KCTS 9 Management
Maurice “Moss” Bresnahan — President & CEO
Michal Anderson Jacob — Vice President & CFO
Cliff Anderson — Executive Director of Engineering & Technical Planning
Randy Brinson —Executive Director of Content Development
Enrique Cerna — Executive Director of Production
Karen Fujii — Executive Director of Marketing & Communications
Jay Parikh — Executive Director of Program Development & Distribution
Jabran Soubeih — Executive Director of Engineering & Technical Planning
Laura Spies — Executive Director of Human Resources
Maurice “Moss” Bresnahan, President & CEO
Moss joined KCTS 9 on November 17, 2008. From 2001-2008, Moss served as President and CEO of South Carolina's statewide public television and radio network—South Carolina ETV and South Carolina ETV Radio, including 11 television stations, eight radio stations and a closed-circuit educational telecommunications system in more than 2,000 schools, colleges, businesses and government agencies. During his tenure, ETV developed and launched various highly successful channels, services and new programs. These include an Education Broadband Services (EBS) plan, which provides wireless broadband services for K-12 schools, higher education and governmental offices throughout the state; the South Carolina Channel, a digital service devoted solely to local programming; extensive expansion of ETV’s online educational services, including a free video on demand service comprising tens of thousands of offerings; the documentary series Carolina Stories; the Emmy-winning independent film series Southern Lens; and the public affairs series The Big Picture, the cornerstone of a robust slate of news and public affairs shows.
Prior to joining ETV, Moss served as president and GM of WVPT-TV in Shenandoah Valley, VA; he has also served in leadership positions at WQPT-TV in Moline, IL, and KQCT-TV in Davenport, IA. In addition, Moss has managed programming, public affairs and communications for Continental Cablevision and the mayor's office at Boston City Hall. He has also taught television and mass communications at University of Virginia, Emerson College, Endicott College and Boston University; taught English in Yokohama, Japan; and served as an officer in the Navy and Naval Reserve for 10 years.
In South Carolina, Moss served on several local boards; he also sits on the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS) and Independent Television Service (ITVS) boards. He received his bachelor and master of science degrees from Boston University, and has completed extensive professional development courses at Harvard Business School, University of Virginia, William and Mary, and University of Iowa.
Moss, who lived in the Seattle area briefly as a child as his father was also in the Navy, is excited to enjoy the natural beauty and to get to know the community of the Pacific Northwest. His wife and two children will be joining him in Seattle shortly.
TopMichal Anderson Jacob, Vice President & CFO
Michal Anderson Jacob is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for KCTS Television. In this role, she manages the Administration Division, which includes Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Legal, Information Technology and Facilities, and the Development Division, which includes Membership, Pledge, Foundation Relations and Major and Planned Giving.
Before joining KCTS 9, Michal served as Vice President of Finance and Property for Child and Family Service of Honolulu. She has worked as an adjunct professor for Hawaii Pacific University; as Director of Finance for Southwest Counseling and Development, a mental health service provider in Detroit; and as Customer Services Director for the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Michal graduated from Chief Sealth High School in Seattle and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from the University of Washington, as well as a Master of Business Administration from National University in Irvine, California.
Michal is a member of the Emerald City Rotary and serves on the Board of Directors of Pacific Medical Centers. She lives with her husband and daughters in West Seattle.
TopCliff Anderson, Executive Director of Engineering & Technical Planning
As Executive Director of Engineering and Technical Planning, Cliff oversees the broadcast and technical facility, including Master Control and maintenance staff for the station. In this capacity, he is responsible for the transmission of our broadcast signals, broadcast equipment and the transmission system. Cliff accepted a temporary position with KCTS in 1974 and found that “public television was different from commercial stations—it has a purpose for existence.” After making his original position as transmission engineer redundant by upgrading the broadcast transmitter for remote control, Cliff became our “Special Projects” engineer. In the 1980s, when KCTS 9 moved from the University of Washington campus to its current location at the Seattle Center, he was responsible for the design and installation of in-house cable, the microwave signal to the transmission tower, and satellite signal receive systems. Cliff became Director of Engineering and Technical Planning in 1991 and began pursuing digital television broadcast. In 1997, he oversaw the design and installation of an experimental digital transmitter, constructed by a partnership he orchestrated between Westinghouse and Harris corporations. In 1999, KCTS 9 began full-power digital broadcasting and was the first station to begin high definition television field equipment acquisition. He now looks forward to February 17, 2009, when television broadcasters will turn off the analog signal broadcast.
Cliff developed his life-long electronics hobby into a career at the school now known as Bates Technical College and became a Certified Professional Broadcast Engineer in 1991. He joined the television industry first in 1963 as Assistant Chief Engineer of KIEM-TV out of Eureka, California; served as transmitter supervisor for KTVW-TV Tacoma and as assistant chief engineer at KOBI-TV in Medford, Oregon. Cliff is a past President and current Manager for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and is a member of the Bates Technical College Advisory Committee for Broadcast Technology.
Cliff and his wife live in suburban Seattle, where they chose a town home near a playground to help keep their grandchildren entertained.
TopRandy Brinson, Executive Director of Content Development
Randy has over 30 years of experience in public television. He produced and/or directed more than 100 local and national arts and performance programs and feature segments for KCTS 9, and served as senior director, executive producer and production executive on a wide variety of other projects for the station. He also served as KCTS 9 General Manager for four years.
Before joining KCTS 9 in 1988, Randy worked as a producer/director at the South Carolina Educational Television Network. Randy received his Bachelor of Science degree with high honors in Broadcasting with a dual minor in Film Studies and Music from the University of Florida. He earned his Master of Science in Television Production from Syracuse University and has completed Seattle University’s rigorous Executive Leadership Program.
Randy lives in Woodinville, Washington, enjoys swing dancing with his wife and dreams of lowering his golf handicap index to single digits.
TopEnrique Cerna, Executive Director of Production
Enrique Cerna is an award-winning producer/reporter with more than 32 years of experience in the Seattle broadcast market. Since joining KCTS 9 in 1995, he has produced such critically acclaimed documentaries as Hard Times for Juvenile Justice; Ceasefire: Disarming our Kids; Behind the Walls; Salmon: On the Brink; and Reverend Samuel McKinney: 40 Years of Faith. In addition to overseeing all station productions, including the weekly Northwest personal-finance program About The Money with Josephine Cheng, Enrique is the co-creator, host and executive producer of the weekly news and current affairs program KCTS 9 Connects.
Enrique has earned wide recognition for his producing and reporting, including five Northwest Regional Emmy Awards. In 1999, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Religious Broadcasting. Seattle Weekly honored Enrique in 2003 as Best of Seattle Editors’ Choice: Best TV Host, and in 2006, Seattle Magazine named him one of the most influential people of the year for his broadcast work. Most recently, the Zeta Pi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate fraternity established by African Americans, awarded Enrique its 2008 Community Service Award for his coverage of communities of color. Enrique serves on a number of community boards, including CityClub and Scoutreach; in addition, he is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Enrique holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Washington State University.
Enrique lives in Ballard when he’s not traveling over the mountains for reunions with his extended family in Central Washington.
TopKaren Fujii, Executive Director of Marketing & Communications
Karen brings over 25 years of broadcast experience to KCTS 9. She has worked in radio, print and broadcast both domestically and internationally. As the Executive Director of Marketing & Communications, she is responsible for the branding and promotion of all services under the KCTS 9 umbrella, including the Spanish-language channel V-me.
The Marketing & Communications department encompasses on-air and online promotion, design, press and media relations, station events, and all collaterals including the monthly viewer guide, Start at KCTS 9.
Before joining KCTS 9, Karen worked as the Marketing & Communications Manager at a nonprofit health clinic in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District. During her tenure, she redesigned the organization’s Web site, built stronger community and media relations, and reversed a deficit on their annual signature fundraiser to a profit of over 300% in just two years.
Prior to relocating to Seattle, she spent 17 years in Europe working at three network stations in two countries. In London, Karen worked at BSKYB, the first global digital transmission, which has been used as a benchmark around the world. Closer to home, the service is known as DirecTV. Karen also worked at an international satellite broadcaster where she was responsible for the on-air promotion for seven network channels in four countries. She also put the first commercial television station in Danish history on the air at TV2. Her promos have been translated into multiple languages. She also speaks several European languages.
Karen’s interest in media production began in high school. She worked as a radio announcer, interned in the newsroom for a Florida television station, and graduated from the University of North Florida where she studied broadcasting, journalism and communications.
Karen lives in Bellevue with her family. They love the Pacific Northwest and enjoy all it has to offer, including boating, hiking and skiing.
TopJay Parikh, Executive Director of Program Development & Distribution
As Executive Director of Program Development & Distribution, Jay is responsible for program development and the planning and execution of strategic relationships that contribute to KCTS 9’ss co-production agreements, domestic and international program distribution, ancillary sales and retail operations.
Jay brings more than 30 years of experience to his various duties. Regionally and nationally he has acquired, produced, packaged and marketed content in a variety of media and platforms, including legitimate theater, concerts, television, home video and digital media. At KCTS 9, Jay also serves as Executive Producer for the station’s nationally broadcast travel and cooking programs. Projects under his supervision include Graham Kerr’ss Gathering Place, Nick Stellino Cooking with Friends and the James Beard award-winning Chefs A’s Field. Jay also oversees Spotlight on the Arts, The Seasoned Traveler, Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa and Richard Bangs: Adventures with Purpose.
In 1978, Jay earned a Master of Fine Arts in Administration degree from the Yale School of Drama. He did his undergraduate work at Eastern Washington University after graduation from Lake Washington High School in Kirkland, Washington.
Jay, his wife Monica, and their three children live in Bellevue, Washington. The Parikhs are involved in various neighborhood and PTA activities, and have lived and traveled throughout the world. Jay’s recreational goal is to play more golf, and play it better, with his golfing partner, KCTS 9 Executive Director Randy Brinson.
TopJabran Soubeih, Executive Director of Engineering & Technical Planning
As our new Executive Director of Engineering & Technical Planning, Jabran is helping lead KCTS 9 and KYVE 47 forward to a successful digital transition on February 17, 2009. Jabran will take over the position entirely from Cliff Anderson upon Cliff's retirement, which will occur after the completed transition.
Prior to joining KCTS 9, Jabran worked for UWTV, the University of Washington's proprietary television and Web streaming services, as a Video Network Engineer. At the UW, Jabran focused on integrated solutions between on-air and online services. For example, he designed, developed and implemented a software solution for closed captions that would enable the service to be accessed across television and Web platforms—taking advantage of the revolution unfolding in the broadcast industry to provide better services to more viewers at lower costs.
Jabran also worked as a Broadcast Engineer for KOMO TV for eight years. There, he implemented automation for master control and the newsroom, designed and created documentation for new systems and trained operational and engineering staff on new and existing systems. Each project focused on utilizing new technologies to streamline processes and improve efficiency in putting programs on the air.
Jabran earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology with emphasis on communications, RF, digital telephony and fiber optics.
In his spare time, Jabran enjoys digital and film photography, with a focus on his family and their dog, Kelbi.
TopLaura Spies, Executive Director of Human Resources
In her role as Executive Director of Human Resources, Laura is responsible for leading initiatives in employee development and performance management, recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiations, and ensuring compliance with labor and employment laws.
With significant Human Resources management and strategic business planning background, Laura has over 20 years of experience in a variety of settings. In Seattle, she has worked as the Manager of Lawyer Personnel at Perkins Coie, HR Director at Mithun Architecture, HR Director and Executive at Ivey Imaging, and Consultant with Waldron and Company. Her accomplishments include starting an HR department; creating benchmark employee surveys and utilizing results; implementing performance appraisal programs; attorney, staff and executive search; and leading HR in business acquisitions.
Laura started her career as a legal assistant in labor and employment law and expanded on that experience to become an HR professional in large international law firms, first at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, and later at Perkins Coie in Seattle. She is a graduate of Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, Kansas, where she double majored in Business and History. Laura has held certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) since 2001, and is a board member of the Seattle Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). For 16 years, she was a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), where she served as a Director and in other leadership roles.
Laura lives with her daughters and husband on Bainbridge Island. She enjoys attending her daughters’ sports and music events and assisting her husband with landscaping and home renovations.
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