In an expanded role, Stephan Scheel to oversee PBS Technical Operations Center
ALEXANDRIA, VA - February 9, 2001 - Bea Morse, director of the DTV strategic services group for the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), has been appointed senior director of broadcast operations, announced Ed Caleca, senior vice president of technology and operations at PBS.
As part of a larger restructuring process in the technology and operations division, Stephan Scheel, recently promoted to senior director, technical systems planning, a newly created position, will take over the daily management of the technical operations center from Gwen Wood, vice president, distribution services and operations. Both Ms. Morse and Mr. Scheel will report to Ms. Wood.
"Bea and Steve have consistently demonstrated their leadership, problem solving abilities, project management skills and an in-depth knowledge of broadcast technology," said Mr. Caleca. "With their new responsibilities, both of these exemplary individuals will play a key role in further strengthening PBS's commitment to deliver superior customer service to our member stations in the digital age."
In her new position, Ms. Morse will oversee the PBS broadcast operations, technical services and media library departments, and manage a staff of 22. Her responsibilities will include developing and implementing an ongoing customer service program, as well as updating systems for managing and archiving the PBS media library's wide range of content. In a long-term, cross-departmental project, Ms. Morse will oversee the integration of a number of new systems designed to increase the broadcast operations department's cost-effectiveness, efficiency and level of customer service to member stations.
Mr. Scheel, who was promoted from technical operations supervisor to his current post last November, will supervise a staff of 40 in his expanded position. He will also be responsible for implementing the strategic planning and analyses projects he has spearheaded in recent months. Mr. Scheel began his career in public television as a studio supervisor at Nebraska Educational Television in Lincoln. He joined PBS in 1973 as a technician, and was soon named supervisor of the technical operations center, where he has served continuously with distinction.
Ms. Morse joined PBS in 1998 as director of the DTV strategic services group, established to provide a wide range of digital transition support to PBS member stations, including strategic planning, national training activities and DTV demonstrations. Ms. Morse was also the PBS project manager for the nationwide HARRIS/PBS DTV Express technology and training tour, which visited nearly 40 PBS member stations over 15 months, providing DTV programming and education services demonstrations along with extensive technical and management training courses for station staff.
Prior to joining PBS, she served for 15 months as director of technology projects at PBS member station WETA Washington, DC, a digital television leader. Ms. Morse's 29-year career in public broadcasting also includes 15 years with National Public Radio, where she directed the conversion of the pubic radio satellite system from analog to digital transmission. She has also served with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U. S. Department of Commerce.
Ms. Morse holds a master's degree in technology management from the University of Maryland. She received her bachelor's degree from Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts.
PBS, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, is a private, nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the nation's 347 public television stations. Serving nearly 100 million people each week, PBS enriches the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services on noncommercial television, the Internet and other media. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org.
- PBS -
Christine Weaver
PBS
703/739-5023