Houston Public Media Foundation has a new leader — and its board reads like a who’s who of corporate retirement. The foundation announced today that Michael Stewart has been named president of the board of directors, succeeding John Bradshaw, who steps down after serving as immediate past president.
Stewart framed the change as a moment of growth. “We have an exciting opportunity to build on Houston Public Media’s strong legacy, expand its reach and ensure this vital community resource remains strong for the future,” he said.
Board Officers Named
The foundation also named its full slate of board officers. César Giralt, vice president at Pariveda, takes the vice presidency. Lee Entsminger, retired from ExxonMobil, serves as secretary. Larry Dudek, franchise sales and network manager at Shell Lubricants/Jiffy Lube, retired, chairs the engagement committee. Jeffrey Whitley, LNG commercial operations director at Sempra Infrastructure, chairs the finance committee. Victoria Cordova, executive director of communications at the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs, chairs the governance committee.
New Directors Join the Board
The board also added two new members:
- Amin Nosrat, Deloitte (Retired)
- Sue Payne, ExxonMobil (Retired)
Joshua Adams, associate vice president and general manager of Houston Public Media, praised the new lineup. “We are fortunate to have a board with such a strong range of experience, expertise and commitment to Houston Public Media,” he said. “I look forward to working with Mike and the board to strengthen our connection with the community and build a sustainable future for public media in Houston.”
What the Foundation Does
The Houston Public Media Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by an elected board. Its sole purpose is to fund Houston Public Media, which operates across radio, television, digital and social platforms. The foundation raises money, allocates resources and seeks philanthropic support to bring arts, culture, education and trusted news to the Greater Houston area.
The foundation’s media contacts are Cherri Carbonara, at cherri@carbonaragroup.com, and Hannah Savage, at hannah@carbonaragroup.com.
The Mix of Experience
The officers bring oil, finance and public affairs backgrounds to the board. Stewart now leads a group with deep corporate experience.
“We have an exciting opportunity to build on Houston Public Media’s strong legacy, expand its reach and ensure this vital community resource remains strong for the future.”
The foundation’s mission is to support public media in Houston.
The Bottom Line
Houston Public Media now has a board that knows oil, knows money, and knows government relations. Whether that mix translates into better programming for Houston listeners is an open question, but the foundation has its team in place.
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