Friends of KCPW is an advisory council supporting the mission and purpose of KCPW. Its members come from all walks of life. They represent a cross section of KCPW’s listeners and supporters and play a vital role in the success, stability and growth of KCPW.
Current Members
Heidi Preuss, Vice-Chair, Friends of KCPW
A native of New Hampshire, Heidi is an Olympic alpine skier from 1980. Skiing brought her to Utah where she completed a BA in Finance at the University of Utah. From there she went on to explore a PhD in Accounting at the University of Alberta, Canada. She returned to work for a number of years as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Wasatch Advisors Funds. Currently she is semi-retired and cultivating her “hippy urban farmer chick” persona. Heidi is an active listener, member, and, volunteer for KCPW pledge drives.
John Miles
John is the inaugural chair of the Council. He is a tax examiner with the IRS but his primary focus is Vice President of Chapter 67 of the National Treasury Employee’s Union, which represents over 6,000 local Federal Employees. John is involved as a mediator in grievance procedures and as the Legislative Director. John is a native of Ogden, Utah and has been a KCPW supporter and listener since 2003.
Aaron Guss, Vice Chair WPM Board of Directors
Aaron is the inaugural secretary of the Council. He is a Logistics Specialist with SSA Marine, an international cargo logistics company. Aaron has also worked in the media arts industry for numerous commercial and non-commercial radio stations as a producer and board operator. Aaron is a graduate of the University of Utah with a BS in Sociology and has been an active KCPW supporter and listener since 1999.
Tim Chambless
Tim grew up in Texas and California where he wrote stories for high school and college campus newspapers. He has been married 39 years to his wife, Cathy. Tim has been a Political Science professor at the U of U since 1988 where he teaches courses in Politics, Government and Law. He listens to NPR every day and is a news junkie. He has participated in programs on KCPW and KUER several times.
Nancy Melling
Nancy is a native of Rochester, New York. She has a degree in mathematics from the University of Colorado and resides in Salt Lake with her husband, George. They have two grown children and four grandchildren. Nancy has been active in the League of Women Voters of Salt Lake and the League of Women Voters of Utah. Her interests include tennis, hiking, skiing, biking, travel, environment, sustainability and grandchildren. Nancy has been a KCPW supporter and listener since KCPW’s inception, as the League was involved with KCPW when it went on-air in 1993.
Brian Ledbetter
Brian Ledbetter works as an Audit Associate with the accounting firm Grant Thornton. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees of Accounting from the University of Utah following ten years of retail experience selling books and groceries in Seattle, Boston, and New York. Brian has been a KCPW listener and volunteer since 2003.
Steve Purhonen
Steve retired from active duty in the Navy in 1991 after 24+ years of service. He was a fixed-wing pilot and garnered specialties in Electronic Warfare and Technical Intelligence. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1967 with a BS in History and in 1994 with a BS in Elementary Education. Steve has kept himself busy for the past 15 years transporting students, staff, and, faculty at the U. of U. as a shuttle bus driver. Steve’s interest in Public Radio began in 1975 listening to All Things Considered via AFRTS (Armed Forces Radio & Television Service) in Athens, Greece. Since then he’s been a volunteer and member in Washington D.C. (WETA & WAMU), Honolulu (KHPR), and Salt Lake City (KCPW & KUER). Steve’s been an active listener, member, and, supporter of KCPW since 1994.
John Wilkerson, PhD
John was born on the Mississippi gulf coast within sight of Cat Island. Growing up in this backwater, he attended his father’s Baptist church where he soon learned a bible verse so as not to be caught off-guard if anyone asked. It was a time when commuters and the mail rode trains to New Orleans and if you picked up a phone, a person would answer and ask for your number. John witnessed a peaceful integration of his high school in 1965, a model for other schools in the state. John has a PhD in chemistry from the University of Utah. He then moved to San Francisco bay area where he worked in software for laser fusion, and satellite control and simulations. John does not have a JD and does not think one is required to benefit from listening to KCPW. John started listening to KCPW in 2003.
Marjorie Gendler
Agnes Greenhall
KCPW Development and Advisory Council Bylaws
Notice of Public Meetings
Commencing October 1, 2009, Notice of Wasatch Public Media Board of Director meetings and Friends of KCPW Council meetings, including time and place, will be posted at this site at least seven days prior to the meetings. All meetings are open to the public. Minutes of the meetings will be placed in the Public File at KCPW and can be viewed during normal business hours of the station.