La Mesa resident Tom Karlo, KPBS general manager, has been elected to the 2012-2013 Public Broadcasting System (PBS) board of directors for a three-year term. Karlo was elected by leaders and representatives from the 360 PBS member stations. He began his career at KPBS in 1973 as a part-time assistant while attending San Diego State University. Karlo is the fifth general manager in station history, taking the leadership role in February 2009. Since then, the station created “KPBS Evening Edition,” shifted KPBS’ online content to focus on news, and expanded the radio schedule to feature news and information 24 hours a day.
Karlo also is involved in leadership roles in several local organizations, including Sharp Grossmont Hospital, SDSU Alumni Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Pacific South Coast Chapter and San Diego Downtown Rotary.
The PBS board includes both professional directors, who lead public television stations, and general directors, who represent the general public. In addition to Karlo, other new professional board members include Jon Abbott of WGBH in Boston, Jack Galmiche of Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis, Linda O’Bryon of South Carolina Educational Television in Columbia, Brian Sickora of WSKG in Binghamton, N.Y., and Lloyd Wright of WFYI in Indianapolis.
