A Look At The Career of DBI's Gavin Henry

What began as a part-time gig for Columbus State University graduate Gavin Henry has turned into a rewarding, full-fledged career in radio.

Henry's story began in 2019; after a year into podcasting, he decided to take a chance and apply for a part-time weekend position at Davis Broadcastings (DBI) radio station Foxie 105. That's when "In the Shop with Gavo" was born as a late-night show that aired on Saturdays.

He continued to work part-time for a year and a half until a full-time role opened up in the production department as an assistant production manager.

"I knew I wanted to make radio my full-time job, something I could pay my bills with. But waiting around for a full-time on-air position wasn't realistic, so I took every opportunity I could," he said.

His dedication and ambition paid off when Henry was promoted to production manager in just two years.

Although Henry said he was not familiar with the job, it allowed him to grow and learn even more about the industry.

During this time, Henry worked closely with Karen Robinson, the promotions manager, and his background in communications and public relations made him a natural fit to assist with promotions as needed. 

When Robinson passed away earlier this year, Henry stepped in as the interim promotions manager, taking on both the production and promotions responsibilities for nine months. 

Again, he was rewarded for his hard work and was recently promoted to promotions manager.

"It means a lot to me," said Henry, reflecting on how far he's gone in the last five years. "Davis Broadcasting is a black-owned company that really values hard work. They've given me room to grow in ways I didn't expect. There's no ceiling here, and that's something I really appreciate."

Henry's goal is strengthening the bond between the station and the local community. DBI has a long tradition of giving back, from turkey giveaways at Thanksgiving to Christmas events and back-to-school drives.

"These are things we don't have to do, but we do them because we care about our listeners and our community," Henry said.

As promotions manager, he plans to "adapt, grow, and take on new heights" by refining current processes and developing innovative ways to connect with the company's audience.

When he's not working behind the scenes, you can catch Henry every Sunday night from 6 to 9 p.m. on his show: "In The Shop with Gavo," or download the Foxie 105 app to tune in live if you're not in the Tri-City area. Keep up with Henry on Instagram @gavos_world and Facebook at Gavin Henry.