Comings and goings: PBS NC hires COO, WUWM appoints VP …

Jonathan Kappler was hired as COO for PBS North Carolina.

Kappler will oversee PBS NC’s broadcast engineering, facilities and legal affairs teams. Additionally, he will be the organization’s primary liaison with its owner, the University of North Carolina System, on information technology, human resources and finance.

Kappler most recently worked as deputy secretary of external affairs and chief of staff for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. He has also been executive director of the North Carolina FreeEnterprise Foundation. From 2013–17, he worked for the UNC System as interim VP of federal relations and director of state government relations.

“Jonathan brings a rare blend of operational rigor, strategic insight and commitment to public service,” said PBS NC CEO and GM David Crabtree in a news release. “As PBS North Carolina continues to grow its impact in an increasingly complex media environment, his leadership will be essential in ensuring we have the systems, structures and partnerships necessary to serve every corner of our state. We’re excited to welcome him to our team.”

“Honored to be part of this team and back amongst my friends at the UNC System,” Kappler said on LinkedIn.

Maureen McCollum was hired as VP of content for WUWM in Milwaukee.

McCollum worked for Wisconsin Public Radio in two stints. In 2007, she was a part-time reporter and anchor. She left to become a producer for KBIA in Columbia, Mo. She rejoined WPR in 2010 as a reporter. She later worked as Morning Edition host and in 2018 became EP and host of Wisconsin Life. In 2022, she was host and EP of the limited-series podcast Uprooted.

“I could not be more excited to welcome Maureen to WUWM. Over her many years at Wisconsin Public Radio, she earned a reputation for thoughtful leadership, high standards, and exceptional audio storytelling,” said GM David Lee in a news release. “As our Vice President of Content, Maureen will lead our content team with a deep understanding of our public service mission and our responsibility to serve this community with journalism and storytelling that is rigorous, independent, firmly rooted in Southeast Wisconsin, and worthy of the trust our listeners place in us every day.”

Communications

Jason Phelps, senior director of external communications for PBS, told Current that he left the organization Friday. Phelps joined PBS in 2022 after working as advisor and director of national media for Climate Power. He was also deputy communications director for Giffords, a gun violence prevention group led by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. He has also worked in communications for former U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell.

Corporate engagement

Shannon Vickery, director of corporate engagement for PBS North Carolina, is leaving the station to become director of volunteer engagement for the United Way of Greenville County in South Carolina. Vickery joined PBS NC in 1995 as assignment editor. She has also been an anchor, reporter, producer, managing editor, EP of content and director of production partners and business development. “To my PBS North Carolina teammates — past and present — thank you! Your creativity, integrity, collaboration, and passion have inspired me every single day,” she wrote on LinkedIn.

Content

Savanna Smith was promoted to director of editorial strategy for PBS KVIE in Sacramento, Calif. “In this newly defined position, I oversee news strategy, audience engagement, cross-team collaboration, community partnerships and more,” she said on LinkedIn. Smith joined the station in 2025 as audience engagement editor. She previously held editorial roles at the Kansas City Star, the Sacramento Bee and McClatchy.

Matt Fleeger is leaving his job as PD of KMHD, a jazz station owned by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Fleeger has worked for the station since 2009. Before that, he was operations manager for jazz station KRTU in San Antonio, Texas. “I had set myself a goal of becoming a Program Director by age 40, and I became one at 33,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “It was a dream to be able to do it in Portland and build something different in radio.” His last day will be March 9. “After 17 years, the time simply feels right for a new chapter,” Fleeger wrote. “I’m proud of what we built, the foundation is strong, and I’m ready to see what’s next. I’ll be taking time to reflect and connect with the extraordinary network I’ve been fortunate to build over 25+ years in public media.” A spokesperson said Meg Samples, a host, producer and promotions manager, will be interim GM.

Fellowships

Minhee Kim, director of product design for PBS News at WETA in Washington, D.C, is one of 29 participants in the News Product Management Certification’s fifth cohort. Kim joined WETA in 2024 as design director after working as creative director for theSkimm. The program is run by the News Product Alliance in partnership with the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at City University of New York. Over the next three and a half months, participants will receive coaching and hands-on training about audience development, revenue sustainability, product design and AI implementation. Sarah Darby, VP of data and analytics for Chicago Public Media, is one of the program’s instructors.

Send news of “comings and goings” to people@current.org