Meet The Host!
Phil Hayes began his endeavors in public speaking/presentation at a young age in the church, having appeared in various plays and projects in the Miles Chapel C.M.E. Youth Church Choir, located in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Throughout his junior high- and high school years, he won numerous speech- and oratorical contests and continued to hone his skills against the best in the area.
In 1987, he was crowned Mr. Black Teen World of Arkansas and over one month later, came within a handful of points of becoming Mr. Black Teen World International in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; he was 1st runner-up. This pageant was based on scholastic aptitude for future college-bound students. By placing 1st runner-up, Phil received various limited scholarships, but one stood out above all: a 4-year full academic scholarship to the pre-eminent Howard University, located in Washington, D.C.
Also in this same year (1987) while in high school, he continued his interest in mass communications by studying at Metropolitan Vo-Tech School, as part of the ‘Extended Day’ Program, a co-op venture with the Little Rock School District, where he learned – what else – Radio and TV Production.
The crowning achievement of this hard work and dedication came when one year later in 1988, he became an on-air radio persona at KZ-95 FM, and 4 months later, at Power 92 FM, both in Little Rock, Arkansas, which at age 17, undoubtedly made him among the youngest FCC-licensed radio talents in the entire country.
Utilizing his scholarship, he attended Howard University in the Fall of 1989. Throughout the better part of 4 years until his graduation in May of 1993, Phil achieved many great successes, among them being a 3-year member of the Howard University Chorale, Mr. Howard University 1992-1993, and Co-Captain of the 1993 Howard University Knowledge Bowl Team.
Immediately after graduation, Phil beat out over 125 applicants to become the National Media Internship Winner for Greater Media, Inc. located in Braintree, Massachusetts; this media conglomerate owns hundreds of print- and electronic major market media stations throughout the country. During this internship, Phil showed his creativity by recording national radio/TV spots for corporations such as 7-11 and Coca Cola in Boston, producing and part-time hosting a cable access show in Philadelphia, simultaneously producing two (2) AM talk radio shows in Washington, D.C., and by writing, co-producing and performing the jingle for national dating service Together Dating.
Phil is near completion of a Master of Arts degree in Legal and Ethical Studies at the University of Baltimore in Maryland. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., whom he’s also produced videos for.
In the years since, he’s been uniquely involved in voice-over work and video production, having produced commercials for Doritos, PepsiMax, M&T Bank, the fashion company Marc Ecko, as well as producing a video compile for The Honorable Steny Hoyer, U.S. Congressman from Maryland.
It is this real-world vision that he brings to this media endeavor: “In the KNOW” with Phil Hayes!!