Friends of PBS Wisconsin

The Friends of PBS Wisconsin is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and exists to ascertain the needs of the communities served and support PBS Wisconsin through the securing financial support, positive community relations, a strong and effective volunteer system, and related administrative services.

Organizational Structure

The Friends of PBS Wisconsin has a Board of Directors comprised of individuals selected from across the state. New appointments are approved by current Board members. The Board is responsible for oversight of policies, budgets, financials, and the duties of the Executive Director. The Officers of the Board of Directors include the President, Vice President, Executive Director, Secretary, and Treasurer. The board is structured with the following standing committees: Executive Committee, Governance Committee, Finance Committee, and Advocacy and Engagement Committee.

“To support the educational, cultural, and community broadcasting services of PBS Wisconsin…”

—From the Mission Statement of Friends of PBS Wisconsin.

Board of Directors

Reed E. Hall, President
MADISON, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2024

Reed served as General Counsel of Marshfield Clinic for 24 years, then as Executive Director of the Clinic System for 10 years, retiring from the Clinic in 2010. He also served as Secretary/CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for three years. He was with a private law firm in Milwaukee for two years before joining the Clinic. Reed holds a BA degree from UW-Madison, JD degree from the University of North Dakota, and an MS degree in health law from the University of Pittsburgh.

Kyle LaFond, Vice President
MOUNT HOREB, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2025

Kyle is founder, president, and CEO of American Provenance Inc., a Mount Horeb-based company that specializes in all-natural personal care, lifestyle, and home products. American Provenance had humble beginnings in a former machine shed on Kyle’s family farm, where he and his team assembled all products by hand. Now, the company’s product line can be found in over 1,500 stores nationwide. Kyle has degrees from UW-Madison and UW-Platteville in Natural Resources and Broadfield Science Education. He was formerly a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist, Capital Brewery director of business development, and middle school science teacher. Through American Provenance, Kyle is an enthusiastic underwriter on PBS Wisconsin.

Brian J. Koopman, Treasurer
LA CROSSE, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2024

Brian is Vice President of Trust Point, an independent, boutique trust and investment-management company. Brian received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and is a certified financial planner and public accountant. His former experience includes work with the national CPA firm McGladrey & Pullen as both a staff accountant and general services supervisor.

Portrait of Friends of PBS Wisconsin board member Paula Bonner.

Paula Bonner, Secretary
MADISON, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2025

Paula Bonner was formerly the president of the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) and chief alumni officer for the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She retired in December 2017. Paula joined the WAA in 1989 as associate executive director and was named president and CEO in January 2000. (On July 1, 2014, the WAA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, merged with and into the UW Foundation, also an independent supporting organization, forming the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association (WFAA).) In addition to her position as president and chief alumni officer, Paula was a member of the University’s leadership council and the UW/WFAA executive advancement team. She has served on many major University search and screen committees including chancellor, athletic director, deans, and other leadership academic and non-academic hires. She currently serves on the International Board of Trustees for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). In 2015, she was inducted into the UW Athletics Hall of Fame.

Black and white photo of man (Masood Akhtar) sitting

Masood Akhtar
MADISON, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2025

Masood is an Indian-born American Muslim entrepreneur who has lived in Madison for over 35 years. In addition to starting multiple businesses, Masood has been actively involved with numerous community projects. The most visible is the We Are Many – United Against Hate Movement to address the environment of hate, bigotry, and racism. Masood has received many awards including President Joe Biden’s “Uniter” award at the White House; the prestigious national FBI Director’s “Community Leadership Award;” a “Certificate of Appreciation” from the Southern Poverty Law Center; a “Certificate of Achievement” from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers; and the “Manfred E. Swarsensky Humanitarian Service Award” from the Rotary Club of Madison. Madison365 named Masood as one of Wisconsin’s 48 most influential Asian American Leaders.

Black and white portrait of Sujhey Beisser

Sujhey Beisser
MADISON, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2026

Sujhey Beisser is a Strategy & Development Officer for Park Bank in Madison and the co-chair of their Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also a member of the Latino Professionals Association of Greater Madison. She serves on the Madison Public Market Foundation board of directors and is the former president of the Centro Hispano of Dane County board, on which she served for 10 years. Sujhey is the 2016 recipient of Centro’s Visionary Award, given to someone who has contributed substantially to the mission and vision of Centro Hispano. She was a nominee for the 2020 Athena Award, which celebrates 10 nominees who have achieved excellence at work, devoted time to their communities, and helped other women realize their full leadership potential.

Chris Borland
MADISON, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2025

Chris Borland is a producer and host with Sony Audio and Neon Hum Media. He has worked as an executive producer and producer on documentary films. Chris was a two-time team captain and All-American linebacker while playing football at the University of Wisconsin. He played professionally with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, before retiring after his rookie season due to concerns of brain injury. Chris advocates for former athletes and military veterans living with brain injury through his work with The Concussion Legacy Foundation and Gridiron Greats. In 2017, he ran a first-of-its kind pilot program in meditation with NFL retirees at The University of Wisconsin’s Center for Healthy Minds.

Roberta Filicky-Peneski
SHEBOYGAN, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2024

Roberta earned her Master’s degree in Management from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and her undergraduate degree from Edgewood College in Madison. Prior to her retirement, she was a financial advisor with Robert W. Baird and Company, Inc. for 20 years. She previously owned and operated Community Relations Consulting, a public relations and marketing firm. Roberta sits on the boards of Friends of PBS Wisconsin, the Edgewood College Board of Visitors, and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters where she serves as secretary. Locally she is the immediate past president of the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra, the chair of the Sheboygan Redevelopment Authority, and an alderperson in the City of Sheboygan.

Tom Fisk
APPLETON, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2025

Tom Fisk serves as NAI Pfefferle-Green Bay’s managing broker and is a partner at NAI Pfefferle. He is responsible for sales and leasing of retail, office, industrial, and investment properties in northeastern Wisconsin. Tom has been in the real estate business for over 30 years and has been involved in leasing, site selection, property management, and property sales for both development companies and for brokerage firms. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin, and he is a member and Commercial Council Chairman of the Realtors Association of Northeastern Wisconsin. Tom attended the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley.

Black and white portrait of Eve Galanter

Eve Galanter
MADISON, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2026

Eve Galanter, of Madison, founded the Wisconsin Civics Games, a statewide competition for high school students, as part of her work on the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation board. She is the former president of Galanter Public Affairs Consulting, has served on the Madison City Council, and was formerly the director of Sen. Herb Kohl’s Madison office. Eve has served on boards and committees for Wisconsin Women in Government, TEMPO Madison, the Madison Civics Club, and the Madison Public Library. As chair of the Wisconsin Women’s Network, she spearheaded the Wisconsin Women’s Policy Institute, the first nonpartisan training program with the goal of increasing the number of female leaders in public policy.

Portrait of Friends of PBS Wisconsin board member Jennifer McClure

Jennifer McClure
OCONOMOWOC, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2026

Jennifer McClure has more than 30 years of experience in the media and technology industries. She was founder and CEO of JEM, which merged with 2GO Advisory Group in 2022, where she is now a Managing Partner. She was previously Vice President of Digital and Social Media at Thomson Reuters, Chief Marketing Officer of Redwood Collaborative Media, and founder, Chairman and CEO of Society for New Communications Research, a nonprofit think tank focused on the impact of digital and social media. Jen is Distinguished Principal Fellow Emeritus of The Conference Board’s Marketing and Communications Center and serves on the boards of LUCI Creative and Miracle Messages. She previously served on the boards of KQED, Observer Publishing, and the United Nations Social Media Advisory Council. Jen holds a master’s degree from Stanford University, B.A. from Sarah Lawrence and a graduate certificate in History, Politics and Society from Oxford University.

Karen Michel
MADISON, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2024

Karen Michel is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation and is president and CEO of IndiJ Public Media, a nonprofit news organization that covers the Indigenous world through a digital news site and a weekday newscast. Previously she served as publisher and editor of Madison Magazine and is a past board president of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. She has written extensively about Native American issues as a freelancer, was a columnist for The New York Times Syndicate, and previously served as president of the Native American Journalists Association. Karen holds a journalism degree from Marquette University and a degree in industrial technology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Regina Millner
MADISON, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2025

Regina Millner graduated from UW-Madison School of Law and Graduate School of Business and founded a commercial appraisal company and later a consulting firm that specialized in complex real estate projects. Active in the Madison community, Regina has headed significant community projects and served in leadership positions on boards of major business companies and non-profit organizations. In 2012, Regina’s leadership roles expanded to the state of Wisconsin when she was appointed to the UW System Board of Regents. From 2012 to 2019, she served for four years as vice president and president of the UW System Board of Regents, as well as chair of several standing committees of the board.

Oscar Mireles
MADISON, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2025

Oscar Mireles is the executive director of Omega School, where he has been employed for the past 28 years. Omega School provides GED preparation and adult basic education services to Dane County young adults who do not possess a high school diploma. Oscar is a published poet and the editor of three anthologies. He also published a chapbook of poetry. He was appointed the poet laureate of the city of Madison for 2016-2020. Oscar is the co-founder of Art Party Madison, a monthly networking event for artists and social activists. He is the founder and director of Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development, a Latinx arts organization.

Nick Mischler
WAUNAKEE, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2025

Nick is an emeritus co-manager of Wisconsin Investment Partners, LLC, where he serves on the advisory board. He is active in angel investing, early-stage companies, community service, and philanthropy. After his community, clinical practice in the Madison area, Nick moved into the business side of health care, serving in numerous leadership positions for major local and national companies, such as Physicians Plus Insurance Corporation, Milliman & Robertson Health Practice, Wausau Benefits, Prevea Health Plan, Avidyn Health, and Fiserv Health. He is a serial innovator and entrepreneur, and serves on the boards of several startup companies and non-profits. He served in the U.S. Armed Forces as a Navy flight surgeon.

Lisa O’Flyng
WAUSAU, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2024

Lisa O’Flyng is the marketing director for the full-service business law firm Ruder Ware, the largest firm headquartered north of Madison and Milwaukee. She leads the firm’s advertising, marketing, public relations, and social media efforts. Lisa earned her B.A. in communication with a double minor in journalism and public relations from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She most recently served as chair of the marketing committee as well as two terms as board member of The Neighbors’ Place where she concluded her tenure serving as president, assisting with the transition of the executive director to retirement and the hiring of their replacement. She also created Ruder Ware Cares, a program that connects employees to community organizations, schools, and agencies through meaningful volunteer projects.

Marc Perry
BELOIT, WI
Term (2nd) end date: June 2026

Marc Perry has more than 20 years of experience working with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds. He has directed youth development, family development, and inclusion initiatives for Wyman Center Inc., Mentor St. Louis, Wesley House Association, and Kohl Children’s Museum. Marc’s background includes working with youth impacted by HIV, directing residential camping programs, as well as school-based and community-based before and after school programming. Marc currently serves as Executive Director of Community Action Inc., of Rock and Walworth Counties where he provides training and technical assistance for partner organizations, oversees marketing, fund development, and has various program responsibilities including serving as Director of Merrill Community Center.

Steve Plum
WALES, WI
Term (1st) end date: June 2024

Steve Plum holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy from St. John’s University and biology from Bemidji State University and master’s degrees in biology and administrative leadership from Bemidji State and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is currently working on his dissertation in the Urban Education Doctoral Program at UW-Milwaukee. Steve has taught science and biology in public education for 27 years and developed and directed the High School of Health Sciences in the Kettle Moraine School District (KMSD). Steve currently serves KMSD as superintendent.

Jon Miskowski, Ex-Officio
MADISON, WI

Jon Miskowski is the director of television at PBS Wisconsin and currently leads the six-station PBS Wisconsin network, which includes high definition and multicast channels, local and national production, online services, and community outreach.

MEETINGS

The Friends of PBS Wisconsin Board of Directors meets at least three times per year in locations across the state. Meetings of the Board of Directors and most of its committees are open to the public. To ensure that we have space for all who want to attend, we ask that members of the public who are interested in coming to a meeting phone us at (608) 263-2109 within the five days prior to a specific meeting.

FULL BOARD MEETINGS
FISCAL YEAR 2024

Thursday, October 13, 2023, at 1 PM
Location: UW South Madison Partnership, 2238 South Park Street, Madison, WI 53713
Agenda

Friday, December 8, 2023, at 1 PM
Location: Online only
Agenda

Friday, March 8, 2024, at 1 PM
Location: TBD

Friday, June 14, 2024, at 1 PM
Location: TBD

FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
FISCAL YEAR 2024

Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 2:00 pm
(online)

Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 2:00 pm
(online)

Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 2:00 pm
(online)

Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 2:00 pm
(online)

Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 2:00 pm
(online)

JOINT ADVOCACY COMMITTEE
Monday, December 4, 2023
Location: Online Only
Draft Agenda

GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
FISCAL YEAR 2024
no meetings scheduled at this time

Contact

Eric Greiling

Director of Development
Executive Director, Friends of PBS Wisconsin
[email protected]
608-265-0691

Lorrie Goodwin

Friends of PBS Wisconsin Finance Manager
[email protected]
608-263-0931

Marike Stucky

Friends of PBS Wisconsin Board Relations Manager
[email protected]
608-263-2109

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