Carl L. Foster- President/Event Director
After 40 years doing all things radio and television in the secular market, as an answer to prayer, Carl entered Christian Radio with the Good Sports Magazine Show at Reach FM in 2004. He then followed God's plan and went full time with GraceFM 90.3 Radio as the Afternoon Drive host of The Road Show, aka The RoadRunner, while also handling the station's role as Development Director. Currently founder and President of Foster Events Group, LLC., we continued doing charity fundraising golf and tennis events paying it forward and building legacy partnerships.
In the fall of 2019 enter the world of Pickleball. Ivan Baron, Tournament Director from the Delray Beach Open ATP Tennis event contacted me. I've been the Voice of the DBO for 25 years now and host/produce all their USTA Junior National Championships TV shows for Tennis Channel and FOX Sports channels. The Barons would be hosting their first World Pickleball Championships in December at the new PGA Verano complex by Kolter Homes with 24 new pickleball courts and a Stadium court and wanted me to host/produce a 30 minute highlight show for FOX Sports.
I saw the future of a new sport that was taking off so I launched Inside FLORIDA Pickleball, a weekly tv magazine show, that would air on FOX Sports Florida and other regionals covering the pro and amateur sport. We affiliated with Ken Herrmann , founder of the new APP Tour and USA Pickleball and Melissa McCurley with Pickleball Tournaments and the show was met with great success. In 2021 we added Kolter Homes as a title sponsor and took our tv show to a national audience with Inside WORLD Pickleball and added the first lady of Pickleball, Melissa McCurley, as my co-host along with weekly tips from Senior Gold Medalist and National Champion, Steve Kennedy, and the Competitive Edge with gold medal champion, Lee Rosenthal.
In 2020 we partnered to host the APP Delray Beach Pickleball Open, the first South Florida professional event with the finals airing on CBS Sports Network featuring Delray's national champions, Leigh and Anna Leigh Waters along with top ranked legend Simone Jardim, Ben Johsns and Catherine Parenteau. We have hosted and produced three sold out DBPO events as we enter our 4th year in 2023 as FEG now owns the DBPO after buying rights back from the APP Tour.
In 2022 we added two more APP Tour events as FEG partnered on building the largest national event in Boca Raton, Florida, with the APP Masters and over 1,000 players and airing finals on ESPN. FEG bought the tournaments outright for 2023 and will now expand and host our 3rd Masters in Boca in January 2024. In 2022 we also launched Broward counties first APP Pro event with the APP Plantation Open drawing over 600 players.
In 2023, longtime friend and business partner, Rick Retamar and I personally purchased one of six NPL Pro franchises and named it the Boca Raton Picklers playing six events at ChickenNPickle restaurants across the country. In 2024 we will look to host some of our Boca Pro matches.
EVENT AND SPORTS MARKETING CREDITS:
2019 created and was Event Director for the Inaugural Montel Williams Military Makeover Celebrity Golf Classic and Gala partnering with Brandstar Studios as a fundraising event for Brandstar Cares, ThankYouFirstResponder and ParklandCares.org held at Parkland Golf and Country Club. Celebrities like Anthony Rizzo, Lawrence Taylor, PGA Pro Pat Bates, Kijana Carter, SuperBowl Champs Duane Starks, Rod Payne and many others. Special presentation to military veterans, the Kissing Sailor and Debra Hixon, wife of former vet Chris Hixon, who was killed going into save students at the MSD Shooting in 2018.
VP of Corporate Development/COO—2015 World LEADERS Conference-2016 World Leaders Conference
Handled all day to day operations for two-day servant leadership conference featuring 18 world renowned speakers such as: Dr. Ben Carson, Ken Blanchard, Drew Brees, Dr. Henry Cloud, Wayne Huizenga, Jr., Suzy Welch, John Maxwell, Tom Mullins, Urban Meyer, Joyce Meyer. Developed Expo, Bookstores, WLG Merchandising, Networking Breakfasts. Set new attendance record of over 1,100 attendees. 2016 saw a Sports leadership Summit and a Leadership in recovery special event.
World Leaders Group Golf Invitational – Event Director held at Breakers West in 2013 with special invitations connected with World Leaders Conference as fundraising event for the Global Teen Challenge raising over $120k.
UDECIDE Christian Talent Search competitions-Dec 2012 to May 2013
Event Director and Emcee for series of monthly Christian Talent Shows with singers, dancers, bands competing at First Baptist FTL and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Staged auditions and drew 500-750 fans at each event. Fundraiser for People Helping People in America ministry.
GraceFM Radio Annual Comedy Cafe fundraising event at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church.Served as Event Director 2010-2013 organizing entire event from booking national comedian, tickets, marketing, sponsors, auction,raffle items, volunteers, sponsor partnerships.
Gold Coast FCA---Started annual Coach Howard Schnellenberger FCA Celebrity Golf Tournament fundraiser. Served as Project and Event Director raising over $550,000 for past 9 years.
Matchpoint Ministries, Inc.---Organized and setup Annual Awards Breakfast with the Tennis Pros Fundraising event tied in to ATP Tour Delray Beach International Tennis Championships. The World's Top Doubles team of Bryan Brothers awarded first year followed by David Wheaton as guest speaker at Calvary Chapel Prayer Breakfast fundraising event. Raise over 100k annually for MPM missions.
Delray Beach International Tennis Championships/Delray Beach Open (ATP Tour Event)
Director of Sports Marketing from 2007-2010 securing event sponsorships and brought in such companies as PNC Bank, Celsius, Comcast, Ducati Motorcycles, Porsche, New Balance, Walgreens, Publix and many more.
Carl is still the Official Voice of this ATP Delray Beach Open Tournament in 2020 for past 27 years and manages all on stadium entertainment and host three USTA Jr Tennis events for Tennis Channel and FoxSports annually.
RADIO CREDITS:
2018- Hosted and produced The Carl 'The Foss' Foster daily live sportstalk show on 940WINZ in Miami, a IHeartMedia Station, from 2-4m daily.
GraceNetRadio.com—Sports Director 2010 to 2015 hosting “The Good Sports Magazine Show” and The Road Show afternoons 4-6pm Monday thru Fridays as "The RoadRunner."
ReachFM Sports Director (2008-2010)
(40 FM Christian Stations statewide in Florida owned by Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale)
Host/Executive Producer of “Good Sports Magazine Show” Sunday nights at 7pm (Owned)
On Air Host/ Daily “Good Sports Minute” in Morning & Afternoon Drive 2008- 2010
"THE MORNING BULLPEN” Radio Show ( 2000-2005 )
Founder/Host/Producer daily 6am-10am of the sports entertainment show that
aired on 940FoxSports; 1400 The Fan and 1400 ESPN Radio-Served as General Manager and COO of 1400 ESPN Radio managing 100k per month in sales with 25 employees.
“TALK SPORTS WITH PETE ROSE” –Radio-- (1996-1999)
Executive Producer/ Co-Host—Handled all guest bookings for nationally syndicated show
AMERICAN FORCES RADIO & TELEVISION (AFRTS) US AIR FORCE VIETNAM VETERAN
(7-years)-Broadcasted on radio/television in Vietnam, Thailand, Spain, Germany, Phillipines and Isle of Crete from 1971-1977. Graduated DINFOS in 1974 and Journalism school from Ohio University.
TELEVISION CREDITS:
Launching First Quarter of 2020 Inside Florida Pickleball Weekly TV Show-Podcast-Radio and You Tube Channel
2019 Hosted and produced World Pickleball Open TV Special from PGA Village Verano with over 275 players from 20 states and four countries.
2018-Host and Producer of "Profiles in Leadership" series on CTN Networks weekly interview format.
SPECIALTIES:
Connecting media ministries with the community with live remotes, public speaking and fundraising golf, tennis events.
Carl Foster, hosted GraceFM's drive time 'Road Show' 4-6pm for two years..aka “The RoadRunner” Monday through Fridays 2-5pm ET.
Carl is the founder/host of The Good Sports Magazine Show aired for 12 years in South Florida. Carl was an Executive Committee Board member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) from 2002 to 2016; DeVos-Blum Family YMCA Board member (14-years), Media Chair of 4Kids of South Florida BIG CARDIO committee and Executive Director of MatchPoint Ministries, Inc. (14 years).
He also has been certified and graduated the Ministry Ventures program hosted by the National Christian Foundation. He’s an active member of Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens. He has four children, Camile, Brittany, Carla and Chase.
Host/Producer of USTA NATIONAL TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (TV Specials)
2005-2019—Producer/ Play by Play Host for two events annually airing on:
The Tennis Channel (Worldwide distribution)
Fox Sports/ Sun Sports (Florida), Comcast Sports Southeast (CSS)
"INSIDE GOLF’ & "INSIDE FLORIDA TENNIS THEN THE TENNIS MAGAZINE SHOW...Weekly TV Shows (1985-1995 )
Executive Producer/ Host / Marketing --Weekly 30-minute magazine format
(Over 1,000 nationally syndicated shows to over 70 million cable households)
Nationally syndicated to over 60 million cable households on PRIME TICKET; SPORTSCHANNEL Averaged and managed over 1M in sales annually for over a decade.
Former Director of Broadcasting and announcer for NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers (1981)
Studio Host and Executive Producer for TEN-TV Regional Sports Network in Cleveland, OH (1981-83)
WKBN-27 CBS TV and Radio Sports Anchor (1977-79)
Disco DJ at Sabatini's Downunder Disco/ Host of Disco on Strip TV Show and Disco Kid on WGFT Radio (1977-78)