The Board of Directors of WTCI –PBS has named Bob Culkeen as President and Chief Executive Officer of WTCI, The Greater Chattanooga Public Television Station. He will assume the leadership position as WTCI in 2020 will celebrate its 50th year in the Greater Chattanooga area. Culkeen is currently the WSRE General Manager and Executive Director of the WSRE- TV Foundation, the Pensacola, Fla. PBS Member Station licensed to Pensacola State College. Culkeen will start in his new position at WTCI on January 20, 2020.
WTCI’s Board of Directors formed a search committee earlier this year upon the resignation of former CEO Paul Grove. Board Member Don Jernigan led the search that recommended Culkeen, who was approved unanimously by the WTCI Board.
“Bob brings to WTCI a long and successful career in public television,” said Jernigan. “He has been a strong leader in advocating the use of public television in education. His innovative and creative methods on how to better engage our community through public television will be especially important in a rapidly changing landscape in media content delivery.”
Culkeen holds an M.Ed. from Westfield State University (MA), a B.S. from Fitchburg State University (MA), and an A.S. from Grahm Junior College (MA). His professional career has been spent within the public television field in leadership positions in Illinois and Florida.
“Joining WTCI in the dawn of their 50th Anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate great achievements with a vision for continued dedicated service to Chattanooga and the region,” said Culkeen. “ I recognize this opportunity for WTCI to be the local difference maker, and have fun achieving it.”
In addition to work in public television, he also held the position of Assistant Director of Video Service and Distance Learning at his alma mater, Westfield State University, an adjunct professor position at Florida State College in Jacksonville, FL, and as a visiting instructor at American International College in Springfield, MA. Culkeen is currently an Executive Board Member of The Programming Service and Vice Chair of the Florida Public Broadcasting Service. He formerly served as an Executive Board Member of the Illinois Public Broadcast Council and the Digital Convergence Alliance and as a board member of the University Station Alliance.
WTCI’s Board chair Steve Gatlin said, “Bob brings a tremendous depth of experience to WTCI. He is a collaborative leader who will engage our community. Quality and trustworthy media is important and with Bob's leadership, WTCI will continue to thrive as a vital resource for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley.”
WTCI, the Tennessee Valley's community PBS station, reaches a 35-county region and serves over 450,000 households with programming, events and educational outreach that educate, engage and inspire a lifetime of learning and exploration. For scheduling, programming and membership information, visit the station online at wtciTV.org.