Janet McKee - Executive Producer
Janet has always loved books. She says her earliest memory is that of being read to by her Auntie Doris when she was 2. "One little blue jay, two saucy wrens. Three little piggies in fancy pens..." over and over and over and over. Janet was in heaven. Of course, the other 5 passengers squished into that 1952 blue Ford grew less and less enthusiastic with each passing mile of the some 3,000 miles of the journey from Toronto, Canada where she was born, to their new home in Los Angeles, California.
Her dad seemingly made his new employers really angry; they must have told him to go to hell, because that's exactly where he went - El Centro, California. If not hell, it was certainly just on the outskirts. Where else on earth would some kid frying an egg on the sidewalk make lead-story, front page news…without fail……every….. single….. year? Where swimming pools are too hot to swim in, there is absolutely no water at Heber Beach, you can ride your horse to school (on "horse day") and they still measure time from "When the Barbara Worth Hotel burned down"?
That happened in 1962, and it's still a vacant lot today.
That may give you a hint as to why Janet gave up her first business endeavor as an egg farmer, that she had started when she was 9, and left home at the tender age of 17 to put herself through school.
Janet was the Valedictorian of her graduating class at Central Union High School; following graduation she attended the University of Southern California. She used to tell people she went to college with OJ, but that story has lost a certain amount of its luster in recent years.
After taking a year off to replenish her educational funds, Janet returned to undergrad studies, majoring in Pre-Med at the University of California at Irvine. Pre-Med was a perfect major for Janet for whom science and math came easily - that is, until the first day they wheeled a cadaver into anatomy. After coming to, she changed her major to Biological Sciences with minors in chemistry, physics, math, and English.
The ultimate multi-tasker, Janet along with this demanding academic schedule, attained Dean's List status while earning her Bachelor of Science degree, all while working full-time as a bank teller and later, as an advertising trainee for the May Company.
Janet rose quickly through the ranks at the May Company and was soon recruited by Bullock's Corporate Advertising Department based in Los Angeles, California.
As Production Manager, Janet was responsible for all printed advertising for the nationwide, high-end department store. It was about this time that she got the insane idea that she and her girlfriend should get into offshore power boat racing.
They were the first all-female crew in the sport. After one of countless all-nighters spent rebuilding and fine-tuning engines for that "racer's edge" she and her friend Val looked at each other and said, "What are we…..NUTS!!??"
Always active, but "not very good at anything" says Janet, she's a skier (water and snow), archer, S.C.U.B.A. diver, an avid swimmer and champion ballroom dancer. With participation in all those sports requiring balance and grace, you might be surprised to learn that navigating stairs and crossing streets are among her greatest personal challenges.
Janet is a talented fine artist without much time to paint. She has shown work in California, Oregon and Utah. The original of the oil on canvas, "Palm Sunday" was purchased by the Krispy Kreme franchise. You can see an example of Janet's work by clicking here.
Mother of four practically perfect children: Eric is a budding entrepreneur in Portland, Oregon. He and his adorable wife, Amy are parents to two of the most beautiful little girls on Earth; Kandace, the world's most beautiful new mom, resides with her husband in Houston, Texas; Heather who's blessed with an amazing combination of beauty, brains and super-jock skills has just begun her career in a medical related endeavor; and Michael has recently returned from a tour in the Middle East with the United States Air Force, and while there re-enlisted for another hitch and is presently stationed on the West Coast working and studying aerospace technology maintenance. He and his cute little wife, Stefanie, also serving our country in the United States Air Force, are parents to a new son.
Janet and Jim came to know each other through participation in one of Jim's companies. When Jim presented the idea to her to join him as executive producer on his radio show, she replied "What do you think I am...NUTS!!?? I've never been a producer."
"That's OK", replied Jim. "I've never been a talk show host. Let's see where it goes."
Charlie Sumpter - Special on air guest co-host and technical advisor
With over 15 years of technology experience, Charlie is our go-to source for tech news and headlines. Having owned multiple tech ventures, Charlie's experience provides deep insights on how technology is shaping the ways we interact with the world.
An alumnus of The University of Utah, Charlie is also an avid sports fan and keeps the show up to speed in the goings-on in national athletic events.
Charlie and his family reside in the Greater Salt Lake City area.
Thrive Information Solutions - Site Producer
Jim's unqualified review of the people who designed and maintain his presence on the Web:
"Excellence in execution, steeped in experience and expertise. The best I've ever known and worked with. There simply isn't a better company out there. Any company or individual looking for web site and information systems expertise should get in touch with Thrive Information Solutions before making any final decisions!"
You can contact Thrive Information Solutions at 1.888.243-5926. Visit them on the Web here.
