Gwen accomplished the rare feat of breaking into Chicago radio before finishing college. Her Speech and Drama professor invited her and a handful of classmates to participate in his radio workshop. It was intriguing, but she wasn't about to change her mind about continuing her theatrical interests in school. In a couple of years, after graduation she planned on enrolling in the Actor's Studio in New York. That all changed when a near fatal car accident halted those plans. While the fledgling actress spent the summer recuperating, she began listening to a unique radio station with all girl announcers. Before the fall semester started, she called and asked for an air position at WSDM - and they hired her! Dr. Grossman's radio classes paid off. Her personal style of broadcasting propelled her to instant recognition. She became one of the favorite "Den Pals." Gwen learned about Jazz real fast and she still loves it.

However there was something new and exciting on the horizon that she was irrevocably drawn to. The "Underground Rock Movement" had the World in a buzz. She was enticed to move to WOPA, where her "Psyche" persona became renowned in rock circles. Now there was no turning back. Her fate was sealed and she became one of the premier female DJs in the country. Legendary rock and blues giants of the early '70s era requested to come on her show and be interviewed by Psyche. Hers was the show "everyone" listened to. As her popularity grew, she amassed a huge audience and fan base. When the Mid 70's introduced Disco the adventurous Gwen decided to try her skills as a club DJ instead of on-air. Magically, Chicago's BBC was an overwhelming success from day one. After three prolific years, the owner's asked Gwen to move to Las Vegas to set-up and DJ at their new undertaking with Paul Anka. It took only three months for Gwen to decide that she had enough of "Jubilation", Las Vegas and being a Disco DJ.

Some friends persuaded her to come Los Angeles before returning to Chicago. There she returned to acting. She studied at Hollywood's Actor's Workshop and appeared in a couple of plays. But it wasn't long before the microphone lured her back. She took a midday shift at a Redondo Beach radio station. Once again, she relinquished the stage for the studio. Brian Thomas, another Chicagoan, became her Program Director there. When he left to perform the same duties at a brand new Top 40 station in Oxnard, he asked Gwen to come with him. This was a most fortuitous move as she became the #1 Afternoon Air Personality in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and KCAQ became the #1 station in the area. "I love the music of the early eighties and I loved my job" Gwen proclaims with obvious blissful reminiscence. After all, she was on top at the hottest radio station in the area. Gwen cherished her relationship with the station and her fans so much that when an offer from LA's KHJ came, she opted to only work weekends, so she could remain at KCAQ. It was a rigorous and demanding schedule but she loved it. She continued interviewing the celebrities and was often the subject of interviews. In one of them for a local newspaper she was asked if she ever planned on leaving California. Without hesitation she answered, "not for a million dollars…………well, on second thought maybe I would, but it would have to be at least a half a million." Not too long afterward Gwen took a break to return home to celebrate her birthday with her family. She was introduced to the Executive Chef of her sister Marjorie's restaurant, Walter's in Park Ridge. It was a "love at first sight" encounter. Four months later, throwing caution to the wind, she did indeed leave California with her beloved cats, Charco and Giovanni. To this day, Gwen argues that she did not disregard her proclamation and she did leave for something worth way more than a million dollars - a one in a million relationship with the man who would become her husband six years later.

The move was another fortunate one. The "New Age/Soft Jazz format was on the verge of exploding on the scene. That WSDM Jazz background facilitated her grasp of the brand new format and helped propel her to one of the top air personalities in Chicago, once again at one of the first Smooth Jazz Stations in the country, WNUA.

During the height of that success, Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills made Chef Larry a great offer. As fate would have it, Chef Larry's cousin had a vacancy in one of her beach homes in Malibu. Chef Larry and Gwen decided that starting their married life in such a romantic setting would be perfect. Gwen was pleased about the prospect of returning to KCAQ - a half-hour up the coast from their new home. The romance lasted, but their career plans didn't. Within a month, during his half-hour commutes to Saks he spotted a quaint pizza place across from the Malibu pier - and it was for sale! Gwen decided to pack up her headphones and have a go at converting it into a bistro and running it along with her husband. Larry's Malibu Coast Bistro was so flourishing that they went into a bigger space after only one year. This was another co-creation of Chef Larry and Gwen and after a gratifying 5-year tenure in Malibu; the chef accepted a project of reorganizing the kitchens of a huge restaurant conglomerate based in Dallas, Texas after that they moved to South Carolina then Naples, Florida. It was there that Gwen got an unexpected offer to return to the airwaves.

The GM at WODX in Marco Island requested that she create a community oriented show. Revisiting a concept she originated in Redondo Beach, the former "Entertainment Scene" was updated to the "Event Connection." When they moved on to Florida's East Coast, Gwen's longtime dream of doing a radio show with her chef husband finally became a reality when they debuted ChefLarry and Gwen's RADIO GRILL on WPBR in West Palm Beach.

727.344.1068 - Call In Number
727.344.1283 - Fax Line
ChefLarry and Gwen's RADIO GRILL
On the air on 1040 WWBA
4-5 pm Saturdays