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Board Members

Community Advisory Panel (CAP)

Senior Staff

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As President and CEO of Detroit PBS, Rich Homberg oversees one of the largest public television stations in the country, a position he has held since 2008. He is widely considered one of the most dynamic innovators in public media, who has propelled Detroit PBS to new heights of local engagement, content, and public service. 
 
Under Rich’s guidance, the station has been at the forefront of local news, education, environment, and the arts. It recently established the nation’s first statewide broadcast network of instructional programming, the Michigan Learning Channel. Detroit PBS also has become a national model of community engagement through its parenting and school preparedness workshops and resources. 
 
Detroit PBS has become a leading force in community-based journalism with an active and growing editorial bureau, situated in the heart of Detroit. Detroit PBS produces two weekly news shows – “One Detroit” and “American Black Journal,” which after 53 years is the nation’s longest-running news program dedicated to the African American experience. 
 
Its Great Lakes Now bureau is the authoritative voice on news and information related to the world’s largest system of freshwater. The initiative has expanded into a network of 29 participating stations throughout the region contributing to the daily posts on GreatLakesNow.org and the monthly “Great Lakes Now” television show. 
 
In addition, the station serves as an invaluable platform and convener of arts and culture in Southeast Michigan, collaborating with numerous organizations and producing the new weekly show, “Detroit Performs Live From Marygrove,” which features local acts in live performances. 
 
In sum, Rich has positioned Detroit PBS as an essential part of the leadership and public affairs ecosystem of Detroit and Southeast Michigan. 
 
Now, its reach extends nationwide, through its PBS Books platform, which provides author talks and other digital content to more than 2,000 libraries, all public television affiliates, and other partner organizations. Dedicated to the mission of connecting books and authors to readers, it recently launched the PBS Books Readers Club, which in two months had amassed one hundred thousand members and hundreds of thousands of views for talks with authors such as Geraldine Brooks and Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 
 
At Detroit PBS, Homberg oversees five television stations – including the main channel (56.1/WTVS), the 24/7 Detroit PBS Kids Channel, the Create Channel, the World Channel, and the Michigan Learning Channel, as well as related online platforms and WRCJ 90.9, the city’s only jazz and classical radio station. Detroit PBS’s broadcasts reach over 2 million people each week, with another 500,000 visiting its digital and social media channels and 200,000 tuning into WRCJ. 
 
Before joining Detroit PBS, Homberg led WWJ Newsradio 950, a CBS-owned-and-operated station, and launched Detroit’s sports radio, WXYT. In over 35 years in broadcasting, Homberg has achieved a record of accomplishment in media companies including Westinghouse Broadcasting, CBS, and Viacom. 
 
His success earned him a seat on the PBS Board of Directors, on which he served as Co-Chair of the Diversity Advisory Council and a host of other positions of leadership in civic and professional organizations. 
He serves on the board of the Michigan Nonprofit Association and the Detroit Economic Club. He is a Community Senior Fellow at Michigan State University. 
 
He was a founding member of the Media and Community Stakeholders Group of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion. 
 
Homberg was appointed to the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder in 2013, following four years of service on the State Tenure Commission. 
 
Previously Homberg has served on the board of Culture Source, Southeast Michigan’s arts and culture alliance where he was the two-time Chair. He has also served on the Citizens Advisory Council at the University of Michigan Dearborn and on the Leadership Advisory Board of the University of Michigan A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute. He has sat on the board of the Public Television Major Market Group, a consortium of 40 of the largest public television stations. He was a member of the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee and a graduate of Leadership Detroit XVIII. 
 
Among his many honors, Homberg received the Neal Shine Award for Media Commitment from the Association of Fundraising Professionals at its annual event in 2018 and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2019. 
 
In 2016, he was recognized by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan with the 2016 Mariam C. Nolan Award for Nonprofit Leadership, which is presented to a nonprofit president or CEO in Southeast Michigan whose service exemplifies the importance of nonprofit leadership to his organization and the wider nonprofit community. In 1998, he received the Spirit of Detroit Award for his work in the community. 
 
Detroit PBS was named Best-Managed Nonprofit 2009 by Crain’s Detroit Business for completing its capital campaign during the financial crisis. In 2015, Temple University presented Homberg with the Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Award. He is also a recipient of the Michigan Muslim Community Council Award. 
 
A native of Florence, New Jersey, Homberg earned his B.A. in Communications from Temple in 1978. He lives in Bloomfield Hills with his wife Tracey of 34 years and is the proud father of Nicholas Homberg. 
 
Homberg often calls Detroit “the most important city in America.” He believes it’s a city on the verge of revitalization, wrestling with the challenge of ensuring that all members of the community profit from the civic comeback. He takes special pride that Detroit PBS has the most diverse audience of any PBS station in the country. Building bridges of communication and engagement, Detroit PBS seeks to foster understanding and solidarity throughout Metro Detroit.

Rich Homberg

Assistant Treasurer

Ollette Boyd holds dual titles of Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. In this capacity, she oversees the Finance, Human Resources, Board Relations, Operations, and Strategic Business Planning departments. Prior to joining Detroit PBS in January 2018, Boyd held CFO positions at Focus: Hope and at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. During those seventeen years in nonprofit financial leadership, she navigated challenging budgetary environments with skills in cash management and expense control. She began her career in public accounting and spent many years as an internal auditor for Owens-Illinois, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and AT&amp;T.
Ollette joined the Detroit Newspaper Agency – which managed the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press under a joint operating agreement – as Internal Audit Manager and was later promoted to Director of Circulation Administration. In that capacity, Ollette had oversight for divisional budget, customer service, and subscription marketing. She is a CPA and holds a B.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan. A native of Detroit, she graduated from Cass Technical High School. Ollette and her husband have been married for over 40 years and take immense joy in spending time with their three young grandchildren.

Ollette Boyd

Assistant Secretary

Laura Brandt serves as Senior Vice President of Operations at Detroit PBS where she oversees local production, programming, education, engineering, and digital marketing. Her role also includes serving as an EOS Integrator, working to align all departments and drive the organization in goal setting against the strategic plan.
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Laura began her career at Detroit PBS in 2006 as an intern, advancing from a coordinator to her most recent position as a member of the station’s leadership team.
Laura’s time at Detroit PBS includes leading the development of the station’s web streaming production format, combining new and traditional media into a digital platform for programming. She launched the successful Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series in partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and produced over 150 live concerts; Manages Detroit PBS’s Mackinac Policy Conference coverage; and served as executive producer for the Detroit Performs Live annual concert event. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura supported the launch of Detroit PBS’s Michigan Learning Channel¸ a 24/7 statewide public television partnership offering instructional content to support the education of students and to provide alternative resources for families and teachers.
Laura was selected to participate in the 2021/2022 Public Media Women in Leadership CEO/COO Boot Camp focusing on leadership skills and the core verticals of public media. In 2015, she was named as University of Michigan-Dearborn Mentor of the Year for her contributions to the internship program. She is the recipient of 7 Michigan Association of Broadcast Awards.

Laura Brandt

Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production.
A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Detroit PBS – music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold, and the New Divas – and local programs, including “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Dream Cruise Road Show, and four seasons of the weekly family series “Get-Up Get-Out,” among others.
His latest role as moderator of “The PBS Books Readers Club,” builds upon his previous work developing the PBS Books channels and its platforms, launching a series of live event coverage from the nation’s book most prestigious book festivals, including publishing events in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. and more.
As Sr. VP of Production, Fred originates the station’s production enterprises, including live, studio, and mobile productions – as well as on-air fundraising – where he’s helped the station raise over $100 million in donations from PBS broadcast campaigns.
A graduate of Wayne State University, Fred has been involved in many community projects including Metro Detroit Youth Day, The Wayne County Arts and Humanities Awards, and the Read Aloud literacy initiative in Detroit classrooms, libraries, and community centers. 
He is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.

Fred Nahhat

Ryan Laurie, the Vice President of Development Operations for Detroit PBS and 90.9 WRCJ, is a seasoned professional with a passion for public broadcasting. A proud graduate of Madonna University, he embarked on his journey with Detroit PBS in 2000, where he has since played a pivotal role in shaping the organization's growth and impact. As a dynamic leader, Ryan spearheads membership fundraising efforts, channeling his strategic acumen and commitment to community engagement.
Beyond his professional achievements, Ryan finds solace in the greens, indulging his love for golf during his cherished moments of leisure. Equally devoted to his personal life, he treasures spending time with his wife and two boys, embodying a harmonious balance between career success and family values. With an unwavering dedication to the mission of public broadcasting, Ryan Laurie stands as a driving force behind the success and sustainability of Detroit PBS and 90.9 WRCJ.

Ryan Laurie

Tracy Duda is the Vice President of Human Resources for Detroit PBS and WRCJ 90.9 FM. She has been with Detroit PBS/WRCJ since January 2015. In addition to her Human Resources position, Tracy also leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and is part of the leadership team.
Prior to joining Detroit PBS/WRCJ in 2015, Tracy built her career in HR for a decade in a variety of positions and industries. She received her bachelor’s degree in communication and master’s degree in counseling, both from Oakland University. Tracy is a SHRM Certified HR Professional (SHRM-CP). Tracy is on the board of the Michigan Diversity Council.

Tracy Duda

Ed Moore is the vice president of content at Detroit PBS. Winner of the Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University award, numerous Emmys, and other awards, Ed began his career in documentary filmmaking after graduating from the University of Michigan with a Master of Arts degree. For those who remember cable TV, Moore produced for nearly every network including the Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, MTV, ABC Sports and World News Tonight, CBS Sports, PBS NewsHour, and NBC Nightly News.
Moore joined Detroit PBS in 2009, spearheading its journalism and energy &amp; environment initiatives in One Detroit and Great Lakes Now respectively. Moving his team to the Detroit Historical Museum, Moore pioneered the engagement-to-content model that Detroit PBS uses today — getting face-to-face with community leaders, stakeholders, and neighborhood residents — and using their feedback to guide content. From this model, Detroit PBS’ local content has included sustained coverage of racial injustice, environmental justice, police reform, neighborhood and community rebuilding, workforce equity and development and more.
In addition to his current duties, Moore has reformatted its flagship arts and culture offering, Detroit Performs into a live performance program produced at the Marygrove Theatre to connect performers and organizations to Detroit PBS’ vast audience. Since relaunching Detroit Performs in 2021, Moore led collaborations with the Detroit Public Theatre, the Detroit Opera, and many other important arts and cultural organizations. As leader of Detroit PBS’ arts &amp; culture initiative, Moore also leads Detroit’s only classical and jazz radio station, 90.9 WRCJ.

Ed Moore

Assistant Treasurer 

Bill Carignan is the VP and Controller responsible for financial statements, audits, budgets, forecasts, financial operations, payroll, internal controls, and external compliance. Bill has over 18 years of public media experience, holding multiple financial and accounting positions at the station. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in finance from Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in accounting from Baker College.
Bill began his public media career as an accountant responsible for licensing and royalties related to Detroit PBS Media’s record label supplying pledge programs and premiums across the PBS system. He soon had responsibilities in the general ledger, AR, AP, cash flow, and financial statements and was promoted to senior accountant. As he began taking on more responsibility for processes, budgets, financial statements, compliance, supervising, and training of staff, he was promoted to general accounting manager. Bill currently serves on the board of directors of the Public Media Business Association, an organization dedicated to advancing the efficiency, effectiveness, and economics of public media.

William Carignan

Eric Freeland is the Vice President of Marketing and Digital at Detroit PBS. He leads the digital and marketing department, overseeing the development and implementation of marketing strategies, brand identity, social media, and digital platform management. With a background in digital media and content strategy, Eric brings over two decades of experience to his role at Detroit PBS.
Before joining Detroit PBS, Eric was the Senior Director overseeing Multiplatform Content and Video Strategy at PBS headquarters. In this role, he was responsible for content development, distribution, and marketing across various digital platforms, including PBS.org, PBS program websites, streaming video platforms, and email marketing.
During his tenure at PBS, Eric provided strategic editorial and product development leadership that led to the successful launch of PBS' streaming video service and the introduction of PBS Passport, an on-demand streaming benefit for station members. Additionally, Eric partnered with PBS program producers to develop multiplatform strategies for award-winning programs, including Ken Burns documentaries, BBC co-productions, Frontline, NOVA, Nature, Downton Abbey, Sherlock, and The Great American Read.
Before PBS, Eric was a Supervising Producer for the Associated Press's Online Video Network and as an Executive Producer at WJLA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Washington, DC.

Eric Freeland

Dr. Omar Hakim is a certified Michigan teacher and administrator who has diverse experiences serving a variety of school communities in the state of Michigan, including public, private, and magnet schools. Since 2006, Dr. Hakim has served schools in multiple capacities and roles—as a paraeducator, teacher, curriculum &amp; instructional leader, and building administrator in Troy and Birmingham Public Schools, as well as Detroit Country Day Schools (DCDS).
Dr. Hakim holds a B.A. and M.A. from Oakland University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Michigan State University where he was a recipient of the Keith Goldhammer Endowed Scholarship in Educational Administration. His dissertation project, "Student Voice: The Acoustics in Michigan Schools," explores the value and impact of student voice initiatives as they relate to school engagement, motivation, and educational outcomes.
Dr. Hakim is committed to diversity, engagement, and civil discourse, and he has been awarded numerous international fellowships in education from organizations like Fulbright in Morocco and Tanzania and the National Endowment for the Humanities in England. He participated in Harvard University's Globalizing the Classroom Fellowship in partnership with Harvard University’s Project Zero, creating high-quality, culturally responsive educational resources for teachers.
As an administrator, Dr. Hakim was instrumental in supporting Seaholm High School (2020) and Birmingham Covington School (2023) in their journeys to attain designations as National Schools of Character through Character.Org. He served as principal of Birmingham Covington School (BCS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheaded responsive instructional platforms that prioritized students’ academic learning needs and personal well-being while navigating the challenges of the pandemic. He also contributed to various district committees in Birmingham Public Schools, including the district’s Diversity Council and K-12 College &amp; Career Readiness Committee.

Omar Hakim

Brian Denn

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