The Voice Radio Network celebrates new studios

The Voice Radio Network President and CEO Kevin Andrade says he is realizing the American dream.

That was the message in Georgetown at a recent celebration for his new network of studios on Route 113.

Thirteen years ago, Andrade settled in southern Delaware, a recent immigrant from Ecuador with a dream of making his career in communications.

Since then, he's gone on to become an American citizen and a broadcast radio host. Now, as president of the Voice Radio Network, with six local radio frequencies, he continues to work as a community leader, broadcasting programming as diverse as his listenership on Delmarva.

In 2015, Andrade bought the facilities owned by Great Scott Broadcasting in Georgetown to become the Voice Radio Network. He recently reopened the studios with help from Gov. Jack Markell and other dignitaries who came out to celebrate the success of his small business.

“We’re here to congratulate Kevin for being such a force, not only for the Latino community," Markell said, "but also for the economy of the area with the jobs that he has created and the hope he has given others that they, too, can live out the American dream."

In March 2015, Andrade and The Voice Radio group reached a settlement of $1.7 million for the acquisition of four stations from Great Scott Broadcasting, two years after the death of CEO Mitch Scott.

Great Scott Broadcasting General Manager Sue Dalton attended the ribbon cutting and recalled Andrade's eventual bid to take over the radio group after his success with Maxima 95.3 FM radio, the area's first full-time Spanish-language station.

"Kevin had a dream and had a vision," Dalton said, adding Mitch Scott would be proud he has taken what was good about Great Scott and made it better. "You outdid what he could have imagined by 1,000 percent," she said.

Andrade recalled his long road to success, first as an immigrant who was told he wouldn't make it in radio, and now as a businessman, American citizen and a leader in the Hispanic community.

"This is not something that came out of nothing," he said. "There were a lot of prayers and a lot of work was done to make this happen. Don't forget where we all came from. We are all immigrants."

The Voice Radio Network is home to Power 101.7 FM-WZEB, which features urban contemporary; classic rock stations The Vault 103.5 FM-WJKI and 106.1 FM-WXSH as well as Spanish-language stations Maxima 95.3 FM-WKDB, La Raza 900 AM and 100.3 FM.