WGTE PUBLIC MEDIA PRESIDENT AND CEO MARLON KISER ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO RETIRE

After 22 years as the head of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan’s public media station, Kiser will retire March 28, 2025

TOLEDO, OHIO – November 26, 2024 – WGTE Public Media (WGTE) today announced that its fourth and longest serving station executive, President and CEO Marlon P. Kiser, has informed the Board of Directors and WGTE staff of his intention to retire from the organization effective March 28, 2025. Kiser and WGTE’s Board of Directors have communicated the plan for the hiring of his successor. A national recruitment firm with expertise in the media industry, who has yet to be decided, will be appointed over the coming weeks to lead the hiring process starting in early 2025. 

Kiser joined WGTE in Spring of 1999 as the Chief Operating Officer and Radio Station Manager. In Fall of 2002, he was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of the station.

“These past 25 years at WGTE Public Media have been the highlight of my career – a true honor. The mission, the dedicated staff and Board and the overwhelming support of the community is what has made each day so rewarding. I’m thankful for the strong foundation around me during my tenure, helping to provide content and services to our region and proving the importance of public media to the communities that we serve.

I am proud of everything this organization has accomplished. The Board of Directors and the current staff in place give me confidence in continued success of the station moving forward,” says Kiser. 

With leadership and persistence over his time at the helm, notable accomplishments with WGTE Public Media include:

• In collaboration with the State of Ohio, led WGTE’s efforts to integrate computer technology in area classrooms and provide teachers with professional development to improve student learning
• Led the development and deployment of online streaming for community engagement by area nonprofits and public organizations
• Enabled and led the most productive period of video and audio content creation for TV and radio broadcasting and streaming
• Expanded and deepened collaborations with area nonprofit arts and cultural organizations
• Proud to have conceived and enabled new program services such as Voices Around Us® that expand WGTE’s audience and better engage with all walks of life
   

Photos of Marlon through the years at WGTE can be found here.