WASHINGTON – January 22, 2015 – The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) announced today the restructuring of its staff and the promotion of Kate Riley to vice president, government and public affairs.
The reorganization is in response to the adoption of a new strategic plan by the APTS board of trustees last November. The plan, whose theme is Greater Success Through Greater Service, calls for an Association focus on public service, public funding and public policy.
The public service component aims to encourage public television stations to expand their community-based activities in education, public safety and civic leadership, through training programs and the creation of a What Works clearinghouse to encourage best practices by stations in pursuing these public service missions.
The public funding commitment expands APTS’s traditional role in securing federal funding for public television to include counsel to stations on securing state funding, as well.
And the public policy focus will encompass APTS’s work in advocating public television’s interests in the FCC’s forthcoming broadcast spectrum auctions, as well as congressional policy on telecommunications, education, workforce development, homeland security and other issues central to the industry’s public service.
In addition, the APTS strategic plan envisions an expanded communications role for the association, the creation of strategic partnerships with other organizations engaged in the public services of public television, and internal progress on generating non-dues revenue, organizing events to promote public television’s public services more frequently and creatively, and serving individual members’ needs more comprehensively.
In her new role as vice president, Ms. Riley will manage congressional relations, state government liaison, the Association’s work with federal departments and agencies, communications, grassroots and grasstops advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
“This reorganization will ensure that APTS has a very sharp focus and a consistent emphasis on public service, public funding and public policy, yielding even better results for the public television system,” said APTS president and CEO Patrick Butler. “Kate’s extensive experience and keen intelligence have been invaluable assets to APTS and public television stations for the past five years. We are delighted that she will continue to advance our public service mission in this expanded leadership role.
“Managing the Association’s internal work will be the responsibility of Emil Mara, who adds member services to his current portfolio as vice president for finance and administration. Both Kate and Emil will report to executive vice president, COO and general counsel Lonna Thompson, and I am confident that these clear responsibilities for the external and internal missions of our Association will benefit our industry and its members in significant ways.”
Ms. Riley joined APTS in May 2010. Prior to working at the Association, Ms. Riley served as legislative director for Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. Her responsibilities included creating and implementing a comprehensive legislative strategy, overseeing appropriations activity, managing the legislative staff and directly handling a number of issues including, telecommunications, technology, taxes and transportation. Before being promoted to legislative director, Ms. Riley was Rep. Sanchez’ Homeland Security legislative assistant, handling all issues in the jurisdiction of the Committee on Homeland Security and Rep. Sanchez’ work as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism. Previously, Ms. Riley worked for Congressman Sam Farr as a legislative assistant, handling some Appropriations Committee work. Ms. Riley graduated cum laude from Marquette University with a B.A. in Political Science, Spanish and Writing Intensive English.
Mr. Mara joined APTS in February 2010. He previously served as the chief financial officer at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for oversight, development and implementation of accounting controls, financial reporting and information technology. He earlier served as senior vice president of operations and finance for the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, where he directed the oversight of operational and financial functions for the organization. He also served as controller for the American Petroleum Institute, where he was responsible for financial operations. Mr. Mara graduated with honors from Georgetown University with a B.S. in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a Certified Association Executive (CAE), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and a member of American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).
About APTS
The Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) is a nonprofit membership organization established in 1979. The mission of APTS is to conduct – in concert with member stations – advocacy, planning, research, communications and other activities that foster a strong and financially sound public television system providing essential public services to all Americans. Its affiliate APTS Action, Inc. promotes the legislative and regulatory interests of noncommercial television stations at the national level through direct advocacy and through grasstops and grassroots campaigns designed to garner bipartisan congressional support. For more information, visit www.apts.org.
# # #