Comings and goings: Fred Rogers Productions hires VP, ITVS SVP steps down …

Benjamin Lehmann was hired as VP of production for Fred Rogers Productions.

Lehmann most recently worked as an independent producer and director of Tiny Time Travel for PBS Kids, Blippi for Netflix and The Pigeon Explains for the Hidden Pigeon Co. He has held VP roles at Sesame Workshop overseeing Sesame Street and worked on the program when it began streaming on Netflix last year.

“I’ve long admired the work of Fred Rogers and all the company’s standout series that are helping further his legacy of supporting kids and families,” Lehmann said in a news release. “… This is a very exciting time for Fred Rogers Productions with the recent launch of the first Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood YouTube channel and continuing production of our hit series. There’s something extra special about joining a company where people are all working towards a singular goal of serving the needs of children. I’m very much looking forward to helping to deliver on that mission.”

Lisa Tawil left her role as SVP of brand, communications and audience growth for the Independent Television Service, the producer of Independent Lens.

Tawil joined ITVS in 2013 as director of marketing, publicity and creative services. She has also been managing director of marketing and communications and VP of marketing and communications. She started the SVP role last year. Earlier this year, she helped ITVS partner with PBS to distribute more feature-length documentaries on YouTube.

“I’ll always be a champion of ITVS and [its] unstoppable staff. Thank you for changing my life, and for letting me be part of yours,” Tawil said on LinkedIn. “My next chapter goes further into the heart of our stories and traditions we pass down to future generations, and I can’t wait to share it with you.”

Local Public, the subsidiary of Cascade PBS in Seattle, announced staff changes.

Joshua Baker became an agile project manager. Baker started working for the Seattle station in 2020 and had the same title.

“Beyond his project leadership, Joshua is dedicated to building a trusting, safe, and collaborative team environment that emphasizes problem-solving,” said Chris Wells, VP of engineering, in a LinkedIn post. “He’s a truly hands-on leader, always ready to jump in wherever needed to keep our projects moving forward effectively.”

Chelsea Lee was promoted to senior software engineer. She previously worked for Cascade PBS as a full-stack developer and was also a front-end developer when she joined the station in 2018.

“Chelsea has been a strong independent contributor to the Local Public platform from the very beginning,” Wells said on LinkedIn. “Her skills have improved dramatically over the years as she has worked on frontend, backend, app development, and everything in between. As Senior Software Engineer, I am confident that Chelsea will continue to build on her skills and knowledge with a broader set of responsibilities.”

Content

Eric Walter became a news editor for WHYY in Philadelphia. He will work for the station’s news desk and PlanPhilly, a news site owned by WHYY. Walter first joined WHYY in 2011 as an editor and web producer. He left in 2018 and rejoined the station last year as a contract news editor after being laid off by Philadelphia commercial station KYW. “It has been a long road to get here … though I’m grateful to say I haven’t had it as bad as many others navigating today’s job market,” he said on LinkedIn. “I’m deeply thankful to everyone whose encouragement, advice, collaboration and friendship helped me along the way. Your support made a real difference.” Walter has also held producer roles at WNYC in New York, Minnesota Public Radio and Logo TV.

Jacob Aloi was hired as EP of The Conversation, a daily public affairs program produced by Hawaii Public Radio. Aloi, who starts the job in mid-August, is currently a newscaster and arts reporter for Minnesota Public Radio. He joined MPR in 2022 as a stringer and researcher. “I am … excited to be moving back home, closer to family,” he said on LinkedIn. “Mahalo nui loa to everyone in Minnesota and at MPR News for a great run, it has been the best job I could ask for.” Aloi succeeds Maddie Bender, who joined the station in late 2024 and told Current in an email that she is leaving HPR.

Moriah Prescia is leaving her role as an associate producer for Independent Lens at the Independent Television Service in San Francisco to pursue a master’s degree in journalism at the University of California Berkeley. Prescia joined ITVS in 2023 as a production coordinator. She will focus on documentary filmmaking in her graduate studies. “Working at Independent Lens, I had the privilege of screening hundreds of documentaries from filmmakers around the world,” she said on LinkedIn. “I am thrilled at the opportunity to lend my own voice to the craft, learn from brilliant mentors and classmates, and continue exploring stories that further empathy. I’m deeply grateful to my colleagues at ITVS and everyone I’ve worked alongside over the past few years.”

Monica Melton joined New York Public Radio as an assistant day-of editor. “She showcases the exact sort of curiosity and commitment to our readers and listeners we strive for in our newsroom,” said Louis C. Hochman, day-of editor, in a news release. Melton most recently worked as deputy tech editor for Business Insider, which she joined in 2022 as senior tech editor. She has also been managing editor of The Plug, an online publication focusing on Black innovators in tech, and was assistant editor of innovation for Forbes.

Laura McCallum rejoined Minnesota Public Radio as an editor. “I’m back at MPR News!” she wrote on LinkedIn. “Backup editing as needed, including working with the excellent politics team. I missed this newsroom!” McCallum most recently worked for the Minnesota Star Tribune, which she joined in 2021. Before that, she was an editor for Twin Cities PBS’ Next Avenue website. She worked for MPR from 1993–2020 before accepting a voluntary buyout.

Fellowships

Vanessa Ochavillo became an editing fellow at North State Public Radio in Chico, Calif., as part of the California Local News Fellowship in partnership with the Maynard Institute. Ochavillo most recently worked as managing editor for the University of Guam Press. She has also been a newsroom fellow and associate producer of digital for WBUR in Boston and a production assistant for Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting.

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