What’s up everybody! I’m Rebecca Ortiz from weekends here at B96!

I still can’t believe I work for B96 baby! I grew up listening to the station, and going to the B-bashes – and now it’s my home! The whole staff has treated me like family from the second I walked through the door, and I have never been happier.

The funny thing is it almost didn’t happen! The night before my audition, my Dad was rushed to the emergency room and we thought he was having a heart attack. It was the scariest moment of my life. By early morning, we knew he was going to be o.k. and I didn’t know if I’d ever get the opportunity again, so I went. I hadn’t slept in 24 hours, I have no idea how I got to the studio, what I said on-the-air, etc.

Todd Cavanah, (the Program Director) called when I was done and I thought, oh hell, I blew it! He actually said just the opposite though. I may not remember much from that day, but he definitely said he was “impressed,” and the rest is B96 history!

I love getting to talk to, meet and text with the listeners every weekend, and play the hottest music in Chicago! You can hang out with me every Saturday from 10am-2pm, and Sundays from 7am-Noon!

A little bit about myself, I’m the youngest of 3 daughters, and come from a very strict and traditional Mexican family. In a nutshell, I wasn’t allowed to go, or do anything as a kid, so music was my outlet.

Besides knowing every song forwards and backwards on the radio, I played the piano, the clarinet, was in dance, choir, and eventually took up the guitar. I had no aspirations of being a musician, but music was something I loved, and was allowed to do – so I ran with it.

I grew up in Cary, IL (Cary-Grove High School) and went to Columbia College Chicago where I majored in Journalism. I worked in Chicago T.V for about 3 years, and then made the jump to radio.

It wasn’t as easy as it sounds. I spent ALL my free time learning how to use the equipment, made a demo, and in 2003, landed a gig doing overnights at a small suburban station, and have been working my way up ever since!

I am so lucky to have a job that I love, in one of the greatest cities in the world. There were definitely times when radio TRIED to kick my ass, but I knew in my heart that this was what I was meant to do.

You have my word that you will never get anything less than 100% of me! Let’s hope you can handle it!

On a personal note, I want to thank my family, friends, and listeners for all their love. And of course, the backbone of B96: Erik Bradley and Todd Cavanah - thanks for everything! XOXO!