WGTE PRODUCERS AND HOSTS AWARDED FOUR TOUCHSTONE AWARDS BY THE PRESS CLUB OF TOLEDO

WGTE’s Brad Cresswell, Chris Peiffer, Mary Claire Murphy and Shane Potgieter were recognized for four WGTE programs

Toledo, Ohio (September 30, 2024) — WGTE Public Media is honored to receive four Touchstone Awards 
by The Press Club of Toledo. Brad Cresswell was recognized for the production of Opera Out of the 
Box (Radio Daily), Chris Peiffer for executive producing the podcast Telling It Our Way (Podcast), 
Mary Claire Murphy for the production of The Patchwork Suite (Radio Long Form) and Shane Potgieter 
for the production of Toledo Stories: Freedom Means Never Surrender (Digital Video/Television Arts 
and Entertainment).

Produced by Cresswell, Radio Station Manager, Opera Out of the Box is monthly podcast/broadcast series in conjunction with Toledo Opera. This program aims to demystify the genre of opera, as well 
as to provide information about Toledo Opera’s mainstage productions, educational programs, 
community engagement programs, Resident Artist program and much more. In August, Toledo Opera was 
approved for an Ignite Grant award from Ohio Humanities to support the production of another season 
of Opera Out of the Box in 2024-2025.

Chris Peiffer, Voices Around Us® Podcast Manager and Senior Producer, works with hosts Ally Day and 
Becca Monteleone on the winner of the “Podcast” category, Telling It Our Way. In this podcast, they 
host stories written and performed by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 
tackling topics that range from romantic relationships to work life, childhood to grief. These are 
real stories from the complex,
rich lives of real people.

WGTE FM 91’s very own Mary Claire Murphy topped the “Radio Long Form” category for her podcast and 
broadcast series, The Patchwork Suite. Composers are asked to draw musical inspiration from a given 
classical theme and extra-musical inspiration from a textile of choice. In the first season, composers put their unique spin on “Vals Melódico,” a theme from the piano work Valses Poéticos by 
Spanish composer Enrique Granados (1867-1916). Mary Claire Murphy introduces the Granados theme, 
and then its melody blossoms throughout the season as composers write their own contemporary 

variation on it. You get to explore the particulars of each variation and learn about the incredible artists along the way. By the end, we’ll have woven a colorful and diverse patchwork of 
creativity.

WGTE video Production Manager and Multimedia Producer Shane Potgieter’s Toledo Stories: Freedom 
Means Never Surrender took home the “Digital Video/Television Arts and Entertainment” Touchstone 
award. Marian and Wladyslawa Wojciechowski dedicated their lives for a free Poland. Each mustered 
enormous courage as underground agents during World War 2, enduring the darkest of times. Despite 
their physical and mental tribulations, they pieced together a challenging, productive new life in 
Toledo, OH, USA. As community-builders of Liberty, the Wojciechowski story is one of defiance and 
survival. This documentary was also awarded a 2024 Gold Telly Award.

"We are excited to be recognized with four of Press Club of Toledo’s Touchstone Awards. WGTE’s 
production staff has been hard at work creating brand new audio and visual content for the 
communities that we serve. To be awarded for the expertise, time and effort put into these pieces 
means so much," says Ray Miller, Director of Content and Creative Services.

Learn more, listen and watch these award-winning projects here.