about us

Since 1946, our local news, sports, community stories and music have connected our mountain communities with broadcasts produced from our studio in Salida, Colorado. Today, we’re the leading multimedia company in Central Colorado, garnering more than 90 awards for broadcast excellence in the past decade. We’re proud to have been named Best Small Market Radio in the state four out of the past 10 years.

On-air, we reach thousands of listeners every day – from Fairplay and Leadville in the north, to Cañon City and Westcliffe in the east, to Alamosa and Del Norte in the south, to the Continental Divide in the West – our five stations reach more listeners than any other local media across the Upper Arkansas Valley, South Park, the San Luis Valley and the Wet Mountain Valley.

Honoring our historic legacy, we’ve expanded our digital reach through online streaming that attracts tens of thousands of listeners around the globe each month, an advertiser-friendly website, a dominant social media presence, and new podcasts. We’re committed to the communities where we live and dedicated to helping them thrive by strengthening and promoting connections that strengthen community.

DAN R

News Director & Operations Manager

Danny “Dan R” Ridenour has been in radio and television broadcasting for over 40 years, starting as a senior in high school in Rogers, Arkansas. His radio career has had stops in Nashville, Memphis, Oklahoma and, eventually, Colorado. Dan enjoys being involved in the community, having been a member of the Upper Arkansas Service Club, and is currently on the board of directors for the Salida Community Center and a member of the Chaffee County Fair Committee. He and his wife, Carrie, spend their days doing everything the mountains have to offer: hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing. They’ve raised three children and have two grandchildren.

SPORTS DIRECTOR

Andrew has been blessed to work in TV and radio for the past two decades in five states. He says there’s nothing like being home in Colorado. He’s done play-by-play sportscasting for big-time events and has been fortunate to work with many amazing people. For Andrew, the players, the coaches and the families don’t just make each day exciting to go to work, they also make being part of the community so special.

ANDREW STOSSMEISTER

Ximena Wheeler

Digital Marketing Strategist And Account Executive

Ximena is a dynamic storyteller and executive show producer with a passion for creating impactful, community-focused experiences. Her journey began in theater and has evolved to encompass a wide range of live productions, including concerts, musicals and corporate events. As a key force behind ThexUniverse Studio, an independent production company, she has produced thought-provoking shows addressing critical social issues such as inequality, violence and mental health, which have been showcased in the U,S., Argentina, Guatemala and Panama.

In 2018, Ximena expanded her creative expertise into digital and graphic design as well as copywriting, further enhancing her ability to craft compelling narratives across multiple media. A trained actress and director, she has performed in and directed numerous plays, blending her artistic sensibilities with a sharp production acumen. Whether on stage, on air or behind the scenes, Ximena is dedicated to bringing innovative ideas to life and making a meaningful impact through her work.

Natural Resources Correspondent

Joe is an award-winning journalist and science writer with an extensive background in water and public lands issues. Joe has reported on local, regional and state water issues for more than 20 years, and he wrote and edited numerous reports about water, ecology and environmental issues while working at Oak Ridge National Lab. Joe’s background also includes serving on the South Platte River Basin Roundtable, the Chaffee County Planning Commission, the Friends of Browns Canyon Board, and the Harris Park Water and Sanitation District Board. Joe is currently the editor of “Forest News,” where he researches and writes about issues affecting our national forests.

JOE STONE

Sam Johnson

Sales Associate

Sam is a Salida native and a pillar of the business community dating back to his first local sales jobs beginning in the mid-70s. Over those years, Sam has built trust-based relationships with countless other business owners and leaders throughout the Central Mountains. When it comes to radio advertising, he speaks from the perspectives of both a business owner and a longtime advertiser on Heart of the Rockies Radio. Sam enjoys building relationships with businesses in the Upper Arkansas Valley. Sam loves supporting local civic organizations, resulting in him being named Man of the Year by the Salida Chamber of Commerce a few years back.
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LISTEN LIVE

Heart of the Rockies Radio and Media Group is the premier media company in Central Colorado. Our radio stations (four FM and one AM) reach the entire Upper Arkansas Valley as well as South Park, the San Luis Valley and the Front Range.

Listener Text Line: 719-530-7943, sponsored by the Golf Cabin Bar & Grill