the
INTERCHANGE . . .
National Center for Outreach Advisors
They wo rk behind the scenes, are called upon to give their
opinions and perspectives, and often are called upon to “help
out.” They are the NCO Advisors. We rely on them for telling us Ending their term this year...
what they think; about the needs of the industry and if NCO is
Faith Michel, Dir. of Outreach
hitting the mark or not. Their honesty and feedback is c e n t ral to
Maryland Public Television-Owing Mills, Maryland
what we decide to do or not do. We thought it important that you
know who they are. During our annual conference we will Karen Barss, Dir. of Educational Outreach
acknowledge those advisors who are beginning their two-year WGBH-Boston, Massachusetts
tenure and others who will be ending their terms. We hope you
will join us in applauding the work of members of this group! Kent Geist, Senior Dir. of Community Development
Ideastream WVIZ/PBS & 90.3 WCPN-Cleveland, Ohio
As you read through the following bios, you’ll quickly notice that
we have public television professionals from every background: Randall Feldman, President & General Manager
g e n e ral managers, promotions, education, development, WYES-New Orleans, Louisiana
programming and outreach. As with all of you, it is that mix that
truly helps us do more and do it better. Maria Tom Holter, Executive Director of Programming
Twin Cities Public Television-St. Paul, Minnesota
Ending their term this year... Continuing to serve...
Jim Sommers, Dir. of Broadcast and Communication
Faith Michel, Dir. of Outreach Independent Television Service (ITVS)-San Francisco, CA
Maryland Public Television-Owing Mills, Maryland
Mary Dickson, Dir. of Creative Services
Faith Michel has been the Director of Outreach for Maryland
KUED-Salt Lake City, Utah
Public Television for more than four years. She has led a variety
of outreach initiatives at MPT, including Connecting Through Sherri Dangberg, Dir. of Community Outreach/RTL
Faith (interfaith dialogue project), Healthy Connections (health KNPB-Reno, Nevada
phone bank project), and Navigating the Road to Reentry: A
Community Approach (prisoner reentry initiative). Diane Lucas, Dir. of Programming & Outreach
UNC Center for Public Television
She comes to the public television world from an arts and Research Triangle Park, NC
education background. Faith holds a BA in music from Skidmore
College as well as an MA in music education and an EdM in Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka,
vocal pedagogy from Teachers College, Columbia University. Dir. of National Partnerships & Community Events
A former classroom music teacher, she also managed the Thirteen/WNET-New York, New York
education programs of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She
sings with the MPT house band, and with a variety of other David Feingold, Assistant General Manager-Content
bands and ensembles. She also is known to perform in the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications,
occasional community theater production and is a devoted Lincoln, Nebraska
student of martial arts. Faith served three years on the NCO
Advisor Board. She lives in Towson, MD, with her husband Sharon Tavares
and two kids. Broadcast Marketing & Representation-Capitola, CA
Joining this year...
Karen Barss, Dir. of Educational Outreach
WGBH-Boston, Massachusetts Garry Denny, Associate Director of Programming
Wisconsin Public Television-Madison, Wisconsin
Karen oversees the development and implementation of
WGBH’s national outreach initiatives and educational print Judy Flavell, Director of Outreach
materials targeting pre-K through college educators, informal Kentucky Educational Television (KET)-Lexington, Kentucky
education settings, youth-serving organizations, families and the
general public, for such projects as NOVA, Building Big, A Renee Dillard,
Question of God, Masterpiece Theatre, ZOOM, Between the Dir. of Grants Development and Special Gifts
Lions, Postcards From Buster and Arthur. Karen has received WSIU Public Broadcasting-Carbondale, Illinois
numerous awards including, Distinguished Achievement Awards
for Excellence in Educational Journalism from the Educational Kim Kelling Engstrom, Dir. of Educational Services
Press Association, the CEN Education Award for best WFSU-TV- Tallahassee, Florida
national outreach project, Clarion Awards from Women in
Communications, and APEX awards for publication excellence. Maynard Orme, President & CEO
Prior to joining WGBH in 1987, Karen worked as an editor Oregon Public Broadcasting-Portland, Oregon
and writer for a range of publications focusing on science and
technology.
NCO Advisors NCO DIALOG, Spring 2005 2
Kent Geist, Senior Dir. of Community Development tor of programming from Central Educational Netwo rk in
Chicago. Prior to CEN, he worked as director of programming
Ideastream WVIZ/PBS & 90.3 WCPN-Cleveland, Ohio
and production at PBS station KAWE in northern Minnesota from
Kent Geist has been on the staff of WVIZ/PBS since January 1980-85. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota.
1968. Over that 37-year span he has served in many capacities
including floor director, camera operator, crew chief, technical
director, producer, director of special projects as well as director
of marketing and development. Programs he has produced were Continuing to serve as advisors...
nominated for five Emmys and awarded two. Additional awards
include the Ohio Educational Broadcasting Network
Commissions 1995 Public Information award for A Night At
Jim Sommers, Dir. of Broadcast and Communication
Jacob’s Field, 1996 Public Information Award for KidTV on VIZ, Independent Television Service (ITVS)-San Francisco, CA
1997 Development Award for WVIZ Cooks, 1998 Development Jim Sommers was promoted to ITVS’s director of broadcast
Award for Holy Cleveland and 1999 Development Award for and communication in May 2004 after spending four years as
WVIZ World Series of Wine. national outreach manager for ITVS’s Community Connections
Project, an initiative that maximizes the use of independent
Although born in Los Angeles, Kent considers himself a life long media as a tool for community engagement and educational
Clevelander. He is very active with local community affairs having outreach. As director, he oversees a team of 11 who implement
served on marketing committee’s advisory boards, planning c o m munications strategies through public relations, station
committees. Last year, he was appointed an interim councilman relations, interactive technologies, and outreach and education.
filling an unexpired term. Prior to working for ITVS, he co-founded CoCo Arts, an arts
organization that custom designed arts education programming
Kent has served on many PBS committees and is the past for at-risk youth. Sommers’ own independent productions have
chairman of both the PBS Children’s Fundraising Task Force and won him international recognition, including several Gold Apples
the PBS Annual Development Conference. In 2004, he was at the National Education Film and Video Festivals. He holds a
inducted into the Silver Circle of the Cleveland Chapter of the MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BS
National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The Silver from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Circle recognizes broadcasting pioneers who have made
significant contributions to Cleveland Television during a career
spanning 25 years or more. Mary Dickson, Dir. of Creative Services
KUED-Salt Lake City, Utah
Mary Dickson has served as director of creative services at
Randall Feldman, President & General Manager KUED-Channel 7 for the past 15 years, where she oversees
WYES-New Orleans, Louisiana media relations, public relations, publicity and promotion, on-air
Randall Feldman was born and raised in Philadelphia. He promotions, advertising, community outreach, station positioning
received his B.A. in Economics, a M.S. in Education from the and the station Web site. She publishes and writes for Seven
University of Pennsylvania and M.A. in American Studies from Magazine, KUED’s monthly program guide, in addition to hosting
the University of Michigan. He has worked in education, the arts Contact, KUED’s public affairs interv i ew segment, airing
and arts administration, anti-poverty programs and college weeknights. She also has hosted half-hour specials for KUED
development. In 1977, he began his association with public and regularly serves as talent for on-air fund drives.
broadcasting at WNET in New York City. Since then he has
wo rked at public radio and television organizations in Mary is a fo rmer newspaper reporter whose art i c l e s,
Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Indiana and Texas. For the past 14 commentary, criticism and essays continue to win awards. She
years he has been president and general manager of WYES-TV was the writer and co-producer of No Safe Place: Violence
in New Orleans. He was the first winner of America’s Public Against Women, which has aired many times on PBS and won a
Television Stations’ 21st Century Award and numerous PBS Gold Award from the Houston Film Festival. She has served on
development awards and was the head of the (public television) the board of directors of numerous non-profit organizations. She
Small Station Association. He has served on the Boards of the teaches an Honors Course on Media Literacy at the University of
Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Satellite Utah. In addition to serving as an adviser for the NCO, she has
Educational Resource Consortium and the Boards of Rotary served on the PBS Communication Advisory Council and was
Clubs in Texas and Louisiana. He lives in New Orleans and is recently elected to the Communication Council of NETA.
married to rheumatologist Dr. Madelaine Feldman and has four
stepchildren.
Sherri Dangberg, Dir. of Community Outreach/RTL
KNPB-Reno, Nevada
Tom Holter, Executive Director of Programming Sherri Dangberg began her career in public television on March
Twin Cities Public Television-St. Paul, Minnesota 23, 1983 as a volunteer prior to KNPB/Channel 5 signing on-the-
Since 1998, Tom has served as executive director of program- air. Since her full-time position began on August 1, 1983, she
ming for Twin Cities Public Television. He is responsible for direct- has been the assistant to the station manager, the auction
ing TPT program serv i c e s, overseeing schedule manager and corp o rate development manager in the
strategies, audience research and program operations. He has Development Department at KNPB. Since 1996, she has been
served as a member of the Board of the Public Television the director of outreach and the Ready To Learn Service for
Programmers Association, and as its president in 2001. Tom KNPB/Channel 5 in the Programming, Education and Outreach
came to Twin Cities Public television in 1989 as associate direc-
NCO Advisors NCO DIALOG, Spring 2005 3
Department. During her tenure in the Development Department Literacy at the graduate level. Che Che has a BA in Broadcast
at KNPB, she received 10 PBS national awards for excellence in Journalism from Howard University and an MA in Media
fundraising for the auction, corporate development and special Management from the New School University in New York City.
events. Since becoming director of outreach and Ready To
Learn, Truckee Meadows Tomorrow has awarded KNPB-Reno
the Ready To Learn Service with its Silver Star Award and the David Feingold, Assistant General Manager-Content
International Reading Association has honored the station the Nebraska Educational Telecommunications
Ready To Learn with its Outstanding Achievement in Literacy Award.
Lincoln, Nebraska
D avid is the senior manager responsible for NET’s four
Diane Lucas, Dir. of Programming & Outreach state-wide public television channels, NET’s television production
division and NET Radio, Nebraska’s statewide public radio
UNC Center for Public Television-Research
network. Prior to joining NET in November 1999, D avid was
Triangle Park, North Carolina
an independent producer and
Diane Lucas has more than 30 consultant based in Europe, and
years of public television was affiliated with the United
programming experience at the States Studies Institute at the
U n i versity of North Carolina University of London. He was
Center for Public Television, posted to the UK by CNN to take
where she has been the over its London bureau just
program director since 1982. before the start of the Gulf War
She has directed programming, in 1990. David was elected
education and community by his colleagues to serve as
outreach services for UNC-TV president of the Association of
since 2000. Diane has just American Correspondents in
begun serving on the National London. He joined CNN as New
Center for Outreach Advisory York-based business news
G r o u p, and recently served editor and was promoted to
a three-year term on the national editor in Atlanta before
Board of Directors of the being sent to London. David left
Public Television Programmers’ CNN at the end of 1995 to
Association (PTPA). Diane also become exe c u t i ve editor of
d
r e c e i ve the 2004 PTPA’s Reuters Television, Ltd., where
Programmer of the Year award. he had wo rldwide responsibilities
for newsgathering. His earlier
UNC-TV’s community outreach Che Che Mazoka and Bobbette Rose, work in interactive media began
currently is focused in two of NCO, diagram WNET’s structure as a senior producer at the experimental QUBE cable facility of
initiatives, UNC-TV’s HealthWise while at an NCO Advisor Meeting Warner Communications in Ohio, and as director of Warner’s
and UNC-TV’s Bridges to public affairs programming for its group of interactive systems.
Diversity, which began in 1999 David began his work in broadcast journalism at regional NPR
and continues to focus on North Carolina diversity issues. stations in the Midwest.
Serving a state as large as North Carolina is a challenge, and
collaborations and partnerships are key to UNC-TV’s successful
outreach efforts. Sharon Tavares
Broadcast Marketing & Representation-Capitola, CA
Sharon Tavares brings nearly 30 years of hands-on experience
Macenje “Che Che” Mazoka, in television program development, project management,
Dir. of National Partnerships & Community Events distribution and marketing to her clients. For the past eight years,
Thirteen/WNET - New York, New York Tavares has been principal broadcast marketing consultant and
Che Che is responsible for creating strong strategic alliances project coordinator to the Pacific Islanders in Communications,
helping to form production partnerships and bring projects to a
with both fo rmal and info rmal learning environments and
national PBS audience. Sharon also serves as a distribution and
national community-based organizations in order to leverage
resources and existing infra-structure to help meet the goals of marketing consultant for Latino Public Broadcasting. Currently,
both organizations. Partnering organizations have included but she is working with America Abroad Media in Washington, DC as
coordinating producer on US & Them and The Calling, a four-part
are not limited to The American Library Association, Girls Inc.,
documentary about six young Americans who have decided to
The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, The National Urban
League and The National Council of LaRaza. enter the clergy.
Che Che has worked in media for more than 15 years beginning, In addition, she served as coordinating producer, project
manager and station relations director for a number of PBS
her career as a producer, writer and on-air talent prior to
series and specials, including: An American Love Story, Senior
segueing into the educational services arena of public
broadcasting. Since 1998, she has served as a part-time faculty Year, Great Performances special Holo Mai Pele, Skin Stories,
member at The New School University where she teaches Media Closer to Truth, and It’s An Age Thing.
NCO Advisors NCO DIALOG, Spring 2005 4
Joining this year...
Garry Denny, Associate Director of Programming
Wisconsin Public Television-Madison, Wisconsin
Garry Denny is the associate director of programming fo r
Wisconsin Public Television, where he has been since 1986.
Garry is the current president of the Public Television
Programmers Association and has served on the board for five
years. He is also a newly-elected member of the Independent
Television Service (ITVS) board of directors. For the past several
years, he has served on the P.O.V. Editorial Committee, served
as a reader and panelist for ITVS Open Call rounds and was a
member of the PBS Communications Advisory Committee. In
2001, Garry was named PBS Programmer of the Year. He
received his BA degree at Howard University concentrating on
film directing and broadcast management.
Kim Kelling Engstrom, Dir. of Educational Services David Feingold and Karen Barss discussing how outreach fits into
WFSU-TV- Tallahassee, Florida the team structure at NET at the December Advisor Meeting
For 15 years Kim was a freelance commercial producer working
out of Los Angeles and New York City. Projects ranged from
Budweiser to Sprint, Peugeot to Wendy’s. Fate intervened and
Judy Flavell, Director of Outreach
she found herself married to an ecologist from Tallahassee, Fla. Kentucky Educational Television (KET)-Lexington Kentucky
who thought relocating to Los Angeles was a sacrifice he just Judy Flavell is a 20-year veteran of public broadcasting, she
couldn’t make. This native northerner moved to the South. facilitates part n e r s h i p s, designs community engagement
initiatives and implements outreach activities for the nation's
In the five years at WFSU, the Ready To Learn program has largest public television network. Judy combines her passion for
steadily grown creating new partnerships for the station within public broadcasting and community building with a background in
the community. She has served on the PBS Share a Story media and communications, as well as 10 years experience in
advisory board and currently serves on a community panel for fund raising and promotion, and specialized skills in facilitation
Whole Child Leon County. Recently named director of educa- and group process. She received her BA in Communications,
tional services, Kim has begun to grow outreach at WFSU Magna Cum Laude at Morehead University and did graduate
beyond the Ready To Learn Program. The station was recently work in communications and business. She is also a graduate of
awarded a Leadership Grant from the National Center for the New Generation Training Program through the Corporation
Outreach and this April WFSU began another NCO-funded for National Service. In 2004, Flavell received the coveted Carol
project entitled North Florida Eeko World based on the upcoming Adelstein Award for outstanding service. Judy is a volunteer-in-
PBS KIDS GO! Web site. In the words of the NPR storyline, “This training for the Global Facilitators' Service Corps.
I believe – outreach is the heart of public broadcasting’s mission:
to engage people in the community around them.”
Maynard E. Orme, President & CEO
Oregon Public Broadcasting-Portland, Oregon
Renee Ferrell Dillard, Maynard E. Orme is currently the president and CEO of Oregon
Dir. of Grants Development and Special Gifts Public Broadcasting. He has been with OPB since 1986. Prior to
WSIU Public Broadcasting-Carbondale, Illinois assuming this role he was general manager of KTEH/Channel 54
Renee Ferrell Dillard currently oversees external funding for in San Jose, California, for 13 years.
WSIU Public Broadcasting and serves as director of grants and
special gift development. Renee has been actively involved in Maynard served on the PBS Board from 1984-90, serving two
WSIU outreach initiatives since 1992, including national, state, years as vice chair, and was re-elected to the PBS Board in 1999.
and regional projects and is a longtime advocate of outreach as He is also a founding member of the PBS Foundation Board. He
the heart of public broadcasting’s mission. In 2004, she directed is a current member and served as Chair of the Organization of
WSIU’s “Beyond Broadcasting” NCO Outreach Challenge project. State Broadcast Executives (OSBE) from 1993-1995. He served
on America’s Public Te l evision Stations (APTS) Board of
Renee holds a doctorate in resource planning and management Directors from 1992-1998 and served as the vice chair for two
from Southern Illinois University with emphasis in social years. Maynard also served on the Council for the National
marketing, policy analysis and strategic planning. She has Forum for Public Television Executives. He was also a member
15 years of experience in competitive federal, state, and of the Oregon Ed-Net Board of Directors from 1987 to 1997.
foundation grant and project development. In 13 years at WSIU, Maynard also served on the board of Pacific Islanders in
she has overseen grants development, marketing, major gifts, Communication and Native American Public Telecommunications Inc.
online services, fundraising events and print promotions, heading
all fundraising areas since WSIU launched the move toward inte- Maynard’s passion is education and he believes that education
grated development in July 2004. WSIU is committed to innova- and the application of that knowledge in a work or personal
tion in community outreach and to developing local investment in environment is the key to constant learning, which is the ultimate
that mission key to success and satisfaction in one’s life.