Meet Our Team

LILA HARSTAD

OWNER/GENERAL MANAGER

Lila is the owner/general manager of Rugby Broadcasters. She is involved in sales, accounting, and production. She started as the general manager of KZZJ radio in November 1999, and became the only sole female owner of a radio station in North Dakota in January 2003. Prior to her life at KZZJ radio, Lila was the owner of ‘Communications Network’—selling Motorola 2-way radios. She has also worked as a salesperson at D&S Motors and the Pierce County Tribune. Lila grew up in Minot and has a daughter, Allison, and son, Arron. Her hobbies are gardening and walking.

BRUCE ALLEN

NEWS DIRECTOR

Bruce is the News Director at Rugby Broadcasters INC and has been in Rugby since December of 2002. Bruce grew up in Madison, South Dakota; attended Broadcast School in Austin, Minnesota; and worked in news production at KAVT Public TV & Radio in 1980 while attending school in Austin. Bruce has worked as a Morning Announcer at KDAK in Carrington, KHND in Harvey, KHOL in Beulah, Middays at KBMW in Wahpeton, and 12 years as News Director at KNDK in Langdon. Bruce served as City Ward 1 Councilman for 16 years and currently sits on the CVB Board of Directors.

DJ ANDERSON

ON-AIR

David John (DJ) Anderson is a fourth generation funeral director, born and raised in Rugby. DJ is a 1979 graduate of Rugby High School. DJ joined the Rugby Broadcasters staff in 2009 as a sports director, and received a North Dakota Teddy Award in 2013 for Best Radio Sports Coverage.

BRYCE EDMUNDS

ON-AIR

Bryce Edmunds, a/k/a Bryce Berginski, grew up in Rugby and is a 2007 graduate of Rugby High School and a 2012 graduate of Minot State University with a degree in Broadcasting. Prior to joining Rugby Broadcasters, he did a stint at the Pierce County Tribune. Catch him from 6-10 Monday thru Thursday mornings on THE COMMUTE, 10-1 Monday thru Friday on the Mid-Morning/Lunch Rush, and 1-5 Fridays for the ROCK BLOCK on KKWZ.

JERRY HEALY

ON-AIR

After a long career of helping so many young people find their way in life as a guidance counselor, Jerry found a second career in broadcasting. Jerry can be heard Sunday mornings, and on various sports broadcasts.

JAYSON O’CONNELL,

SPORTS

Jayson is a sports broadcaster for Rugby Broadcasters INC and mainly covers Rugby Panther sports. He is involved in sales and production and is on air Monday through Thursdays from 1-3 p.m. and Fridays from 6-10 a.m. on KKWZ. He is originally from Burlington, New Jersey and graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 2023 with a major in broadcast journalism and a minor in sports studies. While at Penn State, Jayson provided play-by-play and color commentary for the student radio station, CommRadio, and its broadcasts of Nittany Lion basketball, soccer, baseball and more. He also filmed, produced and anchored for the Penn State's high school highlight show, After the Whistle. Jayson interned as a play-by-play announcer in the summer of 2023 with the Boonville Lumberjacks (New York) of the PGCBL and in 2022 with the Trenton Generals and South Jersey Kings (New Jersey) of the ACBL.

BROCK WEIDNER

SPORTS

Brock is the play-by-play voice of the TGU Titans. Brock grew up in Dickinson, North Dakota and attended the University of South Dakota where he covered the Coyotes for their student station and athletic department broadcasts. He has also been one of the announcers at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan for their races on Friday nights. When he's not calling games, you can catch him on KZZJ from 6-10 a.m.

RICO ZINCK

ON-AIR

Hear "Rico", a/k/a Tucker Zinck Monday thru Thursday afternoons at 3 on KKWZ.

BONNIE KUEHNEMUND

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

As a retired chief financial officer and accountant, Bonnie knows her way around a ledger. She works part-time for Rugby Broadcasters and takes care of all the billing.