SARAH JORDAN f you ’ ve turned on your car radio at some point in the last decade , you ’ ve almost certainly heard the bubbly , vivacious voice of Sarah Jordan .
A true radio success story who has gone from intern to on-air personality to marketing director , Jordan has led a genuinely remarkable career , and her winning blend of superb talent and stunning personality makes her one of the community ’ s most revered public figures .
I first met Sarah when I was an intern at 99.7 DJX in 2011 . As I began to work regularly with her , what always struck me most was her nonstop positive energy . She was always fully committed to helping me learn and gave me opportunities that I still credit as being highly impactful to my work today .
Personally , she always carried a contagious shine and lit up the room whenever she walked in . She and I would get overly emotional about reality TV contestants together and talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the latest singles ( and fashions ) from Lady Gaga , Katy Perry and Taylor Swift . I learned so much from Sarah , and it ’ s no surprise to me that she ’ s risen to the heights that she has .
She ’ s been in radio for 12 years , and most listeners were first introduced to her when she was the night show host on DJX . When she became a mom , she transitioned to day shifts and worked mornings on 102.3 , another of the five stations clustered under Alpha Media Louisville . Now , she ’ s the marketing director of all five brands , which include 99.7 DJX and 102.3 Jack FM as well as B96.5 , Magic 101.3 and G105.1 .
Jordan is keen to note that as she has gone from a wife to a first-time mother to now a mom of two , her career has simultaneously grown and developed . “ When I was pregnant with my son , I was still doing nights on DJX , and I kept thinking that that was not going to work being a mom , and then I transitioned to doing a daytime shift and that worked better ,” she remembers . “ And so , as I ’ ve grown up as a mom , I do feel like my job has matured as I ’ ve matured – now in this level of management where I am with my two kids versus where I was when I just started having kids and was still a night show host on DJX .”
Regardless of her position , however , her passion for her industry has never faltered : “ My favorite thing about radio ,” she says , “ is that it changes every single day . The landscape is constantly changing , mostly due to social media . Every day , we have to keep up with the latest technology , what ’ s trending on social media and what ’ s trending in the music world . So , every day is something different , and that ’ s my favorite thing about radio because just when you think you ’ ve figured it out , it changes the next day .”
Off the clock , Jordan spends as much time as she can with her husband as well as her two beautiful children . Currently , the crew resides in Jeffersonville and is actively building a house in Floyds Knobs . “ Southern Indiana has always been my home – that ’ s where I grew up and where I went to high school and now my husband and I have lived here since 2009 ,” Jordan says . “ We decided we wanted to raise our kids in the New Albany Floyd County school system , so we ’ re building back up in the Knobs now .”
Although Jordan is eminently ingrained in the culture of Louisville , she insists her love for Southern Indiana is strong and indeed emphasizes her appreciation for getting to split her time across the two states . “ I like the small-town feel of Southern Indiana – I think it ’ s because I grew up there that it feels like home to me ,” she enthuses . “ I love Louisville , I work in Louisville and I probably spend more hours of my days in Louisville , but I like that I can cross the bridge and dance on both sides .”
Although Jordan is always busy – whether at work or at home – no time of the year is more demanding than Derby season , which is rapidly approaching .
Jordan has always relished Derby season and was actually a Derby princess in 2009 . But this year , she ’ s going even further into the whirlwind by serving on the Kentucky Derby Festival board . Her work with the radio stations has her grooving around town already , and being on the board ensures it ’ ll be hard to find an event she won ’ t be attending .
But she ’ s up for the challenge and is sure to not only show up , but show up in style . “ Obviously , I ’ m excited to figure out what to wear to the track because it ’ s always a task , but at the same time , one of my favorite things is pulling together hats and dresses and jewelry and evening gowns ,” she maintains . “ There is nothing like it .”
As far as her favorite event of Derby season , Jordan insists she can ’ t pick just one but does assert that one of the greatest experiences of the week is actually one of the less glamorous : “ If you ever have the chance to be on the backside of Churchill Downs during Derby week , watching the sun rise between the Twin Spires and seeing those Derby horses practice for their big two minutes of fame – the sound of the hooves , it ’ s chilly , it ’ s damp , the sun ’ s rising , it is perfect .”
Although visiting the backside in the early morning may be a highlight , Jordan emphasizes that it ’ s more about the energy of the week than anything else , living through the hum of Derby week and embracing its nonstop excitement .
“ When it ’ s Derby week , there ’ s a buzz in the city ,” says Jordan . “ I don ’ t care if you are walking down Fourth Street Live !, if you are you are at your house , if you hear airplanes flying in the sky or are you ’ re stepping on to the track . There is a certain energy that is around this entire city , and I think it ’ s because it knows it is being watched by the entire world for that one week .”
APRIL / MAY 2018 : EXTOL 65