Well-known for decades of hard work, dedication and success, Cherie MacQueen devoted the majority of her career in broadcasting as a newscaster and sportscaster. Her journey began in 1973, when she joined the U.S. Army and learned broadcasting and personnel administration. Of her eight years in the Army, she spent two years as a personnel specialist in Honolulu, and another three as an administrative specialist in San Francisco. She also served as a radio broadcast journalist in Vincenza, Italy, where television broadcasting had not yet come.
After her Army enlistment ended, Ms. MacQueen went back to work as a civilian at the Armed Forces Radio and TV Service, which provides radio and television to servicemen and women and their families overseas. She worked in radio traffic, radio master control, broadcast support, broadcast management, internal information, and news/sports. Ms. MacQueen also held numerous positions for the Armed Forces Radio and TV Service as a radio traffic specialist, a radio production specialist, a broadcast support specialist, a broadcast support manager, an internal information manager, and a news and support specialist. Before retiring, Ms. MacQueen went on to produce radio news and information programs for later use by affiliate stations, and was responsible for all the production and hosting of on-air sports events. She is most proud of her work in radio broadcasting; she believes it’s important to bring the troops a touch of home.During her years working for the Armed Forces Radio and TV Service, Ms. MacQueen earned an Associate of Arts in liberal arts from Los Angeles Valley Cottage in 1982 and a Bachelor of Science in liberal studies from Excelsior College in Albany in 1993. She also completed postgraduate work at California State University in 1998.Not slipping easily into retirement, Ms. MacQueen turned to a new profession after leaving broadcasting and obtained a certificate in interior design from the University of California-Riverside in 2002. She subsequently opened two new businesses in 2003: Keilani Co. for interior design, and Ladysmythe Handcrafts to produce wall hangings and crocheted items.
To stay abreast of developments in both of her fields, Ms. MacQueen was a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters, Women in Military Service for America, and the Armed Forces Broadcasters Association. She is also a life member of the DAV.
In recognition of her accomplishments, Ms. MacQueen has been listed in numerous editions of Who’s Who in Finance and Business, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, and Who’s Who of American Women. If she could offer some advice to the younger generations, it would be to get as much education as possible and to explore all potential industries of interest. She would also recommend talking to counselors in school to help set up meetings with business leaders to shadow them and find out how they started and attained success.
