Meet Micah Stamps | Otter Media Production Station Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Micah Stamps and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Micah, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
Realizing my team is the most important part of a successful operation has been one of the biggest contributions to Otter Media’s resurrection. Without knowing my teams strengths, it’s impossible to effectively strategize and begin larger scale plans. It also relieves the burden of worry when you know that your team is ready and effective for anything.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Otter Media is CSU Monterey Bay’s former student led internet radio station. Together with my team of friends, we resurrected the station, previously dead from the pandemic. With only a name and a room we were able to transform the station into a multi-media agency for other creative students on campus. Additionally creating a $0-$50,000 budget paying five station managers in three years. Our work was driven by the idea of helping advocate for an authentic student culture through the dissemination of student art created at the university.

Comprised of four branches: Productions, Events, Art, & Sonar. Otter Media’s Events Team promoted and created live concerts and music to be performed by student bands. The Art Department designed original prints, posters, and T-shirts to display student art. The internet radio station remained operating under the branch name of SONAR presenting 45 1-hour long student run radio shows a week. My department specifically aired all content to the designated cable channel while also producing 4 original TV Productions and over 15 live concert broadcasts.

We’ve had to navigate all the challenges of media as none of us were experts from the beginning (and still aren’t), alongside all the challenges of operating a station within a college environment. Engaging regularly in the politics of campus leadership and carving out a position within our Associated Students, we were able to broadcast campus Elections and Town Halls. Otter Media was also able to work with over 100 volunteers in a time when moral was the lowest it’s ever been.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always try to involve my visiting friends into whatever project is active at the moment. Whether it’s getting them behind the scenes, or into a concert we’re hosting, I love to bring my people in. Other than that, Papa Chevo’s, Marina Doughnuts and Bagels, and Saurittas is always good food. The beach is close but too cold to jump into, and the wind never dies down so we mostly spend time inland. However there are quite a few excellent hikes in the Monterey Area. CSUMB is also a sprawling wasteland of the former military base, and I love to bring people exploring the open spaces.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to my various day-oners:

Derek Rasmussen – Otter Media Events Station Manager
Jacob Alfaro – Otter Media Art Director
Margie Lodes – Otter Media Artist

The Coughlin’s – Family

Zack Simmons – Otter Media Advisor
Jessica Carter – Pay It Forward
John Sepulvado – JLAB
Ron Thomson – CSUMB IT
Andy Walling – CSUMB IT

Website: https://linktr.ee/ottermedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/om_csumb/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/micah-stamps-8a8b212b4/

Image Credits
Otter Media