Catholic network calls Green Bay home Sherry Brownrigg is president of Starboard Networks. The 14-station Starboard Radio is looking to expand By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle A new radio network is based in Green Bay, although it doesn't have any studios here, or even a station. And it's a small network - only 14 stations. But Sherry Brownrigg, president of Starboard Networks, says the current state of Starboard is only Phase 1 of a larger goal - to serve as many listeners as possible with its Catholic faith-based programming. "It is definitely radio for everyone," she said. "We're using the principles of good radio broadcasting to bring faith to an everyday level. It's very much like the type of radio people are used to listening to, but with strong components of the Catholic faith." Starboard was founded by Mark Follett, former owner of Anchor Foods in Appleton. Only 46, he has left his job in the private sector "and is giving himself to this mission," Brownrigg said. With Follett in the area, it was decided to locate the headquarters here, and Starboard has half of a building at 2300 Riverside Drive. Also listed as owners by the Federal Communications Commission are John Cavil and Robert Atwell of Green Bay. Its closest station is WJOK-AM 1050, which has a tower in Kaukauna. Brownrigg said the ownership hopes to move studios for the station to Green Bay. For now, the network's studios are in Minneapolis, where the network produces what it calls "relevant radio." "It's essentially Catholic radio, but it is different than what's been done previously," Brownrigg said. "We're focusing on the listener who has not listened to Catholic programming before. There haven't been that many Catholic stations - only about 65 nationally." The network recently purchased WGLB-FM in Saukville, near Milwaukee, closing the station while remodeling is being done. It plans to change the call letters to WPJP - for Pope John Paul II. Other Starboard stations in Wisconsin are in Lake Geneva, Poynette, Eau Claire, Nekoosa, Birnamwood, Hudson and Holmen. It also owns stations in Shakopee, Minn., Gary, Ind., and Pickford and Escanaba, Mich. Its flagship program is "Morning Air," hosted by Jeff Cavins. "Jeff has had a long career in the media; he's a well-known speaker around the country and has written many books," Brownrigg said. "He knows how to bring the Catholic faith to sort of an everyday understanding, even in making decisions what movie to see to how you raise your kids." The Cavins show is aired on 12 additional affiliates outside the Starboard stations. Other programming includes a noontime show with Catholic psychologist Ray Garenda and a talk show, "Catholic Answers," about faith. "Our target audience is probably a baby boomer, already Catholic, but who doesn't quite understand what the Catholic faith is all about," Brownrigg said.