Shawn Turner

Two of members of WKAR Public Media’s senor management were in the news recently. WKAR General Manager Shawn Turner has been reappointed to the Michigan Veterans’ Facility Authority (MVFA) Board of Directors, the ten-member board that governs Michigan Veteran Homes.

“The MVFA provides our veterans with vital healthcare and housing services they deserve in recognition of their dedication to our country,” said Turner. “I’m honored to be re-elected to a role that allows me to help provide support and resources for Michigan veterans.”

Turner was reappointed to a 4-year term by the majority leader of the Michigan Senate and appointed by Governor Whitmer with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Turner previously served in several federal government positions including Deputy White House Press Secretary for National Security, Director of Communication for U.S. National Intelligence, and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs for the National Security Council.

He is currently a member of the board of directors for National Public Radio (NPR), the board of trustees for the German Marshall fund (GMF), and the executive board of advisors for Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2015, Turner was awarded the Intelligence Community Leadership Award, and in 2016, he was awarded the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award for outstanding career accomplishments and exemplary service to the nation.

Prior to his civilian career, Turner served 21 years in the United States Marine Corps. He received his B.A. degree in communication studies from Texas State University and an M.A. degree in communication from George Mason University.

Brant Wells

Also, WKAR Senior Director of Station Operations Brant Wells has been named co-chair of the PBS Interconnection Working Group (IWG). The group supports nationwide emergency alert services and content distribution by representing the needs of all Interconnection partners and providing ongoing support and advice to the PBS Interconnection Team.

The Next Generation of Interconnection System (NGIS), also called Interconnection or sIX for short, is the backbone of public media’s distribution network and provides vital connectivity within the public media ecosystem. The Interconnection system provides lifesaving emergency alerts and communications across the country via PBS’s Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN). The system also facilitates content exchange among PBS, national program distributors, individual stations, and joint master control facilities to provide programming for viewers locally and nationwide.

"At WKAR, we’re proud to be a local part of the Interconnection system, delivering trusted programs to our community and supporting critical services like emergency alerts,” Wells said. “I’m honored to step into this new role and work alongside PBS and station leaders nationwide to ensure the Interconnection network continues to evolve and support the growing needs of stations and the communities they serve.”

Wells also serves on the PBS Engineering and Technology Advisory Council (ETAC), the Digital Distribution Working Group (DDWG), and the PBS Local Presence Working Group. He also serves as a career mentor through both the PBS Mentor Program and the PBS Accelerate Mentor Program.

He previously served as chair of the PBS Digital Media Advisory Committee (DMAC).

Before coming to WKAR in 2016, Wells spent eleven years as a post-production specialist in Los Angeles and Florida. He is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Communications-Media Production.