Meet Our Advisory Council

Executive Director Marta McLellan Ross leads the Alliance with direction and counsel from the noncomMUSIC Alliance Advisory Council. The Council consists of public radio station leaders representing all formats of noncommercial music.

Frank Dominguez

WDAV Classical Public Radio

Since 1994, Frank has been a familiar voice to classical music listeners on WDAV. Over the years, he has played a crucial part in station programming decisions through his various roles as Announcer Coordinator, Assistant Program Director, Program Director, and currently, General Manager. His tenure at the station has seen its transition to a fully professional on-air staff, several overhauls of its program schedule, and unprecedented growth in the station’s local programming. Frank is also the host and producer of Concierto, the nation’s first bilingual classical music program focusing on the Hispanic and Latino contributions to classical music. Currently, the program airs on more than forty stations across the country. Frank earned nominations for the Personality of the Year and Programmer of the Year awards at the 2012 Hispanic Radio Conference in San Diego.

Abby Goldstein

PRPD

Abby Goldstein is president and executive director of PRPD, the membership organization that advocates for high-quality programming and provides resources for public media program directors. With more than three decades of experience in the industry and a diverse background that includes major and small market stations in a variety of formats, Abby is uniquely positioned to understand the complexities of today’s public media environment. She began her career as a late-night jazz host at KVLU in Beaumont, Texas where her mother ran the membership program. She spent 17 years in Dallas working at KERA and several commercial stations as well as doing event production, booking and music promotion before moving to New Hampshire Public Radio as VP for Programming. Abby helped to transform NHPR into an award winning, essential source for news and regional content. In 2012, she became GM of WYEP in Pittsburgh, leading the station to unprecedented audience and revenue growth.

Val Hoeppner

WMOT

Val Hoeppner is the executive director of WMOT Roots Radio in Murfreesboro, TN and director of the Center for Innovation in Media at Middle Tennessee State University. Hoeppner is an instructor with the Poynter Institute, the Newseum Institute, Chips Quinn Scholars, Native American Journalism Fellowship, Innovation J-Camp, Mobile Me&You and APME News Train. She is on the board of directors of Teripix, a mobile app that accelerates how media companies and other users capture and publish photographs and video. She owns and operates Val Hoeppner Media and Consulting, LLC, a strategy and training company working with newspapers, radio and television organizations.

BILL JOHNSON

WRTI

Bill Johnson is the general manager of WRTI, which serves communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Johnson has worked in the non-profit sector for 29 years, including development and leadership positions in higher education, the arts, and public media. A trumpet player for more than 40 years, he brings deep experience and commitment to music performance and education. Johnson currently serves on the board of Eastern Region Public Media, “Play On, Philly!”, Jazz Philadelphia, and has previously served on the board of organizations such as the International Society for Improvised Music and the African American Jazz Caucus.

Roger LaMay

WXPN

Roger LaMay is the general manager of public radio Triple A station WXPN in Philadelphia, PA. LaMay is a 30-plus year broadcast veteran and co-founder of music video website collaboration VuHaus.

Jordan Lee

Radio Milwaukee

Jordan is Senior Director of Programming at Radio Milwaukee’s 88Nine and HYFIN. Throughout his career Jordan held several senior roles, including Program Director at WYMS-FM, where he oversaw programming and content departments for the influential non-commercial Milwaukee station. He also served as Station Director for Radio Milwaukee, where he developed and executed successful programming expansion and distribution of nationally syndicated programming. Jordan is a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the public radio industry. He has spoken at numerous industry events and conferences, sharing his insights and expertise on topics such as audience engagement, creative revenue generation, and the future of radio in the digital age.

Michelle Simonsen

Classical KING

Michelle Maestas Simonsen is the Chief Content Officer and a Radio Host at Classical KING in Seattle, Washington. She oversees Classical KING’s programming and operations, from station produced shows: Concert Broadcasts, Second Inversion, and Northwest Focus Live to live broadcasts, digital content and strategy, arts partnerships, programming events and community engagement. She also manages the station’s host fellow program introducing new diverse voices to the classical airwaves. A saxophone player for more than 25 years, and an alum of the premier arts boarding school, Interlochen Arts Academy and USC Thornton School of Music gave Maestas Simonsen the passion for performance excellence, music education, and live music. This led her on a path to perform and produce music and live broadcasts for the Walt Disney Company, University of Southern California and Classical KUSC prior to joining the leadership at Classical KING.

Tammy Terwelp

The Colorado Sound

Tammy is the President & CEO of KUNC and The Colorado Sound, located in northern Colorado, and is a 20-year public media veteran with roots in commercial music stations in Wisconsin. She oversees all aspects of KUNC and The Colorado Sound's growth, the ongoing development of the organization's culture, and the fulfillment of its mission. Her move to public media started with public television in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Chicago. She jumped back to radio with eight years at WBEZ in Chicago, leaving as the Director of Distribution and Logistics. She was recruited as the first employee and Director of Content and Programming at WESA in Pittsburgh, General Manager of KRCC in Colorado Springs, and Executive Director at Aspen Public Radio. Tammy serves on the boards of Western States Public Radio and the Boulder Reporting Lab and is a four-time presenter on content development at Podcast Movement.

Ernest Walker

KTSU

Ernest Walker is the General Manager of KTSU 90.9FM, The Choice, and urban alternative station, The Vibe, located on the campus of Texas Southern University in Houston, TX. Walker is a music industry veteran who has led several entertainment companies and record labels over the past 30 years. Walker has produced and worked with some of the most recognizable names in music today, including Grammy Award winner Regina Belle, Peabo Bryson, Kirk Whalum, Lisa Fischer, The Isley Brothers, Sheila E., Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Kool and The Gang, Chante Moore, Donnie McClurkin, Grammy and Stellar Award winner Yolanda Adams, Clay Walker, Eddie Levert, Eric Benet, Ledisi, Angie Stone, American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, Cece Winans, The Gatlin Brothers, and many more.

Ed Yim

WQXR

Ed Yim is the Chief Content Officer and Senior Vice President of WQXR. Collaborating with teams across New York Public Radio, he oversees all of WQXR’s programming and operations, from live broadcasts, podcasts and digital content to strategic partnerships, events and community engagement. He is also responsible for managing the station’s operating budget, and fundraising across NYPR’s diversified revenue base of members, donors, and sponsors. Yim came to WQXR from American Composers Orchestra (ACO), where he served as President and CEO. During his tenure, ACO strengthened its mission to commission, perform, promote, and celebrate orchestral music by American composers. Prior to ACO, Yim held senior positions at several of the nation’s most significant music institutions, including the New York Philharmonic, New York City Opera, IMG Artists, and The Los Angeles Philharmonic.