Holly Swanson, 33

By Mary Erpenbach

As a college student at Lake Forest, Holly Swanson double-majored in philosophy and psychology. But it was the time she spent away from the books that determined her future.

“My roommate and I were dee-jays at the college radio station,” she says, “ and from there I started interning at different Chicagoland radio and television stations.”

Today Swanson, who grew up in Long Grove and Barrington, is general manager of Rockford’s Total Living Network station, TV51. She directed the committee that put it on the air here in 2001 and has been general manager ever since.

She’s also turned TV51 into an award winner. Among the station’s honors are two awards from the national Community Broadcasting Association and a 2005 National Religious Broadcasters designation as Station of the Year.

While her viewers are no doubt glad she didn’t become a psychologist, Swanson sees clear parallels between what she intended to do with her life and what she’s ended up doing. “I’ve always felt this need to help others, and the technology of broadcasting means I can create something here in our studio and reach 350,000 people,” she explains.

Make that 350,000 listeners and counting. Swanson is so active in Rockford’s public service and business communities that the number of people she reaches is growing on a daily basis.

“As dedicated to Total Living Network as she is, Holly still has a heart to see people and animals alike live happy and healthy lives,” says Barbara Seaworth, office assistant at the station.

Swanson helps Winnebago County Animal Services raise money, encourages healthy eating through Vegetarians in Motion, and nurtures two girls as a MELD mentor. She was the force behind On The Waterfront’s Family Station stage for a number of years, and brought the three-day extravaganza, Youth With A Mission’s Impact World Tour, to the Metro Centre in 2007.