Tonya Rivens' new groove

Full Article

Tonya Rivens' new groove

By Michaela L. Duckett – November 28, 2011

Font Size:

Share:

Radio personality, TV reporter, businesswoman and philanthropist Tonya Rivens.

Many Charlotteans know Tonya Rivens from her long-running work on local radio, but there’s much more to her than that.

Not only is she currently the host of Sunday Morning Inspirations with Tonya Rivens on WPEG (Power 98, 97.9 FM), she’s also a businesswoman, a philanthropist and — most recently — a TV reporter.

Of course, it wasn’t too long ago that Rivens was almost exclusively embroiled in the world of radio. And throughout her radio career, she’s worn many hats — from on-air personality to program director, music director and community affairs director. In addition to working for WPEG, Rivens has also done stints at WBAV (V-101.9 FM), WPZS (100.9 FM) and WGIV (103.3 FM)

But after spending nearly 15 years in radio, Rivens opted for a change. On Nov. 14, she embarked on a new venture — stepping from behind the microphone to in front of the camera to take on the role of afternoon traffic reporter on WBTV.

Rivens says that being on TV is exciting, but it’s is taking some getting used to. One of the biggest adjustments for her has been getting used to wearing makeup … something she says she is “totally clueless” about.

“I’ve gone from wearing makeup maybe one day a week to five or six days,” she says. “I’m just a country girl, so this is a big adjustment for me.”

Although she’s been at it for about seven years now, Rivens is also still adjusting to life as a businesswoman and philanthropist. She owns The Rivens Business Center in Cornelius; the center houses a hair salon, a barbershop and a nonprofit resource center under her Ausie Rivens Scholarship Foundation.

Rivens created the foundation in 2004 in honor of her grandfather, who, she says, was the first black barber in Cornelius. The ARSF has provided five scholarships to date for area teens to pursue careers in barber styling. The nonprofit also sponsors youth camps, field trips and an annual outdoor gospel celebration known as Praise in the Park. In July, the foundation began offering a GED lab, taught by an instructor from Central Piedmont Community College.

Still, with all that she is, there's one thing that Rivens is quick to tell you that she’s not.

“I am not an R&B chic.”

That’s why last year, when she was working at WGIV and the station began to switch to an R&B format, Rivens decided she had to jump ship.

“You have to stay true to who you are,” she says.

At the time, some folks may have thought she was crazy. She was, after all, a single mother who left her job in the midst of a recession without having another one lined up. But she says for her it was the right thing to do. She does admit, however, that a couple of weeks after handing in her resignation, she began to wonder where the money would come from to pay her bills. Yet, she didn’t waiver in her beliefs.

“I needed peace,” says Rivens. “My mindset is that I will always find a job because there is not a job that I can’t do. I will sweep someone’s floor. I don’t have a problem taking any job to support me and my son — as long as it’s legal.”

It’s been nearly a year since she left WGIV. Within two months of her last day at the station, she was already back to hosting her Sunday morning inspirational show on WPEG, which ironically is the station where she got her start in radio more than a decade ago. Now that she’s back at Power 98, she says she is “grateful for the opportunity to be back where it all began.”

That said, in early 2011, Rivens decided to branch out in the pursuit of radio syndication with the creation of Gospel Insight with Tonya Rivens. Less than a year later, the show is now featured on WYPJ (Joy 95.3 FM) in Anderson, S.C., and WBLA (Shine 1440 AM) in Elizabethtown, N.C.

Through the all ups and downs, Rivens says she strives to live by the mantra: “Life challenges make you better, not bitter.” As a result, she looks for the silver lining in any situation — including her own challenges.

“Even at my toughest times, when I’ve cried all through the night. I think to myself, if I can just make it through the night, I can start all over again and give it another shot,” she says. “And that’s what I always do.”