BERT SCHMIDT NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WHRO, "Hampton Roads Own" Public Broadcasting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 10, 2007
CONTACT: Bobbie Fisher, Director of Corporate Communications, 757.889.9107

BERT SCHMIDT NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF WHRO
Veteran Public Broadcaster to Assume WHRO Leadership

Norfolk: The Board of Directors of WHRO, public broadcasting for Hampton Roads, has announced that Bert Schmidt has accepted the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, according to Board Chair Dr. Elizabeth L. Young. Schmidt will join WHRO after five years as President and General Manager of WVPT in Harrisonburg, Virginia, which broadcasts in 29 counties, and on satellite services in Northern Virginia and in parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Schmidt is the current chairman of the Virginia Association of Public Television Stations, serves on the board of the National Educational Telecommunications Association, and was the past chair of the Public Broadcasting Management Association. While in Harrisonburg, he served as President of the Massanutten Regional Library Board, and was on the Community Leadership Program and the Issues committee of the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.

Schmidt holds a BS in accounting and finance (with honors) from Alfred University, a law degree (with honors) from Syracuse University College of Law and an MBA (with honors) from Syracuse University School of Management. Prior to coming to Virginia, he was Executive Vice President of WCNY-TV/FM in Syracuse, New York, the Vice President of Mark R. Switz, Inc., and a tax attorney with Price Waterhouse.

While at the Harrisonburg station, Schmidt developed and served as executive producer of eleven local television productions, including Consider This, recognized as the best public television news program by the Virginia Association of Broadcasters; Virginia Viewpoints, a local panel discussion of regional and national topics; and Miller Center Forums, weekly lectures from the University of Virginia’s Miller Center for Public Affairs, which is directed by former Governor Gerald L. Baliles. He is the recipient of numerous other awards from the Virginia Association of Broadcasters, a Telly award, the Public Broadcasting Management Association’s Award of Excellence and the Virginia Farm Bureau’s Journalism Award.

“I was interested in WHRO for many reasons,” says Schmidt. “The station has a great reputation throughout our industry, and I’m particularly impressed by its emphasis on educational technology. I’m looking forward to leading the staff toward the goal of going from great to world class.”

"I am personally delighted that Mr. Schmidt will be taking the reins of WHRO at this critical time for our many educational and informational services offered on radio, television, and on line,” says Dr. Young. “His experience with converting a station to digital broadcasting will serve WHRO well. His great interest in community outreach and local programming were among the factors that convinced us to offer him the position. I look forward to introducing him to our many listeners, viewers and supporters in the community."

Born in Syracuse, NY, Schmidt has two children, a daughter Jillian and son Bertel.

WHRO is a regional media company that promotes education, culture and citizenship to the citizens of Hampton Roads, Virginia through a variety of services. Every day, thousands of viewers and listeners tune in to broadcast programming on WHRO's public television and two public radio stations. Since its founding more than 45 years ago to support education, WHRO has employed creativity and technology to serve its mission to enrich audiences through content that educates, entertains and promotes understanding. Owned by 17 local school divisions, WHRO delivers educational and new media services to 286,000 students and 25,000 educators per month as well.

http://whro.org

http://www.dailypress.com

NOTE: Bert is my "significant other", my "partner in life" and, thus, with much sadness, I am leaving Friendship Industries in May as well as our friends and my life-long Shenandoah Valley home.