Chris Fickes ’80 completed his Television-Radio degree in three years. His credits include co-hosting Bombers Football Pre and Post Game on WICB-FM, where he also served as Assistant News Director; News Director for ICTV, hosting “Health Capsule,” a health program that took you in the operating room for cutting edge procedures and encouraged healthy living, and anchoring and reporting for WTKO-AM.
From 1980-1993, Chris anchored and reported at WILK-AM/Wilkes-Barre, WEEX-AM/Easton, PA, and at WHP-AM-FM-TV/Harrisburg. In Wilkes-Barre and Easton, he won awards for breaking news reporting and public affairs. In Harrisburg, Chris led both the TV and Radio news departments before being named Operations Manager of WHP-AM, moving it to the News/Talk format, and tripling its ratings. 20 more journalism awards came during the Harrisburg years.
After the sale of WHP-AM/FM, Chris rejoined his family’s pet food business, Deep Run Packing Company, as Executive Vice President-Human Resources. Working closely with floor associates, he developed a gainsharing program that saw those on the plant floor earn more money as the company recorded larger profits, reduced safety incidents by 80 percent, and increased productivity by more than 50 percent. Following the sale of the business in 1998, Chris joined the successor firm, Doane Pet Care, as Regional HR Manager, and spent the next eight years traveling more than a million miles, working to improve engagement, productivity, and safety with teams at the companies’ 30 facilities across the U.S.
In 2001, Chris started CKF Consulting (CKFC) after frequent HR questions from local Chamber of Commerce members. Over the past 20 years, CKFC has worked with HR clients in the printing, aviation, equine, and pet food businesses. He has also taught leadership classes for the Chamber and clients.
In 2009, on a tip from one of his ICTV colleagues---almost thirty years after graduation---Chris became one of the original Ballpark Camera techs for The MLB Network. With no technical skill set (other than editing his Doorknob film), Chris built training modules and game reporting systems based on his work at the ballparks and his HR experiences. In 2011, MLB hired CKFC to crew techs for MLB parks and to train new techs. 11 years and more than 7,500 games later, CKFC staffs seven major league parks.
In 2013, already employing a few “fellow Bombers,” Chris started an internship program at IC that later became a paid summer employment program for students at the parks CKFC crews. Close to two dozen Bombers have worked as part of the CKFC team. Chris is an annual visitor to IC, doing workshops and sitting in on classes, reviewing reels and discussing career paths with students. He also works with grads who are working professionally, offering pointers on their shows, working on reels, helping with resumes, and assisting with negotiating contracts. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Park School.
Chris often reminds Park students that being a Bomber is a life-long commitment. He is a firm believer that Park grads can be job creators, opening doors for Park students. He always adds, with a smile, “that after you run through the door, it’s your work that determines your future. But know we are here to listen and advise, and we root for your success, which is our success.”
Chris Fickes ’80 will return to South Hill September 30 and October 1. A TV-R grad, Chris co-hosted Bombers Football Pre and Post Game on WICB-FM, where he also served as Assistant News Director; News Director for ICTV, hosted “Health Capsule,” and anchored and reported for WTKO-AM.
From 1980-1993, Chris anchored and reported at WILK-AM/Wilkes-Barre, WEEX-AM/Easton, PA, and at WHP-AM-FM-TV/Harrisburg. At WHP, Chris led both the TV and Radio news departments before being named Operations Manager of WHP-AM, moving it to the News/Talk format, and tripling its ratings. Chris won two dozen journalism awards during those 13 years.
After the sale of WHP-AM/FM, Chris rejoined his family’s pet food business, Deep Run Packing Company, as Executive Vice President-Human Resources. His time there included implementing a gainsharing program that paid plant floor associates for hitting company goals, improving plant safety, and increasing productivity by more than 50 percent. Following the sale of the business in 1998, Chris joined the successor firm, Doane Pet Care, as Regional HR Manager, and spent the next eight years working with teams at the companies’ 30 facilities across the U.S.
In 2001, Chris started CKF Consulting (CKFC). Over the past 20 years, CKFC has worked with HR clients in invitation printing, aviation, equine, and pet food businesses. He has also taught leadership classes for the Chamber and clients.
In 2009, on a tip from one of his ICTV colleagues---almost thirty years after graduation---Chris became one of the original Ballpark Camera techs for The MLB Network. In 2011, MLB hired CKFC to crew techs for MLB parks and to train new techs. 11 years and more than 7,500 games later, CKFC staffs seven major league parks. During that time, close to two dozen Bombers have worked as part of the CKFC team.
Chris is an annual visitor to IC, doing workshops and sitting in on classes, reviewing reels and discussing career paths with students. He also works with grads who are working professionally and serves on the Advisory Board for the Park School.