Steve Linder

Inducted 2015

Steve Linder grew up with the radio business, learning from his grandfather, Harry, and father, Bill, who started KWLM Willmar in 1940. After receiving a BA in business administration from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1972, Steve returned to Willmar to help build his family’s FM station. Started as KWLM-FM in 1965, its call letters were changed to KQIC in 1972. Steve became involved in all aspects of the business, serving as general manager and leading the transformation to a creative contemporary music format with great local personalities. In 1990 he purchased Lakeland Broadcasting. He added KOLV in 1998 and KLFN in 2003. Steve is also a partner in the Linder Farm Network.

Steve has made a commitment to strengthening Lakeland Broadcasting’s core purpose of connecting, entertaining, and serving the Willmar community. With its local service model, Lakeland Broadcasting continues to grow with a talented staff of local broadcasters. Steve has been very involved in community leadership. He and his family have been recognized by the Willmar Area Community Foundation with the Award in Philanthropy, and he has actively served the industry throughout his career on the boards of the Minnesota Broadcasters Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, and the Pavek Museum