Dennis' humble beginning in radio — How helping others helps YOU!

Once upon a time many years ago, I was an 18 year old kid looking for any break possible to get into radio. One of the kids I grew up with in Delran had a parent who worked at a small radio station a few towns away.

Her name is Fran Stone and she was a working mom who did a little talk show called "Buy, Trade & Sell" on WJJZ in Mount Holly. When I graduated from broadcasting school and was determined to start my career, I reached out to her for advice and a contact. She helped set up an interview for me at the station.

They had just hired someone, but were nice enough to steer me to another small station that was "looking for new people"! I drove straight there and knocked on the door and they gave me an interview. Two weeks later I started my first job at WRDR in Hammonton, New Jersey.

I was always thankful to Fran for giving me the entre into radio. One of her children tracked me down a few months ago and invited me to her 85th birthday party. She told me it would be great if I would show up and surprised her on her birthday since she was proud of the fact that she helped me launch my career.

A few weeks ago, I went to her son's house and reunited with Fran and her kids. It had been a long, long time. Fran looked amazing and it was great to catch up with everybody. Last week I got a handwritten note in the mail thanking me for coming to the party. Something you don't see often anymore and I cherished that note.

(Dennis Malloy/Townsquare Media)

Fran is not the only one to help me move up along the way and I've never forgotten each and every person that took the time and good will to help me along the way. I've always prided myself in trying to pay that back over the years.

If you have the good fortune to be able to help someone by giving them an opportunity or sharing your knowledge to help up the ladder, do it! Trust me, the feeling and the reward is immeasurable.

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Dennis and Judi are on the air weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tweet them at @DennisandJudi or @NJ1015.