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ideastream Names Sylvia Strobel as Chief Operating Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calle Andrus, Communications Specialist
216.916.6434 | calle.andrus@ideastream.org

ideastream Names Sylvia Strobel as Chief Operating Officer

CLEVELAND, Ohio (February 23, 2018) — ideastream, the parent company of WVIZ/PBS, 90.3 WCPN and WCLV 104.9 ideastream, has named Sylvia Strobel as Chief Operating Officer. Beginning on April 9, Strobel will serve in her new role on the executive leadership team working on organizational strategies and implementation. Strobel will oversee station management of WVIZ/PBS, 90.3 WCPN, WCLV 104.9, the Ohio Channel and Ohio Government Telecommunications, ideastream.org, social media and technology. Her administration of the organization’s assets will ensure efficient and effective digital-first content and services reach users, audiences and Northeast Ohio communities. Strobel will also provide oversight of regulatory matters and industry-wide compliance measures.

Most recently, Strobel served on the executive management team of American Public Media Group (APMG) as its senior vice president and general counsel. She was a key adviser on all major business transactions, including acquisitions and joint ventures and oversaw business affairs and government relations for APMG, Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio and APMG’s additional businesses and entities.

Strobel brings an extensive background of strategic leadership and operating experience in public media as an attorney, chief executive, consultant and board member. Prior to APMG, she served as interim CEO of the Alliance for Women in Media (AWM) and the AWM Foundation and advisor to the Public Media Business Association (PMBA). Earlier in her career, she was the executive director for the Alliance for Community Media, president and general manager of the Pennsylvania Public Television Network, deputy general counsel for Twin Cities Public Television and in business affairs at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In 1996, Strobel co-founded the law firm Lehmann Strobel PLC, where she provided counsel to the nonprofit arts and cultural and media communities, including members of the National Minority Consortia.

"Sylvia's passion and devotion for public media was clear to me when we worked together briefly in the Twin Cities. Her breadth of legal and executive experience — from broadcasting to regulatory matters to community affairs, and from emerging technologies to digital rights management — is ideally aligned with the needs and plans for the future of ideastream," said President and CEO Kevin Martin. "I'm really excited to have Sylvia join our dynamic team of professionals to help better serve all Northeast Ohioans."

“The reputation of ideastream within the public media family is legendary, and the programming and educational services it provides to Northeast Ohio and beyond have never been more important,” said Strobel. “I am humbled to join an outstanding team dedicated to public service, and look forward to advancing the strategic goals and mission of ideastream."

Strobel served on the boards of the Association of Junior Leagues International, Alliance for Women in Media, Junior League of Baltimore, Wide Angle Youth Media and the FCC Advisory Committee on Diversity. She is also a member of the National Press Club, The Federal Communications Bar Association and Media Law Resource Center. In addition, she currently sits on the boards of Latino Public Broadcasting, the MN Humanities Center and the JJ Hill Research Center. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota, a J.D. from Mitchell Hamline College of Law and a B.A. from St. Olaf College.

About ideastream
The mission of ideastream is to strengthen our communities. ideastream pursues this mission as a multiple media public service organization by providing distinctive, thought-provoking programs and services that enlighten, inspire, educate and entertain.

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