Annual Program Aims to Develop a Diverse New Generation of System Leaders
ARLINGTON, VA, June 19, 2009 - PBS and CPB today announced the newly selected participants in the PBS Diversity Task Force Leadership Development Program (LDP), the fourth group of public broadcasting professionals chosen for this national training initiative. The program, which aims to develop a new generation of more diverse leaders in public television, provides management development and networking opportunities to promising individuals in the PBS system, targeting those who are ready to move into a station general manager or other senior-level position.
The LDP was created as a result of the PBS Board of Directors' resolution in 2005 to promote the cultivation of excellence and diversity in leadership within the PBS system. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) funded this year's class, which consists of five individuals from across the United States as well as Guam. The LDP is administered by the PBS board's Diversity Task Force, which is chaired by Eugene Williams, general manager, KTWU/Topeka. Joaquin Alvarado, CPB senior vice president, diversity and innovation, serves as an advisory member of the task force.
"The Leadership Development Program plays an important role in helping PBS expand its longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion," said PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. "One of my key priorities is to enhance opportunities for women and minorities in leadership roles in the PBS system, ensuring that we reflect the rich diversity of the nation we so proudly serve. The Leadership Development Program, although still a young program, has already proven successful in helping up-and-coming professionals advance their careers in public media. I am impressed with the credentials this new class brings to the program and look forward to watching their progress during the coming year."
"The Leadership Development Program has far exceeded my expectations for success," said Mr. Williams. "Beginning with the pilot class in 2006, the initiative has provided invaluable training and mentoring opportunities for public broadcasting professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds. More important, it demonstrates PBS' and public broadcasting's commitment to develop talent within our system to find tomorrow's leaders."
"The incoming class for the Leadership Development Program represents the future of the public media leadership in our country," said Mr. Alvarado. "I'm excited to support their development and look forward to working with them in the year ahead."
The new members of the PBS Diversity Task Force Leadership Development Program Class are:
- Ferne Barrow, senior director, outreach and community engagement, WETA/Washington, D.C.;
- Sam Mabini, general manager, PBS Guam;
- Amy Shaw, vice president, education and community engagement, KETC/St. Louis, Mo.;
- Lisa Titus, director of development, Montana PBS; and
- Candace White, producer, Bill Moyers Journal.
The 2009 program will begin in July 2009, with participants attending a week-long custom-designed program. Program participants will attend the National Association of Broadcasters' Management Development Seminar for Television Executives held at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business; they will also participate in an industry-specific management seminar and interact with some of the leading players within the public broadcasting community.
Participants were selected by the members of the PBS Diversity Task Force. In addition to Mr. Williams, the task force includes Paula Castadio, president and CEO, Valley Public Television - KVPT/Fresno, Calif., who serves as vice chair; Jon Abbott, president and CEO, WGBH/Boston, Mass; Ruby Calvert, general manager, Wyoming Public Television; and Jose A. Fajardo, president and CEO, WMFE/Orlando, Fla. PBS Board chair John E. Porter, PBS Board member and former board chair Mary Bitterman and Ms. Kerger serve as ex-officio members.
To qualify for consideration, each candidate must have at least five years, senior-level experience with broad and significant levels of responsibility related to public broadcasting, be perceived as a viable candidate, within the next three to five years, for a general manager or similar senior-level position and demonstrated leadership ability and a long-term commitment to public broadcasting. The program is open to all public broadcasting-related organizations, including PBS member stations, but not to the employees of PBS itself.
About PBS
PBS, with its 357 member stations, offers all Americans - from every walk of life - the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 115 million people on-air and online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and Web site, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org Web sites on the Internet.
About CPB
CPB is a private, nonprofit corporation created by Congress in 1967 and is steward of the federal government's investment in public broadcasting. It helps support the operations of more than 1,100 locally-owned and -operated public television and radio stations nationwide, and is the largest single source of funding for research, technology and program development for public radio, television and related online services.
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CONTACT:
Jan McNamara, 703-739-5028, jmcnamara@pbs.org
Louise Filkins, 202-879-9759, lfilkins@cpb.org
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