Iowa Public Radio Senior Team

Meet Cindy Browne, Executive Director:
executivedirector@iowapublicradio.org

Cindy Browne joined Iowa Public Radio in September of 2005. Prior to joining IPR, she headed a consulting practice focused on supporting public broadcasters and other nonprofits in the areas of transformational change, strategic partnering and leadership development. She was executive vice president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, where she served on the three-person executive management team and oversaw the CPB Television Program Fund. She started her career with Twin Cities Public Television, serving in a range of capacities including vice president for programming and vice president and general manager.

Browne has served on numerous national task forces within public broadcasting including the CPB Future Fund Panel and the PBS Program Pricing and Membership Policies Committee. She is a past president of the Public Television Programmers Association and represented the U.S. on the board of INPUT, an international public broadcasting organization.

Browne is a member of the Des Moines Symphony Board of Trustees, the Des Moines Downtown Neighborhood Association and Nexus. She has a bachelor's degree in history and an MBA in finance, both from the University of Minnesota.
 

Meet Don Wirth, Director of Finance & Administration:
financedirector@iowapublicradio.org

Don Wirth has been promoted by Iowa Public Radio to the position of Director of Finance and Administration and manager of IPR station WOI in Ames, effective August 1, 2006.

Wirth has served as WOI Radio Group’s Associate General Manager-Finance and Operations since 2001. His tenure with the station dates back to 1983 with his first position as Business Manager for WOI-AM/FM/TV. Over the years his responsibilities expanded to include oversight of the station’s annual fundraising activities, which grew 50% under his guidance. He has played a key role in the development of IPR over the past two years, providing support and financial guidance to IPR's board and Executive Director as the new organization takes shape.

"Don has been a real leader in the creation of Iowa Public Radio and that leadership will be critical as IPR develops into a statewide service that is greater than the sum of its already impressive parts," says Cindy Browne, IPR Executive Director.

As Director of Finance and Administration, Wirth will be a key member of IPR's senior team, overseeing the integration and development of the organization's finance, administration and human resources systems, processes and policies and playing a key strategic role in defining IPR's future. He also assumes day-to-day management of the IPR staff based at WOI on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.

"'I'm looking forward to the exciting challenges ahead, and to working with the great people at Iowa Public Radio. The stations of IPR have a great record of serving the people of Iowa and I hope to assist in the continuation and expansion of that service."

Meet Wayne Jarvis, Director of Network Operations:
networkoperationsdirector@iowapublicradio.org

Wayne Jarvis, Interim General Manager of KUNI/KHKE has been named Director of Network Operations for Iowa Public Radio, effective September 20, 2006. He will continue on as manager of the Cedar Falls/Waterloo public radio stations.

The promotion caps a thirty-three year career with KUNI/KHKE. Jarvis joined the stations in 1973 as news and public affairs producer. He later served as news director, program director and assistant general manager. In 2004 he oversaw major program changes for both KUNI and KHKE, resulting in a 20 percent increase in weekly listening audience and a 15 percent increase in revenue.

For the past 18 months, Jarvis has served as interim general manager, representing the northern Iowa stations as the statewide collaboration between KUNI/KHKE, KSUI/WSUI and the WOI Radio Group takes shape. "As a member of the IPR management team, Wayne has made invaluable contributions during the transition period. In this new role, Wayne will help shape the technological and operational systems that make IPR's service vision possible," states IPR Executive Director, Cindy Browne. "We're delighted that Wayne will continue to serve in a leadership role as IPR takes public radio service in Iowa to the next level."

As Director of Network Operations, Jarvis will oversee fourteen IPR stations and six translators broadcasting IPR's news and information and cultural programming services. He will be responsible for building IPR's network infrastructure and expanding service to new communities, including the construction of a new station scheduled to begin service to Ottumwa in 2007. Jarvis will also help lead IPR's exploration of new media opportunities, extending the availability of public radio programming through emerging technologies, including podcasting and HD Radio.

"I am pleased to be part of the team that is building Iowa Public Radio," states Jarvis. "This is an exciting time for everyone involved with our stations."

Jarvis, 57, a native of Fargo, North Dakota received a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa in history and political science.

Meet Joan Kjaer, Deputy Director:
deputydirector@iowapublicradio.org

Joan Kjaer, Interim Director of Broadcast Services for KSUI/WSUI has been named Deputy Director for Iowa Public Radio, effective October 6, 2006. She will continue on as manager of the Iowa City public radio stations.

The promotion caps a 29-year career with KSUI/WSUI. Kjaer joined the station in 1977 as a public affairs and arts producer, adding music programmer, music host and interviewer to her resume over the years. Kjaer is well known to eastern Iowa listeners who tune in to KSUI's early morning classical programming, and for her work on KSUI's weekly arts and humanities series, "Know the Score." She became program director of KSUI in 2000.

For the past two years, Kjaer has served as interim director of broadcast services and has represented the Iowa City stations as the statewide collaboration between KUNI/KHKE, KSUI/WSUI and the WOI Radio Group takes shape. "Joan's commitment to the idea of Iowa Public Radio and her ability to generate enthusiasm for the future among staff and station supporters has been an invaluable asset over the past year," says IPR Executive Director Cindy Browne. "Her contribution as a member of IPR's senior team will be critical to our success."

As Deputy Director, Kjaer will continue to play a key role in the cultural programming of the IPR network, in addition to managing the day to day operations of the Iowa City stations. Her new areas of responsibility include government affairs, community relations and communications.

"I'm thrilled to take on the positions of Deputy Director and station manager at this crucial time in the development of Iowa Public Radio," says Kjaer. "Public radio is incredibly important to Iowans and I've had a chance to see that first-hand during the three decades I've worked at KSUI and WSUI in Iowa City. Now our challenge, and our great opportunity, lies in broadening the impact of public radio across our state by serving an even larger audience with increasingly richer programming and public engagement."

Kjaer, 54, an Iowa native, graduated from the University of Iowa with distinction, majoring in anthropology and religion.

Meet Robin Fraser, Director of Development:
developmentdirector@iowapublicradio.org

Robin Fraser has accepted the position of Director of Development for Iowa Public Radio and will take up his responsibilities in mid-December 2006.

Fraser comes to IPR from the Mercy Healthcare Foundation in Clinton, Iowa, where he has served as President since 1990. Fraser designed and built the Foundation, which raises funds to support equipment purchases and enhance programs of the medical center. During his tenure, the Foundation has raised more than $6 million to expand and improve services to patients.

At Iowa Public Radio, Fraser will be responsible for consolidating the current fundraising activities of the stations in Ames, Cedar Falls and Iowa City, as IPR evolves into a statewide network. In addition, he will be charged with expanding IPR's fundraising portfolio to include major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.

"Robin has a unique set of skills and fundraising experiences that mesh well with Iowa Public Radio's development needs. He understands the relationship between IPR and listeners in communities across the state," says Cindy Browne, IPR Executive Director. "In addition, Robin understands that IPR's success depends on the quality of the partnership between staff, volunteers and donors."

"I look forward to joining the professionals working for IPR. I am impressed with their commitment to quality, innovation, and meeting the needs of the people of Iowa," said Fraser.

Fraser graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a B.A. in Social Psychology.

Member Station Staff Contacts:

Contacts at WOI Radio Group: woimember@iastate.edu, 800-861-8000
Contacts at WSUI and KSUI: wsui@uiowa.edu, ksui@uiowa.edu, 319-335-5730
Contacts at KUNI and KHKE: kuni@uni.edu, khke@uni.edu, 800-772-2440