Nomenclature:

You may be asking yourself “how in the world did a guy like Keith Conrad end up starting a website called “ProductionNinja.com?”

The story is very different from what you may think. Years ago my very first job was chopping vegetables in a grocery store. Showing that the powers that be at Albertson’s in Aurora, CO didn’t know me very well, I was trusted to use many very large and very sharp knives. One of my co-workers always called me the “Produce Ninja.”

When I eventually retired from my stellar vegetable cutting career and started in radio, calling my site “ProductionNinja” seemed far more unique and original than something like “KeithConrad.com” or “Homesickforchicago.com.” I made my choice, and I stand by it.

Keith Conrad: (From BigJohnandAmy.com)

Keith was born in Elgin, IL and grew up in Streamwood. But somewhere along the line something went terribly wrong… the Conrad family moved all the way to Huntsville, AL. Keith has never quite recovered. Although his dad is a rocket scientist, Keith gave up the fame and money of the US space program for a career in broadcasting.

Keith began his radio career the day after the 2000 Presidential election, at News/Talk 770 WVNN in Huntsville, AL. For five years he worked as the morning producer, the afternoon producer and the official radio station car washer.

From Huntsville, Keith finally made his way back to the midwest and spent two years serving as the morning producer for News/Talk 1130 WISN in Milwaukee. Things were going great until he and the rest of the morning show fell victim to The Great Clear Channel Purge of 2007. Since he was unemployed before the economic collapse, Keith likes to think that makes him a trendsetter.

Keith quickly recovered and took a job as the morning producer for WGST radio in Atlanta, where he survived The Great Clear Channel Purge of 2009. As much as he enjoyed the 105 degree summers and constantly being called a “Yankee” and “Carpetbagger,” Keith wanted to go back home to his Chicago roots. In July of 2009 he finally got the call from 560 WIND, so he packed up his Foreman Grill and his Xbox and drove across the country through the night to be the producer for Big John and Amy.