WASHINGTON – June 13, 2024 – Lonna Thompson, the executive vice president and chief operating officer of America’s Public Television Stations, received the Champion Award today from Maryland Public Television (MPT).
MPT's Champion Award, launched in 2017, recognizes the extraordinary advice, support or advocacy of special men and women who have served the network in legislative, administrative or operational roles. Including Thompson, some 13 individuals have been designated “champions” since the award was created.
“Lonna’s three decades at APTS have enabled her to be front-and-center for all the major issues and developments in our industry,” stated Larry D. Unger, MPT president and CEO. “Of all the crises and opportunities she has helped us manage, I’m particularly grateful for her leadership during our network's early adoption of the ATSC 3.0 transmission standard. As is often the case, Lonna’s expertise was essential to navigating that uncharted territory.”
“Lonna’s extraordinary talents and her passion for our mission over the course of a 30-year career at APTS have significantly strengthened local public television stations, including Maryland Public Television,” said Patrick Butler, president and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations. “Lonna’s remarkable contributions have been an invaluable asset to the entire public broadcasting system. No one has done more, or done it longer or better, than Lonna Thompson in the service of public television and we congratulate her on this well-deserved MPT Champion Award.”
“I am incredibly touched and proud to receive this very special award from my home station, Maryland Public Television,” said Lonna Thompson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of America’s Public Television Stations. “MPT enriches the lives of Maryland residents every day, and I am happy to have worked with them over the last 30 years.”
Lonna Thompson is the executive vice president and chief operating officer for America’s Public Television Stations (APTS). In this role, Thompson supervises the operations of the organization. Additionally, she oversees the legal affairs and regulatory work of the organization. In 2024, the APTS Board of Trustees presented the APTS Champion of Public Television Award to Lonna for her work on behalf of public television stations for over three decades.
Thompson has been with APTS since 1994. Before joining APTS, she was a communications lawyer in private practice for 10 years. While in private practice, Thompson represented broadcast and public safety clients. Before entering law, Thompson worked as a university teaching assistant, and a high school English and mass media teacher.
Thompson received her JD degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. She also received a master’s degree in communications studies from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, and a bachelor's degree in English from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania.
The Champion Award was presented to Lonna Thompson during the annual joint meeting of the Maryland Public Broadcasting Commission and MPT Foundation, Inc. Board of Directors on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation headquarters in Annapolis.