The leader of Northern California Public Media is retiring after 38 years with the joint licensee she co-founded.
The Rohnert Park station announced Thursday that President and CEO Nancy Dobbs will retire in December. Content Manager Darren LaShelle will rise to fill the role.
“Darren brings many years of public media production and management experience to NorCal Public Media, as well as a strategic vision of how to best serve the community,” Dobbs said in a press release.
Dobbs and her late husband, John Kramer, founded the organization in 1981. KRCB, its first TV station, signed on in 1984. The broadcaster launched a radio station, KRCB-FM, in 1994. Its name changed to Northern California Public Media last year with the purchase of KCSM-TV in San Mateo from the San Mateo Community College District.
“Under Dobbs’ leadership, we have grown into a multi-station, broadcast, and digital producer and presenter of educational and relevant content for the Bay Area and audiences across the United States,” LaShelle said in the release. “Our goal remains that of Nancy’s original vision — to use media for the public good presenting children’s educational programs, environmental initiatives, community health programs, bilingual efforts, as well as political and election coverage.”
LaShelle joined NCPM in 2014 as content manager and senior producer. He has overseen development of television, radio, marketing, news and digital initiatives. He previously was director of content and creative services and EP at WGTE Public Media in Toledo, Ohio.