Meet Jessie B. Turner
In 2010 Charleston was graced with new residents when Jessie B. Turner and her husband decided to venture to the East Coast. It was at the recommendation of a friend’s sister who had vacationed in the Holy City that they decided to check out Charleston and its surrounding areas before making a definitive decision. Proclaiming to not spend another winter in Wisconsin, they chose beach over mountains and to make the Low Country their new home.
Jessie’s marketing experience gained her employment with a local digital marketing company called The Modern Connection, which promotes marketing advice, website information and small-business guidance on their popular Web Wednesday segments presented on local radio station, 105.5 The Bridge. It was during those on-air session visits that Jessie could meet the staff and radio personalities and, struck a friendship with Operations Manager/Program Director and On-Air Personality Matthew Potter.
Looking for something else to do with her time, Jessie approached Matthew about the possibility of any position that might be available at the station. She was immediately hired as the co-host to the popular “Box in the Morning” airing Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. This is her first-ever radio personality position, and having just completed her second year, she says she loves every minute of it and learns every day.
In addition to her popularity at The Bridge, Jessie continues her work with The Modern Connection in website development and digital marketing for small businesses. She also co-owns a dog grooming, daycare and boarding facility on James Island, Head to Tail Day Spa & Inn.
When asked about her “DJ job” Jessie says, “Working in radio, I try to be conscious of the diverse audience I am speaking to but still have my opinion and not lose sight of who I am. Box and I have our ‘banter moments,’ and although we are both opinionated, we try to bring empathy and knowledge whenever we have the microphone. I am not comfortable speaking about things I do not have knowledge of or am not passionate about.”
Looking across from me, at this tiny, articulate, feisty redhead, I asked Jessie what sort of things she was passionate about: “I am passionate about women’s issues. Empowerment and their role in society. I want every woman to know that she can do great things. So, with my microphone, I try to convey, ‘How can I help you be all you are destined to be?’” She does not want to be perceived as “untouchable,” as her email and Twitter are public and she loves connecting with others and working with people. “I am given a microphone every day and a voice, but I want to make sure I never forget what a privilege that is, and I never want to take that for granted,” she says.
Jessie has spoken locally at the Center for Women, taught classes as a guest teacher at the College of Charleston and has spoken at the Charleston Metro Chamber as well. She typically talks about helping small businesses with their marketing and ways to promote themselves. Jessie proceeds by saying she loves doing radio, wants to continue to be more involved on a personal level with Charleston’s women, become an advocate for others and even has her sights set on serving in local government in the future. Jessie went on to say, “Charleston has so many communities, like Johns Island, where I live, that need to keep their authenticity, diversity and stories. As these communities grow, we need to make sure we’re protecting what makes them special and unique. I realize I’m a transplant, but I strongly believe that people who live in Charleston, and who have called it home for generations, should be able to always call it home.”
Wrapping up, I asked Jessie if she had a motto or phrase that she had adopted to her life. Her reply was quick and left me speechless, so I’ll wrap this up with that. Smiling, she said, “I do. It’s actually a tattoo on my shoulder and is a quote from Shakespeare that says, ‘Though she be but little, she is fierce.’”
Originally from a seriously small town in Western Kansas, Jessica made her way to Charleston via Wisconsin in 2010 to escape the brutal winters. Jessica Turner is an On Air/Web & Social Coordinator for WYBB 98 Rock/WCOO 105.5 The Bridge in Charleston, SC. When she’s not keeping “Box” in line during the morning show on The Bridge, Jessica is a Digital Coordinator with The Modern Connection, and is a co-owner of Head to Tail Day Spa & Inn on James Island. She and her husband, Nate, live on Johns Island with their small herd of animals – three cats and two dogs. or speaking engagements contact Jessie by email at jessica@radioofcharleston.com or on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram as @JessieBTurner. or just email her and tell her how FABULOUS you read she was in our Field Of View section of Focus on Fabulous magazine.