For nearly three decades, Mark Crowley has served his community. 

In 1978, he began a career as a police officer and still today, you can

find him patrolling the streets of Denver.  Mark has a reputation of

having a special gift of creating positive relationships in every aspect

of our society.  Whether dealing with a victim of a crime, the perpetrator

of a crime, a simple traffic violator, or perhaps wayward teen, Mark

operates by the credo of always leaving the impression of increase

upon every person with whom he comes in contact.  In 2003, the

officers who work under his supervision nominated him for

supervisor of the year.

 

2002 was a year that took Mark in a new direction.  He approached

management at Salem Communications’ Denver affiliate, KNUS,

with a programming idea.  He wanted to reach the community in a

larger way with a show focusing on personal development.  Since

that time, The Mark Crowley Show has been on the air each Sunday

and continues to grow and become a well-known weekend stop

where his listeners enjoy a program with a very positive outlook

and where he professes his message of leaving an impression of

increase, gratitude, and possibility.

 

That was only the beginning of his journey into the world of broadcasting. 

As a “student of the industry” Mark immersed himself at KNUS to

learn every aspect of how to make his weekly show better.  In that

process, he discovered what we know as public affairs programming. 

He saw a notice regarding quarterly Ascertainments and asked to attend. 

The result of that meeting was the unleashing of a passion to help get

the message of community programs and concerns out to the listening

audience.

 

He volunteered to take on the task of producing Salem’s weekly public

affairs program, “Colorado Issues”.  This is in addition to his work as

a police officer and host and producer of The Success Radio Show. 

Since early 2003, Mark has hosted Colorado Issues, attended every

Ascertainment meeting, and taken the responsibility for keeping the

Public File’s Issues and Programs section up to date.

 

It is not enough for him just to respond to requests from organizations

to appear on “Colorado Issues”.  Mark is very proactive in seeking out

issues that can be of value to our listener base.  After each quarterly

Ascertainment meeting, Mark personally contacts each participant to

learn more about their concerns and programs and invites them to

participate in the program.  Mark also attends various networking

events and is always on the lookout for quality programming ideas. 

The result of his networking is a great variety of community-oriented

programming that is personally tailored for the organization and a

show that is very well received by our listeners.

 

While many programs could be shown as examples of his commitment

to helping the community, there are three that stand out.

 

In his role as a police officer, Mark sees the problem of auto theft

growing every day.  A new program recently introduced by the

Department of Justice called “Watch Your Car” is intended to help

vehicle owners reduce the chance that the car is stolen.  Mark

coordinated an effort with The Denver Police Department, Salem

Communications, and KUSA-TV to enroll citizens in this new program. 

Step one was to set up an event at South High School where citizens

could bring their cars and register them with the “Watch Your Car”

program. Next, he interviewed an auto theft expert from Denver Police

and discussed the problem of auto theft and introduced the “Watch

Your Car” program on his weekly “Colorado Issues” program.  He

then arranged for KUSA-TV to bring their Saturday Morning News

Show to the registration event.  He also broadcast live from the

event.  The result of this effort was enrolling over 100 new participants

in the “Watch Your Car” Program.

 

Mark received a commendation from The Denver Police Department

for his efforts and they were so pleased with the interview that they

asked to post the audio on the Denver Police Website.

 

The other two programs, though separate issues, demonstrate

Mark’s skill in identifying ways in helping to facilitate the needs

of the community.  During the summer of 2004, while mailing a

package at the local shipping store, Mark saw a poster for a local

neighborhood group that was coming together to raise money

for one of their neighbors stricken with ALS (Lou Gerhig’s Disease). 

They were putting on a special event to help her with costs

surrounding her treatment that exceed $200,000 per year.  She also

has seven children, the youngest being four years of age.  Mark

started looking into the disease and wanted to call attention to the

issues around ALS.  Mark was able to arrange an interview with the

CEO of The ALS Association, Mr. Gary Leo.  Mr. Leo was featured

on “Colorado Issues” discussing many of the aspects of ALS and

how it is affecting every community in America.  The neighborhood

event known as “Band Together” was held on a Sunday afternoon. 

Mark took his “Success Radio Show” on the road and broadcast

live from the event.  The event was highly successful and Ms. Susie

Roy, one of the event coordinators, gives Mark a great deal of credit

for their bringing in over 2000 people to the event and raising about

$118,000.  At that event, Mark learned of a firefighter in Castle Rock

who is also suffering from ALS and assisted him in raising nearly $100,000

in a raffle so that the young firefighter, struck down in the prime of his

career, could take advantage of some new treatments being introduced

in China.

 

Shortly after the “Band Together” event, Mark interviewed June Barnes,

Executive Director of The Homebuilders Foundation of Denver.  That

program focused on how the foundation is committed to assisting

people with disabilities in the construction of wheelchair ramps,

accessible kitchens, etc. at no charge to the recipient thanks to the

benevolence of local trades and contractors.  As Ms. Barnes was

walking into the studio for the interview, she was finishing up a phone

conversation with a supplier who was donating specialized shower

stalls for people with disabilities and they were discussing how they

were going to store them.

 

Hearing this conversation reminded Mark that Susie Roy (Band Together)

had been telling him how difficult it had become for her neighbor to

bathe due to the configuration of her bathroom and that she was quickly

becoming so weak that she could not pull herself into the tub.  Mark

saw an immediate connection for the Homebuilders Foundation.  He

connected June Barnes and Susie Roy and the result was a discussion

for a complete remodel project for the bathroom that would be provided

at no cost.  As you can imagine, the family is very grateful.

 

 

 

Ryan Kloberdanz

Program Director