Lee S. Simonson Email & Phone Number

Greater New York City Area

SCORE New York City provides free and confidential business counseling to overcome one or more of your challenges: you don’t have to struggle on your own. You can have access to over 60 successful executives and professionals who have experienced the trials of running a small business covering all industry groups.

Monterey, California

Independent Member of the board of directors, of a middle and small market radio company operating 26 stations in Monterey, Merced, and Redding, CA, Spokane,WA and Medford, OR.

Philadelphia, Pa

Executive Chairman of the Board of a middle market radio company operating 19 Stations in Louisville, KY, Dayton, OH, Richmond, VA and Hagerstown, MD.

New York, Ny

President of strategic advisory firm. Providing advice to companies and executives looking to grow their businesses through strategic planning and creative revenue development. Clients to-date have included ABCNews.com; Inner City Broadcast Holdings, LP; Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation; Emmis Communications of NY; RadioWave.com; TheaterMania.com; Halyard Capital Fund; Air America Radio Network; Greater Media Radio/ Philadelphia and Boston; Internet Broadcasting (IBSYS); Kamylon Capital, LLC.; Radio One, Inc.(NASD: RO1A); Goldman Sachs radio investments: Simmons Media Group, Border Media, Urban Radio Broadcasting, LLC.; Riviera Broadcast Group; Balance Point Capital; Textbroker; Anchorage Capital.

New York, Ny

Senior Advisor for one of the leading independent global professional services firms specializing in performance improvement, turnaround management and business advisory services. In addition to other responsibilities in this position, authored an article published in The Deal magazine (1/11/10) on the state of the radio industry.

Taught a graduate level course in media management

New York, Ny

Founder of private broadcasting company, with 38 radio stations in 11 markets. Partnered with a Veronis, Suhler & Associates-affiliated equity fund to invest in and manage radio groups in midsize and small markets. Invested over $37 million in five groups with 38 stations in 11 markets. Directed turn-arounds (defined as 50+% increase in profitability in two years) in seven of the markets. Agreed to sell to Citadel Broadcasting in October 1999 for $190 million, representing a 100% return for equity fund. At the time of sale, BPHLP was among the top 25 U.S. radio groups ranked by revenue with over $40 million, and among the top 20 ranked by number of stations.

Co-Founder of public radio broadcasting company, with eleven radio stations in five markets – New York, Chicago, Detroit, Charlotte and Dallas. Secured financing to acquire underperforming major market radio group. Successfully engineered turn-around of each station and then coordinated expansion of the company via acquisition and by completing successful Initial Public Offering in September 1993. Oversaw all aspects of day-to-day operations recruitment/hiring, annual budgeting, long-term strategic planning and investor relations. By the end of 1994, the Company was among the top 30 radio groups in the U.S. and had increased its revenue nearly four fold (pro forma) and its broadcast cash flow more than five-fold (pro forma) over six years.

New York, Ny

Engineered turn-around of heritage talk radio station in New York City. Like many other old-line AM radio stations, WOR-RKO’s flagship station – had slipped as FM listenership continued to increase in the 1970s and early 1980s. Orchestrated a reversal of station’s ratings and revenue slide, while initiating massive cost reductions. By the end of 1988, WOR had increased its revenue by approximately 25% and its broadcast cash flow by approximately one-third over four year tenure.

New York, Ny

Became the youngest general manager in New York market, charged with bringing station to profitability after years of losses. Oversaw format change which resulted in enormous increase in ratings. Station’s audience share rose from 22nd place in the market to third in just one rating period (three months). Kiss-FM subsequently became the top rated station in New York. Coupled rating improvement with strengthened sales effort to increase broadcast cash flow to $2.4 million from $2.0 million loss in just three years.