have named Allen Bartholet as the new executive director and general manager effective July 1, 2013.
“Allen was selected because of his years of experience in public radio programming, leadership and development,” said Dietrich Maune, search committee chair. “This, along with his collaborative approach to station management and community relationships made him the ideal candidate.”
Bartholet has worked in public radio since 1980, including as executive director and general manager of WKSU-FM at Kent State University from 1999-2012. In addition, he also served as development director for WKSU for 17 years.
During his time at WKSU, Bartholet expanded the station鈥檚 news coverage with the opening of bureaus in Cleveland, Akron and Canton; established Folk Alley, an internet folk music radio station with a large worldwide audience; and successfully completed capital and endowment campaigns that generated $6 million for WKSU.
鈥淲MRA and WEMC have a wonderful opportunity to build on past successes and to take advantage of our country鈥檚 thirst for information as well as for music that is an oasis for listeners,鈥� said Bartholet. 鈥淲hen it comes to new ways to serve our audiences, there appears to be no end in sight.鈥�
WMRA and its network of stations serve 50,000 listeners in the Shenandoah Valley, Charlottesville, surrounding western Piedmont counties and the Farmville area. It is licensed to James Madison University. Flagship programs include: Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Fresh Air, Marketplace, Car Talk, A Prairie Home Companion, This American Life, Virginia Insight and Wait Wait鈥on鈥檛 Tell Me.
WEMC is the first public radio station in Virginia, on air since 1955. The station serves 8,000 listeners in the central Shenandoah Valley. It is licensed to 草莓社区 and is operated by WMRA. It produces a weekly program focused on Mennonite musical heritage, Mostly Mennonite, Mostly Acapella.