STAFF || CONTACT US || FAMILY

Dave Sanford (President, CEO) started SPECTRE in his bedroom in 1997 with about $400 and a crappy old laptop. Before that he gained notoriety in the Los Angeles music scene for his radio show on Los Angeles's now defunct pirate radio station KBLT, which was documented in the book 40 Watts from Nowhere. He also owned the critically acclaimed indie record shop NO LIFE RECORDS with Chuck Arnold which brought LA its first live appearances from Sleater Kinney, Elliott Smith and many others. Before that he got his start in college radio in 1988 at WTUL in New Orleans and has also done some fill-in airtime at WPRB (Princeton), KCMU (Seattle), and KXLU (Los Angeles), Today Dave manages the day to day operations of SPECTRE, talks to clients every day, deals with key radio stations around the country, plays a major role in the development of the strategies for SPECTRE's marketing clients, and handles most of the company's A&R duties. His alter ego, DJ Santo, has opened for artists such as Thievery Corporation, Bebel Gilberto, Bugz in the Attic, Mr. Scruff, Quantic, and many of the worlds best downtempo and nu jazz acts in the world and hosts the critically acclaimed radio program Something Different which airs locally on 89.1 KMHD and online at giantstep.net. Dave is also on the advisory board for Musicfest NW, an annual music festival in Portland, OR, the Advisory Board of the Plug Awards and an associate member of A2IM.

Things Dave Likes: Shannon, Eli, Good Music of all genres, listening to radio on my centro, spending time in Europe, 20th century architecture, modern art, rainy afternoons, Stumptown Coffee, Powells Books, lacrosse, the 08 Trailblazers, technology, fuel efficient cars, and Wii.

Things Dave Dislikes: People who are full of sh*t, negativity, tunafish, metal pretending to be alternative, trendy disposable music with no soul, war, the 07 Ravens, the lack of direct flights to anywhere from Portland and the price of parking in the city.

E-Mail Dave: dave@spectremusic.com

Jessica Weber (VP Radio Promotion/Licensing) joined the SPECTRE radio team in 2000. She began her radio career in high scool at WLTL in LaGrange, IL where she DJ'ed a weekend specialty show, and worked as an office peon cataloging records. After graduating high school she continued her radio career at the illustrious WVUR, in Valparaiso, IN (or Valpo, as the cool kids would say). While serving as the music director of WVUR, she also ended up working at the area's commercial country station, Indiana 105. There she did production work, and was an on air personality for multiple shows despite her complete lack of knowledge on country music. During her senior year of college she also worked for MCA, Emperor Norton, and various other indie labels doing street marketing in chicago. She graduated Valpo with a double major in Communications & Cutural Anthropology, and moved back to Chicago. Although going back to her summer job as a children's shoe salesperson was hard to resist, she felt compelled to move on, and took a job at SPECTRE in Los Angeles, CA. Jessica currently manages all the specialty departments at SPECTRE (electronic, hiphop, and rock), as well as over-seeing operations in the LA office (aka keeping these fools in line). She spends most of her time at work harassing DJs, nerding out on her laptop, and trying not to fall out of her almost broken chair. At any given time you may find her on the phone arguing with various individuals about whether or not a certain record is actually "the shit", or trying to explain to someone that all dance music is not called "techno". ps...she is always right...

Things Jessica Likes: the beach, driving, gadgets, the weirdos on the streets in LA, talking smart, outdoor music events, pinball, traveling, beer, fortune cookies, records, house parties, chicago, accessories, those days in the summer when it's still light outside when your leaving work, and getting mail.

Things Jessica Dislikes: waiting in line, sitting on grass, birds, a-hole security guards, jaded people who analyze and dissect everything, humidity, being sick, any event hat has the word "industry" in the title of it, potholes, and those people who drink those weird shakes while they're working out at the gym.

E-Mail Jessica: jessica@spectremusic.com

Ben High (Creative Director/Licensing/Web Projects) holds down Los Angeles for SPECTRE. He can be found wandering around the city, taking photos, designing jewelry, building the internet and drinking whiskey.

Things Ben Likes: "promotional" items, maps & cameras.

Things Ben Dislikes: dropped calls & cold feet.

E-Mail Ben: ben@spectregroup.net

Hannah Carlen joined the SPECTRE radio team in January of 2005. She began her college radio career in 2001 as music director at her radio station, WSPN, a position which she held for three years. After graduating with a degree in English/Creative Writing (and minor in Economics. Who knew?) she returned to her native New York City for an internship with McGathy Promotions, where she dove headlong into learning the ropes of promotion/publicity. In early 2005, both Hannah and SPECTRE decided to give Portland, Oregon a try, and before long Hannah became a full-time employee in the newly founded Portland office. In addition to college and aaa radio promotion, Hannah does freelance writing for the Portland Mercury (and more!), sits on the advisory board for MusicfestNorthwest, and has helped plan and promote numerous events in and around Portland. In 2008, Hannah plans to launch a small vinyl label called Regional Hits.

Things Hannah Likes: Tomato salads, eye exams, knit scarves, 45's, iced coffee with milk but no sugar, Truth&Soul, the Freemont bridge, Yohji Yamamoto, unlimited metrocards, real ramen, and the theremin she hopes to one day build.

Things Hannah Dislikes: bad apples, Travis Tritt, crooked paintings, dentists, florescent lighting, warm milk, the Morrison bridge, the word "bloggerati," and people who walk briskly but then stop abruptly on crowded streets.

E-Mail Hannah: hannah@spectremusic.com

Erich Cannon began his college radio career at KZUU in Pullman, Washington. There he attended Washington State University, studying English with an emphasis in creative writing. Erich is creative. At KZUU he worked his way up from simple DJ to Music Director and upwards to General Manager of the whole entire station. Erich is an achiever. As General Manager, he negotiated an agreement with the University's dark tower of non-commercial-music-oppression to save KZUU from being swept under the rug. Erich is a fighter. In college he was regularly involved with activities put on by the Student Entertainment Board where he planned and organized KZUU's first ever sponsored concert, featuring Aqueduct. In addition to his radio work, Erich wrote music and movie reviews for the campus newspaper. Two years ago, he set a goal to work in promotions on "the other side" of college radio, and in 2007 Erich joined SPECTRE, which topped his list of places to work. Erich meets his goals. Finally, Erich was, and still remains Y2k ready.

Things Erich Likes: Music of many genres, well crafted and original movies, original television programming, and writing, The Muppets, wine and dance parties, Mariners baseball!, and Arrested Development quotes.

Things Erich Dislikes: Hitting his head due to his irregular height, Zuchinni, walking through Walmart, cotton swabs and the reunion of bands featuring half of its original members.

E-Mail Erich: erich@spectremusic.com

Meredith Frengs (Operations Manager/Marketing Coordinator and Thunderball Media) came to SPECTRE as an intern (aka "skintern") in 2007, while she maintained a career marketing transportation engineering and planning. Needless to say, she was thrilled to join SPECTRE full-time, though sometimes she misses wearing dress suits, video-conferencing, and making "action item" lists. As an attendee of the University of Oregon, Meredith received a degree in English Literature and minor in Film Studies, while injecting her sass in the music-related articles she wrote for the Oregon VOICE Magazine. Meredith got her promotional feet wet as an intern for Hopeless/Sub City Records in 2003.
In addition to helping run the show at SPECTRE, Meredith is the Editor-in-Chief for KPSU Magazine, a free quarterly community publication of Portland's college radio station (KPSU 1450am).

Things Meredith Likes: Laughing, sleeping in super late, swimming in the ocean, Prague, driving around in her hometown of LA with the windows down and music blasting, stoner rock and metal, hosting events, coming up with ridiculous ideas, drinking beers on rooftops, exploring Portland, foreign languages, impromptu dance parties, anyone wearing a mask, organizing pie fights, international adventures, 1992, summertime, Lifter Puller, "killing with kindness," and photo booths.

Things Meredith Dislikes: People who get off on arguing, strangers on the street who say things like "Turn that frown upside down!" while you are concentrating on hurrying down the sidewalk, food with awkward textures (like shrimp and mushrooms), women who are rude to other women on principle alone, touching sponges, those who don't "get" the genius that is Wayne's World 2, messy houses, and people on stilts.

E-Mail Meredith: meredith@spectregroup.net

Daniel Yocom (East Coast Manager, Radio Promotion) joins the SPECTRE Team after four illustrious years in the radio-universe. Dan began at WMUH/Allentown in 2004, and quickly learned where his enthusiasm was most deeply rooted. (Hint - it wasn't in Biochemistry, for which he holds a degree from Muhlenberg College.) Dan's industry experience began at Team Clermont, where he took his first steps with talking to stations, working with bands, and business-drinking. (He'd never drank a drop before this, we swear.) Once he began there, the industry bug was his for keeps, and Dan immediately started working at Fanatic Promotion after he graduated college. There, he rose from intern, to full time employee, to head of the Radio Department in a mere two years. In addition to radio promotion, Dan is excited to launch his record label, Ear Beard, in a matter of months.

Things Dan Likes: REM, coffee, bananas, drinking beers with mom, his friends, his beard, other people's beards, other people's friends, other people's friends' beards, winning kickball games, Deer Tick.

Things Dan Dislikes: deer ticks, celery, slow walkers, pants, waking up, cuticles, doing dishes, hearing how Hannah thinks he owes her $50.

E-Mail Dan: dan@spectremusic.com

Aris Wales (Loud Rock Promotions) joined SPECTRE as an intern at the end of June 2008. During his intern stint he decided that SPECTRE needed to join the loud rock ranks. So he began building Thunderball Media, the new loud rock division of SPECTRE. Along with chasing his promoter dreams, you can find Aris playing the drums in three bands, DJing metal at several bars in town, or booking shows for local and traveling bands.

Things Aris Likes: “Evil” music, candy, band shirts, buying music in obsolete formats, live music in small clubs or basements, giving “metal lessons,” leaving Halloween decorations up all year long, Canadian Tuxedos, placing his belly button lint on Hannah’s desk.

Things Aris Dislikes: Greatest hits albums, technological advancements, money, elitists, people who think women can’t play metal or rock and roll, bands that unnaturally “evolve” to sell records.

E-Mail Aris: thunderball@spectregroup.net

Elliot Blair (Hip Hop Promotions Coordinator)
The Big Bad Bun.
A classically trained musician (that can hardly read music anymore), that makes beats and drops cupcakes. At age 4, he was introduced to music, by his father, who gave him a beer and sang him this song:

"Elliot Blair is a boy,
He's a biiiiig boy.
He goes potty in the potty chair and he wears big booooy underwear,
Elliot Spencer Blair."

Holler at your baby hat or take the worms out your purse - it don't matter, so long as the big boys are on and BUCKLED.

Things Elliot likes: things, Donald Duck, Big Bear (40's) and Winnie the Pooh.

Things Elliot dislikes: Nothing. His oneness with all the world and space, has led him to a life of tolerance and acceptance. But so help you lawd, if you dare:
hold eye contact for too long, don't make eye contact at all, only make a little eye contact or make just a little too much eye contact,
Terror will reign...terror.

E-Mail Elliot: elliot@spectregroup.net