RHODES RETIRES FROM IPBS AND NEWMAN TAKES THE REINS

Roger Rhodes, executive director of Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations (IPBS) is retiring after ten years as CEO of Indiana’s state association of public broadcasters.  Rhodes started his career in radio at WERT AM-FM in Van Wert, Ohio and after earning his Master of Arts degree, joined the staff at Ohio University in Zanesville as an instructor and RTV department coordinator.  He spent six years at WTLW-TV in Lima, Ohio before becoming general manager of WINM-TV in Fort Wayne. In 1990 he became general manager of Fort Wayne Public Television, WFWA PBS 39 and added the title of president in 1992. In 2007 he was selected as executive director of IPBS.

During his tenure at the helm of IPBS, this organization of 17 public broadcast stations saw progress on many fronts including:

• Completion of a fiber network linking the 17 radio and TV stations together;
• Completion of a five-year capital investment plan for the 17 IPBS stations;
• Established annual statewide professional development conferences for station staff members;
• Completion of a three-year project to help stations study and pursue combined service strategies for greater efficiency, and;
• Growth of statewide news service to become a Regional Journalism Center serving Hoosiers throughout Indiana

“I came to my IPBS position at a time when we needed a new platform to pursue a vision for greater statewide broadcast services. I am very gratified by the advancement of service we’ve built for Hoosier communities which our member stations deliver,” Rhodes said about his tenure with IPBS.

Bruce Haines, president of IPBS announced that Mark Newman began his new role as IPBS executive director on September 10.  Haines said “We are grateful to Roger Rhodes for his dedication to IPBS. He has demonstrated the importance of collaboration and co-operation and that all stations benefit when their collective voice is heard. As our new executive director, Mark’s 16 years in non-profit leadership and government service will be essential to the continued growth and impact of IPBS.”

Newman had served as the executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development for more than six years.  Prior to serving in the role promoting Indiana’s $12.28 billion travel, tourism and hospitality industry he was vice president of marketing and communications for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and chief operating officer of the Indiana Sports Corp. He was also a member of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and World Cup USA 1994 organizing committees.

“I am thrilled that the Board of Directors chose me to lead IPBS into the future.  A lot of people put their trust in the quality reporting and programming that public broadcasting produces.  I consider it an honor to be joining an organization for which I have such great respect,” said Newman. “I will always look back on my time at Indiana Tourism with great pride and a sense of accomplishment. As I turn my attention to Indiana Public Broadcasting, my goal is to have no less of an impact.”