Nashville Public Radio hired Robert Sanchez as its first COO.
Sanchez most recently worked as VP of news, sports and talk for iHeartMedia. He was based at commercial radio station WBZ in Boston, where he also served as PD. Sanchez will continue as a senior advisor and consultant for WBZ.
Before that, Sanchez held management roles for commercial radio stations in New York, Los Angeles and the Washington, D.C., area, including serving as head of Spanish-language station WLZL in the nation’s capital. He got his start at stations in Miami.
“Rob brings a wealth of experience and expertise to help us as we continue our rapid growth to expand our public service to Nashville and Middle Tennessee,” said Nashville Public Radio CEO Steve Swenson in a release. “His extensive background in both news and music programming is unique in our industry and will help us as we expand both 90.3 WPLN News and 91.1 WNXP, Nashville’s Music Experience.”
Michele Desrosiers joined WMHT Public Media in Troy, N.Y., as VP of marketing and communications.
Desrosiers most recently worked as VP of engagement strategy for Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management. She was also CMO for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and managing director of the Capital Repertory Theatre.
Desrosiers also served as co-chair of WMHT’s Community Advisory Board.
Education
Omar Hakim was named executive director of education for Detroit Public TV. In addition to overseeing early-childhood programs, Hakim will help lead the statewide Michigan Learning Channel and the station’s newly formed Future of Work educational initiative. He most recently worked as principal of Birmingham Covington Schools in Michigan. Hakim was also assistant principal for Ernest W. Seaholm High School and an educator for Detroit Country Day Schools.
Development
Alyssa Richardson-Reyers left her position as membership coordinator for WGVU Public Media in Grand Rapids, Mich., to become executive assistant to the regional president for a PNC bank. Richardson-Reyers joined the station in 2021 after working for iHeartMedia as a business manager.
Jon Sklaroff left his position as national fundraising program manager for American Public Media Group to become VP of revenue and operations for Too Beautiful to Live, a podcast that has also aired on public media stations. He joined APMG in 2019 after holding development positions for North Country Public Radio in Canton, N.Y. Sklaroff said on LinkedIn that Too Beautiful to Live is leaving public media to become fully independent.
Content
Lyle Adam Fox was hired as PD for WDET in Detroit. Fox most recently worked as director of programs for the National Music Centre in Calgary, Canada. He previously worked as content director for CKUA in Edmonton and station manager for CJAM in Windsor. “I’m thrilled to be joining the team to support the critical mission of WDET!” Fox said in a news release. “This station has always been a beacon for me, reflecting the stories, music, and culture of my favorite city in the world, and bringing the news of the world with a Detroit perspective.
Kendal Blust announced on Twitter that she’s leaving her position as a senior field correspondent covering Hermosillo, Mexico, for KJZZ in Phoenix. She will become a professor of practice for the School of Journalism for the University of Arizona. Blust joined KJZZ in 2018.
Marian Summerall was hired as a producer and reporter for WMFE in Orlando, Fla. She will work on Are We There Yet?, a podcast that covers the space industry. She recently participated in NPR’s Next Generation Radio program.
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