KZYX GM to Resign

For immediate release; contact: Tom Dow, 707-895-2324

KZYX general manager Jeffrey Parker offered his resignation to the KZYX Board of Directors at the Board’s November 28^th meeting. Parker has served as the public radio station’s general manager for two years.

KZYX Board President John Azzaro commented that the station and Parker have parted ways, but remain on amicable terms. "We wish to offer Jeff our sincere thanks for his passion and dedication to KZYX and community radio during his time here. We are especially grateful for his commitment to helping us over the coming weeks as we transition into the next chapter of the grand KZYX adventure.”

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served as General Manager of KZYX for two years,” Parker said, “and I believe more than ever in the crucial roles being served by public broadcasting in Mendocino County. We’ve made a lot of progress during the time I’ve been here, strengthening KZYX’s visibility and adding to our stature as an on-air service provider. That said, I feel that now is an appropriate time for a change of leadership for the station and a change of direction professionally for me.”

During his tenure at KZYX, Parker has overseen significant improvements in the station’s ability to serve the Mendocino County community. He helped create a partnership with Fort Bragg wireless provider, Further Reach, that increased the station’s bandwidth and made wireless internet available to a significant population in Anderson Valley. He developed a mutually beneficial, ongoing training and production relationship with Mendocino Community College in Ukiah, and established a new satellite broadcast studio in the Fort Bragg Senior Center. Additionally, Parker worked extensively to forge crucial partnerships with Mendocino County firefighters and law enforcement agencies to enhance the station’s already substantial emergency broadcast capabilities.

Now coming up on its 30^th anniversary, listener supported KZYX broadcasts music, news, sports and public affairs programming across the length and breadth of Mendocino County, northern Sonoma County and into Lake County. The region’s primary NPR affiliate, KZYX is preparing for a festive year, celebrating that milestone anniversary with a series of events beginning in the spring. The station recently made news with the inauguration of the weekly series, Promise of Paradise: Back to the Land Oral Histories of Mendocino County. A much anticipated expanded news staff is also in the works.

Parker’s resignation will be effective January 1, 2019. Tom Dow, KZYX Board Member, has agreed to serve as Interim General Manager, without compensation, while the KZYX Board conducts a search for a new permanent General Manager. Parker will stay to offer Dow his experience and expertise during this period of transition.

Dow has been on the KZYX Board since April. In addition to his leadership role at KZYX, he is active in the Community Foundation of Mendocino County and is on the Mendocino College Foundation Board. He serves on the steering committee for Rural Health Rocks, a fund-raising project which works to bring family medicine residents to our county. He has also served as President and board member of the Alaska Visitors Association and on the boards of the Alaska Native Tourism Association and the Cruise Industry Charitable Foundation.