Ace of Trades: Small town guy makes it big in broadcast business
COSHOCTON – Growing up in a small town, he had a dream to be a broadcaster – and live in a small town.
“Sports was a big part of my life growing up,” said Casey Claxon. “With seven siblings, we always had a ball game going on in our yard. As a kid, I dreamed of being a sportscaster, radio specifically.
“I idolized local broadcasters in the Portsmouth, Ashland and Huntington area along the Ohio River,” he continued. “My parents were high school classmates with a local broadcaster, Dave Lemon, who worked at a Portsmouth radio station. They encouraged me to ask him about going to a few games to get a feel for the radio business, so I shadowed him a few games. During my senior year of high school, I got to help broadcast a high school football game and four high school basketball games.”
After college, he became sports director for a radio station in Wheelersburg. In 1996 he moved to Newark to work in radio another nine years.
Then in 2004 life took a bit of a turn.
Claxon and his family moved to Coshocton County. He spent a couple years as executive director at Kids America. Then in 2007 he started working at Novelty Advertising. He worked there five years – and that’s where, he said, he learned the print and promotional business.
Today, Claxon is owner of Claxon Communications in Coshocton.
“Within the company, I have two divisions,” he said. “Claxon Custom Printing & Promotions is the print and promotions side of the business. Claxon Communications is the full-service and video production side.”
Now 50, Claxon grew up in South Webster, a small village in Scioto County, graduated from South Webster High School, then earned a degree in communications from Mount Vernon Nazarene University – where he also played soccer four years. Claxon Communications was a part-time venture from 2004 until 2012. He went full time in 2013.
“I wear many hats,” he said. “On the print and promotions side, I work in sales, creative, production and fulfillment. On the video side, I work as a producer. Setting up graphics before the games, assigning the video crew, switching cameras during the game – overall, producing the live video shoot during the game.
“Live streaming high school sports is my niche and truly my passion,” he noted. “Radio is also a huge passion of mine. Helping radio stations evolve into video production companies with video and graphics is very rewarding. When COVID appeared, I also helped several area churches setup live streaming capabilities for their congregations.”
“Casey offers quality service and has a great team of producers and camera operators,” assessed Adam Ciereszewski, sports director and media consultant at WTUZ Radio in New Philadelphia. “Honestly, I feel what separates Casey from many others is his focus on detail and always looking at ways to improve every broadcast. Partnering with Casey was a great move, and we look forward to doing so for many years to come.”
“I’ve always been a small town guy,” Claxon responded. “My years living in Licking County and Coshocton County have been so rewarding. Through the advancement of technology (computers, internet, etc.) I’ve been able to pursue my passion – while living in a small town.”
Claxon Communications is located at 316 N. 3rd Street in Coshocton. For more information, email caseyclaxon@gmail.com or log on www.caseyclaxon.com.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at ctnews@coshoctontribune.com.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Small town guy makes it big in broadcast business
