Ele Ellis, an experienced executive with a significant record of leadership in public radio, has been named Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Blue Ridge Public Radio. She’ll join BPR April 2, taking over from Interim CEO and General Manager Tim Roesler.
Ellis has spent the past five years working in various roles at WUWM, Milwaukee’s NPR affiliate, overseeing the station’s content and programing, among other duties. During her 25 years in radio, Ellis has worked at stations across the country, from Idaho to Georgia.
She began her career with an eight-year stint at WNCW in Spindale, N.C., where she was an announcer, marketing specialist, operations director and program director.
“We are very excited to bring Ele on board at BPR,” said Travis Childs, Chairman of BPR’s Board of Directors. “Her career experience is broad and deep, particularly in content and programming, an area where leadership is critically important for us.”
Ellis has touched every aspect of a public radio station’s operations in her career, overseeing everything from on-air work to operations to directing programming. She will oversee all operations at BPR.
“I’m excited about helping BPR achieve its goals of a larger audience, wider coverage and increased donor support,” Ellis said. “I believe that there is almost limitless opportunity for BPR. And I am thrilled to be returning to North Carolina."
