Press Releases
KMFA Announces Departure of General Manager
Jack Allen to lead KBPS 89.9 in Portland, Oregon as President & CEO
May 30, 2008 Austin, Texas –Classical 89.5, KMFA congratulates current General Manager & Program Director, Jack Allen, as he moves on to become President & CEO of All Classical KBPS 89.9 in Portland, Oregon.
Prior to arriving at KMFA in 2003, Allen was Director of Radio with Minnesota Public Radio and the former Manager of the nationally syndicated Classical 24 radio service. Said KMFA Board of Trustees Chairman, Steven Moore, “KMFA has grown and prospered under Jack's tenure as General Manager, and the Board of Trustees are united in congratulating him on a job well done and wishing him well in Portland.”
Named General Manager in 2005, Allen has led KMFA in improvements to programming and staffing that have provided for steady growth in listeners, community support and financial health – including hiring its first ever Music Director, envisioning and executing a station re-branding initiative, embracing new technologies like global Web streaming and HD radio, securing the station’s first Community Service Grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and creating the now popular Festival of Carols programming each December.
Said Jack Allen, “As I reflect on my 17 year radio career, what stands out and what I am most proud of are what we’ve accomplished here at KMFA in the past 5 years. I’ve been delighted to work with some of the finest broadcasters in the business in a great city and region. KMFA has exactly the right foundation to stay not only healthy but competitive in a rapidly evolving media environment. It is bittersweet to leave what I now consider to be family and close friends. Their love and support will indeed launch me on my next adventure. Even as we innovated and created new ways to serve our audience over these past few years, we will continue that process and find unique ways to collaborate in the future. My vision is for KMFA in Austin and KBPS in Portland to work together in as many ways as possible to strengthen what we call classical public radio. Here’s to the future!”
“Jack’s leadership has been integral in helping KMFA achieve the gains in audience and membership that we have over the last 5 years. We are much better positioned for continued success from having had the benefit of his experience, mentoring and vision. It is with thanks and acknowledgment to Jack for his critical contributions that we’ll continue to serve our community – and serve it well,” said Joan Kobayashi, KMFA Development Director.
Mr. Allen’s last day at KMFA will be June 28th. The Board of Trustees is expected to announce an Interim General Manager soon.
About Classical 89.5, KMFA: Classical 89.5 KMFA is a listener supported, community radio station – incorporated in 1967 - relying on the majority of its funding from direct listener and business contributions. A noncommercial, all classical format station serving an average of 90,000 listeners each week – KMFA features both local programming and nationally distributed programming from Public Radio International, American Public Media and National Public Radio. For more information on KMFA, visit www.kmfa.org
