Peer Learning Communities

The NETA Peer Learning Communities (PLC) help members' staff increase skills, collegiality, and long-term commitment to public media's education mission. PLCs connect members and provide a space for sharing best practices, developing professional support networks, and identifying high-impact projects that members could jointly pursue.

"Discovering the NETA PLCs changed my life! Not only have I met colleagues who I learn from and collaborate with but also friends who support each other and who make me laugh when I need it most. The professional and personal development offered by the PLCs is unparalleled and I can’t imagine working in public media without them."

- Amy Labenski, WETA

“NETA PLCs offer professional development for the people in public media who actually get the work done. Whether you are a change agent looking for information and inspiration, a professional wanting to do more in less time, or a creative seeking out ways to stay at the cutting edge of your craft, there is PLC to help you get where you want to go.”

- Chad Davis, Nebraska Public Media

“The NETA PLCs allow us to network, reflect, and learn from others in the public media system who are dealing with the same issues that we are experiencing. We are communities that support each other to find solutions to our current situations while also creating opportunities for us to work together to explore the amazing potential of our future as individuals, stations, and public media.”

- Suzanne Smith, WFSU Public Media

"NETA PLCs empower public media station staff to collaborate, share expertise, and develop innovative strategies tailored to their work. By connecting with peers facing similar challenges, staff gain valuable insights, resources, and support, helping to improve professional growth."

- Cathy Cook, WQED

“The NETA PLC retreat truly demonstrated the Peer in P and Community in the C. It was exciting to engage with thought leaders in typically divergent disciplines who came together to brainstorm how the public media ecosystem can work best with a focused mission and shared ideas.”

- Ian MacSpadden, AZPM

Join your community!

Most NETA PLCs have a member-elected executive committee consisting of a chair, vice-chair, members-at-large, and a NETA staff liaison. All staff from NETA Member stations are welcome to join the PLC(s) that best fits their role(s) in public media.

Current PLCs include Community Engagement, Content, Education, MarCom, Cyber, and Public Media Innovators. Use the links below to enroll in your chosen PLC(s) on Public Media Learns, or contact the NETA liaison for the PLC(s) you choose to join.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair • Amy Labenski, senior director of national impact and engagement, WETA
Vice-Chair • Emmalee Hackshaw, vice president for community engagement, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Member at Large • Caryline Clark, engagement manager, Iowa PBS
Member at Large • Darren LaShelle, president & CEO, NorCal Public Media
Member at Large • Andrea Quijada, outreach & engagement specialist, New Mexico PBS
Member at Large • Stephanie McFadden, director of education and engagement, Alaska Public Media
Member at Large • Nathan Hofer, director of community impact, South Dakota Public Broadcasting
NETA Liaison • Maria Rodillo

Join the Community Engagement PLC on Public Media Learns and the Facebook Group

CONTENT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair • Suzanne Smith, executive producer for television, WFSU Public Media
Vice Chair • Tabitha Safdi, chief content officer, South Carolina ETV
Past Chair • Brenda Bowyer, senior producer/director, PBS Michiana - WNIT
Member at Large • Fujio Watanabe, manager of media production, Houston Public Media
Member at Large • Emily Compton, executive producer, WTCI
Member at Large • Dani Cook, senior director, station relations national productions, WETA
Member at Large • Ashlee Smith, senior director of content & education, WKAR
NETA Liaison • Bob Petts

Join the Content PLC on Public Media Learns and the Facebook Group

EDUCATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair • Cathy Cook, director of education, WQED
Vice Chair • Arionna Ralleigh, curriculum design manager, Nine PBS
Past Chair • Laura Evans, director of education, Georgia Public Broadcasting
Member at Large • Kari Wardle, director of education, Idaho Public Television
Member at Large • Amy Grant, director of education, KET
Member at Large • Salandra Bowman, chief learning officer, South Carolina ETV
Member at Large • Katie Hessen, senior STEM content specialist, Twin Cities PBS
NETA Liaison • Lindsey Foat

Join the Education PLC on Public Media Learns and the Facebook Group

MARCOM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Chair • Erik Ernst, communications associate director, PBS Wisconsin
Vice Chair • Leandra Parks, digital marketing manager, VPM
Member at Large • Barbara Shipley, chief development/marketing officer, East Tennessee PBS
Member at Large • Jonna Kelley, promotion and marketing manager, KSPS PBS
Member at Large • Susan Mitchell, senior marketing representative, New Mexico PBS
Member at Large • Autumn Widdoes, marketing manager, Vegas PBS
Member at Large • Rob Elliott, on-air promotion manager, KET
NETA Liaison • Tonya Weber

Join the MarCom PLC on Public Media Learns and the Facebook Group

CYBER PLC

The Cyber PLC is open to NETA Members' cybersecurity professionals – The Few, The Proud, The Paranoid. This PLC is a space for public media security professionals to ask questions, share information, and gain insights while developing a support network of peers across the system. The Cyber PLC does not have an executive committee at this time.

Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 3:00 PM ET.

Chair • Ian MacSpadden, chief technology officer, Arizona Public Media
Vice Chair • Tim McLellan, senior security analyst, GBH
NETA Liaison • Heather Hankins

Fill out this form to join the Cyber PLC on Public Media Learns

PUBLIC MEDIA INNOVATORS PLC

The Public Media Innovators PLC is open to anyone in public media with a curious and innovative mindset. The PLC is focused on emerging media and technology trends that can enhance and evolve how public media operates and engages audiences. The group convenes to share knowledge and best practices for leveraging emerging technologies, to advocate for innovation and innovators across the public media ecosystem, and to explore opportunities for public media stations to collaborate or partner on developing innovative new content formats or audience experiences using emerging technologies. A speaker series is planned for the third Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM ET.

Chair • Chad Davis, chief innovation officer, Nebraska Public Media
Co-Vice Chair • Amber Samdahl, creative director, PBS Wisconsin
Co-Vice Chair • David Huppert, director of the media innovation lab, PBS North Carolina
NETA Liaison • Tim Eernisse