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The veteran broadcaster was described as ?a missionary for the cause of the communications medium he worked for during his distinguished career? by former RAB President Miles David. Trakina spent 15 years at the RAB reaching Senior Vice President. He created the original ?Idearama? conferences, popular in the 70?s, and produced two successful RAB National Sales Conferences in Las Vegas in the 80?s. He became known as a master trainer, committed to teaching sales people to become top professionals, to win by focusing on the client?s needs, and developing ideas to help them do so. Trakina, also known as Joe Vincent, was 84.
Graduating from the Beck Radio Institute in Minneapolis, MN at age 18, Trakina began his 52 years in the media by traveling south to Decatur, AL for his first job on WMSL. He later became TV weatherman at sister station WMSL/TV, ?Uncle Joe? on ?The Birthday Lady? show, and crooned classics and love songs on his own weekly TV show, ?Music with Joe and Jack.?
After moving into radio advertising sales and station management, by age 32, Joe had successfully placed two stations on the air in South Georgia - WSIZ in Ocilla/Fitzgerald and WOKA in Douglas. In 1965, Joe stepped into the role of Station Manager for WLIQ in Mobile, AL. Three years later, the Radio Advertising Bureau, New York, recruited Joe and named him Southeastern Regional Manager based out of Atlanta.
He was devoted to raising awareness of radio?s strengths and growing radio?s market share. As a mentor to many, he radiated his passion and enthusiasm for the medium he loved. ?Radio ? Red hot because it works.?
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