Troy, NY, WMHT Public Media announced the election of its board leaders and new trustee effective December 1, 2023. The new slate of officers elected:
- Shelby Schneider, Deputy Director, New York State Economic Development council, has been re-elected Chair.
- Del Salmon, Attorney, The Salmon Law Firm, has been elected Vice Chair.
- Gwen Wright, Community Leader, has been elected Secretary.
- Karen Carpenter, President and CEO, Vanderheyden, Inc., has been elected Treasurer.
“I am both honored and humbled to be re-elected to the position of Board Chair,” said Shelby Schneider. “WMHT’s mission to enrich our communities with programs and services that advance education, culture and civic engagement, empower individuals, celebrate our diversity, and reveal what we have in common – has never been more relevant than it is today. Working together with my fellow trustees, our new President and CEO Anthony V. Hayes and the WMHT staff I am confident that WMHT will continue to rise and meet the needs of our community.”
The officer slate will be joined by newly elected trustee and esteemed health coach and former WNYT anchor Dr. Benita Zahn. Dr. Zahn joins the WMHT board with 40 years of commercial TV news experience, that included a previous stint as host of WMHT’s long-running HEALTH LINK program. Her work has earned many awards including a NY Emmy, NYS Broadcasters Award, International Radio and TV Award and she has been recognized by the American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists Media Award and many other honors for her health advocacy and reporting. After earning her MS and DPS/ Bioethics from the Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical College, she now works as a nationally certified health coach for Capital Cardiology, co-hosts the podcast EVERYTHING THEATER and writes about health for a number of local magazines/newspapers.
“Public media plays a vital role that convenes, educates, informs entertains and fosters healthy communities,” said Dr. Benita Zahn. “I am looking forward to engaging and lending my support and expertise to an organization committed to such an important mission. The officers and trustees will begin their terms on Friday, December 1, 2023, and will bring the number of board members to twenty-four.
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About WMHT Public Media
Serving Eastern New York and Western New England, WMHT Public Media is the only locally owned, nonprofit, multichannel public communications organization that reaches beyond the traditional broadcasting model to act as a leader by convening arts, culture, learning and civic interests. WMHT focuses on Community, Culture and Connections by providing entertainment, enrichment and engagement through television, radio, digital media, and educational services. Services include WMHT-DT (17.1), WMHT-Create (17.2), WMHT-World (17.3), WMHT PBS Kids (17.4), WMHT-FM 89.1 & WRHV-FM 88.7 (classical public radio), and WEXT Radio 97.7/106.1
(AAA public radio). WMHT also operates RISE, a radio reading service for the blind and print disabled.