students in your vocational discipline?

Be very flexible. Your career path may/will take many turns.