by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
If the voice you hear on the “Jack Hanania Report” of Hyundai of Orange Park sounds familiar, it should. And, if “Kate Sage” in the TV spots looks like someone you may have seen as a reporter at Ch. 12/25 before, it should.
It’s Kim McCafferty, who may be best known as the news director for the Lex & Terry Radio Show while the show was here in Jacksonville and after it moved to Dallas. McCafferty’s the one who may have delivered the news, but she’s also the one who dished it right back to Lex and Terry whenever they gave her grief or jumped on some poor soul who called in.
McCafferty left the Lex & Terry Show last April and spent a few months deciding her next career move. While McCafferty said she enjoyed her time as the “chick on the show,” she said leaving was necessary at the time.
“It was something new every day and it tremendously helped me. I have no regrets and it certainly helped me deal with people,” said McCafferty, who currently works out of her Riverside apartment. “I left to pursue more growth professionally and personally.”
Today, McCafferty is back in Jacksonville where she has started McCafferty Communications. Her firm handles the standard newsletters, press releases and free publicity for clients. In addition, McCafferty does business management consulting, endorsements to include radio and TV spots and freelance copy writing to pay the bills, get exposure for the firm and generate potential clients. McCafferty could have gone to work with any of the PR and marketing firms in town. However, she chose the solo route.
“I do not want to skip steps in gaining knowledge and I want to be self-reliant,” said McCafferty, who is a University of Illinois graduate and got her start in Jacksonville doing radio news with WOKV. “I do partner with Swisher & Company for some PR, marketing and advertising.”
McCafferty said she has no desire to become a large firm with multiple layers. However, at 30 years old, McCafferty would like to expand.
“My aspirations are not to grow too big. I’d like to have 10 employees one day,” she said, adding her typical client will likely prove to be an entrepreneur. “I want to seek people who have a passion for what they do. Perception is reality, and in PR your reputation is everything.”