Kansas City PBS CEO Kliff Kuehl to retire
Kansas City PBS President and CEO Kliff Kuehl plans to retire July 1.
Kuehl joined Kansas City PBS in 2009. In 2013, he founded the multimedia news platform Flatland, according to a news release. The same year, the station acquired 90.9 The Bridge, an NPR music station.
The release also cited a 2021 capital campaign that raised $22 million for a headquarters renovation, upgrades to transmission infrastructure and production studios, and a “Content Excellence Fund” to help documentary filmmakers. The release also credits Kuehl with establishing a permanent endowment and rainy-day fund.
Kuehl also served on PBS’ board of directors and on the board of America’s Public Television Stations.
“After 17 years at the helm of Kansas City PBS, I’m leaving with deep gratitude to the Kansas City community, our members and staff,” Kuehl said in the release. “Together, we strengthened public media, served our community with purpose, added many new services, and proved that local storytelling matters.”
Board Chair David Burke is leading a search committee to find Kuehl’s replacement. NETA Consulting was selected to conduct a national search, according to the release.
“Kliff has been a visionary leader for Kansas City PBS, and his stewardship has resulted in record viewership and membership while ensuring the station continued to evolve with a rapidly changing content landscape,” Burke said in the release. “These milestones have proven even more significant in light of recent federal funding cuts. I have no doubt that his steady, calm leadership played a key role in inspiring so many supporters to invest in new, original programming and in the complete overhaul of our facilities. The beautiful new studios and gathering spaces we now call home stand as a fitting tribute to Kliff’s legacy.”
