A VOICE FOR
WEST VIRGINIA
innovative broadcasts. At one point, the
stations broadcasted various sporting
events at all local high schools, FSU and
WVU. While Fantasia loved the work, he
realized his dedication to the business
and the town of Fairmont left little time
for his family and friends. After 30 years
of success, Fantasia sold the business to
Spectrum Radio Group in 2 013.
EMBRACING PUBLIC SERVICE
For some, being a successful businessman
would be enough, but Fantasia has worked
his entire life to establish himself as a
community leader and public servant.
Husband. Father. Businessman. Politician.
Car enthusiast. Radio guru.
All can be used to describe Nick L.
Fantasia. A lifelong resident of Fairmont,
WV, Fantasia is best-known for Fantasia
Broadcasting, a four-station radio group
with exclusive rights to NASCAR and
Pittsburgh Steelers broadcasts and the
flagship group for West Virginia University
(WVU) sports broadcasting.
DIALING IN TO A PASSION
Fantasia has a rich history of working in
radio, which started when he worked for
his father’s business after graduating from
Fairmont State University (FSU) in 1985
with degrees in business administration
and secondary education. Following their
successful application for the company’s
first FM station, WRLF, in 1989, the father-
son duo added four more stations between
1990 and 2008.
Fantasia maintained this booming business
while simultaneously serving as the mayor
of Fairmont from 1996-2006. During its
reign, Fantasia Broadcasting worked to
engage surrounding communities with
32
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
He has worked on economic development
in Marion County for more than 20 years,
serving on the Marion County Development
Authority and as president of the Marion
Regional Development Corporation since
1996. Fantasia was part of the team that
created the I-79 Technology Park and four
additional sold-out business parks. He
has also served both the Marion County
Multimodal Transportation Study and the
Fairmont Coke Works Community Liaison
Panel, and beyond the borders of Marion
County, Fantasia has served as a member
of the governor’s council for government
reorganization and a board member for the
Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences and
Leadership West Virginia.
Politically active as well, Fantasia has been
elected five times to serve on Fairmont’s
city council and served as deputy mayor
from 1994-1996 in addition to his role as
mayor. The same drive he showed for his
radio business was also reflected in his
tenure as mayor, during which time he and
his team expanded the city limits by 1,000
acres; oversaw the construction of the new
public safety building, four major bridges,
multiple water and sewer plants and two
new parking structures; and revitalized the
downtown area. Along with Congressman
Alan Mollohan, Fantasia also championed
the Gateway Connector project, which
brought a new access highway from I-79
to downtown Fairmont.
Fantasia not only places emphasis on
public service but community service as
well. He is a past president of the Rotary
Club of South Fairmont and the Marion
County Chamber of Commerce, and he
has served on the boards of directors of
the FSU Alumni Association, FSU Athletic
Association and former Fairmont General
Hospital Foundation. He currently serves
on the board of the East Fairmont High
School Foundation, Your Community
Foundation and Regional Healthcare
Foundation.
His commitment to Fairmont and the state
of West Virginia has not gone unnoticed.
Fantasia has received various service
awards, including the 1997 Marion County
Chamber of Commerce President’s
Award, a 1997 Sam Walton Entrepreneur
Award, 2001 Marion County Chamber of
Commerce Chairman’s Award and 2014
FSU Outstanding Alumni Award.
He was also named a 2001 Young Gun
by West Virginia Executive magazine,
2001 Outstanding Public Servant by West
Virginia Main Street, 2003 member of
Who’s Who in West Virginia Business by
The State Journal and 2009 Developer of
the Year by the Marion County Chamber of
Commerce.
RETURNING TO RADIO
Over the past four years, Fantasia’s love
for broadcasting has never wavered, and
with the support of his wife, Beth, and two
sons, Nicholas and Dominic, he returned
to the family business in 2016 as the
general manager for Laurel Highland Total
Communications Media of West Virginia,
the company that purchased Spectrum
LLC. The company currently runs WZST,
WRLF, WMMN and WTCS in West Virginia.
(304) 366-3700
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