Meetings

RESOLUTION
PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

7 in favor; 1 absent

Resolved,

That the Board of Directors

of the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Expresses its Heartfelt Condolences

to the Family and Friends of

RONALD C. BORNSTEIN

 Vice President for Telecommunications, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Acting President, National Public Radio 

CPB Edward R. Murrow Award Recipient, 1982

We will long remember with gratitude Ronald C. Bornstein. a visionary leader whose influence on public media was both broad and deep. 

Mr. Bornstein’s many public media roles included serving as production manager of the University of Michigan Television Center, assisting in the development of Hawaii Public Television, serving as general manager of WHA Radio and Television and Director of Telecommunications for the University of Wisconsin-Extension. He also served at CPB as vice president for Telecommunications, overseeing both television and radio. 

Mr. Bornstein organized a merger of NPR and the Association of Public Radio Stations in 1977, expanding NPR’s reach to more audiences, increasing access to rural areas, and adding services to member stations. In 1983, he was appointed Acting CEO of NPR to save NPR from insolvency when it was in financial crisis and broker a solution. He went on to serve as a founding partner of NETA Consulting and served on the boards and executive committees of APTS, PBS and NPR.

The CPB Board of Directors marks Ronald Bornstein’s leadership, vision, and extraordinary service to public media and the American public with deep respect and appreciation and offers our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

RESOLUTION
PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

7 in favor; 1 absent 

Resolved,

That the Board of Directors

of the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Expresses its Heartfelt Condolences

to the Family and Friends of

JOYCE SLOCUM

 Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel, and interim CEO, NPR

and President and CEO, Texas Public Radio

We will long remember with gratitude Joyce Slocum as an inspiring leader in public radio at both the local and national levels. She understood the promise and power of public media and the mission of journalism in the public interest.

Joyce Slocum was an attorney who began her public media career at NPR, where she served a variety of key leadership roles, including chief administrative officer, general counsel and chief ethics officer. She became interim CEO in 2011, bringing stability to the organization at a tumultuous time.

In 2014, she returned to her beloved Texas to become president and CEO of Texas Public Radio, leading the organization as it grew to a nationally recognized powerhouse, producing meaningful, award-winning news, arts programming, and public events. She led a capital campaign and the completion of a new headquarters in downtown San Antonio, led the growth of local journalism and the expansion of podcasts and Spanish-language news at the station. 

The CPB Board of Directors marks Joyce Slocum’s leadership, vision, and extraordinary service to public media and the American public with deep respect and appreciation and offers our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

PUBLIC SESSION

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

7 in favor; 1 absent

            Resolved,

That the Board of Directors

of the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Expresses Its Deep Appreciation and Congratulations

for the Contributions of

J. Westwood Smithers, Jr.

Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Corporation for Public Broadcasting

 2005 – 2024

The Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognizes the extraordinary contributions of West Smithers.

Mr. Smithers joined CPB at a time when CPB and the public media system faced increasingly complex issues.

Mr. Smithers facilitated a complete review of CPB’s governance guidelines and clarified the roles and responsibilities for board and committee members to ensure compliance with CPB’s bylaws, committee charters and policies. He also served as CPB’s legal liaison to the White House and to the Office of Government Ethics in clearing candidates for potential nomination to serve on the CPB Board.

CPB benefitted from his extensive legal and public media experience as it addressed major business transactions and policy matters ranging from the FCC spectrum auction to CPB Community Service Grant requirements.

He strengthened the integrity of operations within CPB through a comprehensive review and reform of CPB's contracting and grantmaking practices. He also offered counsel to both the Board and staff on ethical conduct, conflicts of interest and corporate governance best practices and ensuring compliance with federal and D.C. laws.

He worked collegially with the CPB Board, officers and staff to defend CPB and public media’s legal interests.

We mark the end of his distinguished service to CPB with respect, admiration, and gratitude and wish him well on his retirement.

RESOLUTION
PUBLIC SESSION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

7 in favor; 1 absent

            Resolved,

That the Board of Directors

of the

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Expresses Its Deep Appreciation and Congratulations

for the Contributions of

William Tayman

CPB Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

 2006 – 2024

The Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting recognizes the extraordinary contributions of William Tayman.

Mr. Tayman joined CPB at a time of repair and renewal, and contributed to a complete review of CPB’s governance guidelines and financial management practices. His commitment to CPB’s stewardship, governance, and financial best practices helped make CPB a more effective organization in ways that accrued to CPB’s mission, the Board’s Goals and Objectives, the public media system and the public.  

Throughout his tenure at CPB, Mr. Tayman applied his expertise to maximizing CPB’s limited resources, improving investments, strengthening financial management, and ensuring clean audits.

Mr. Tayman developed policies and procedures, created CPB’s objective-based performance management system, strengthened CPB’s IT infrastructure, and promoted continuous improvement in administration functions.

Mr. Tayman’s work ethic, integrity, dedication and the leadership qualities he has demonstrated daily on behalf of CPB helped the organization through sequestration budget reductions, office renovations, and the upheaval of a pandemic.

We mark the end of his distinguished service to CPB with respect, admiration, and gratitude and wish him well on his retirement.