KTNA Community Radio has hired a new general manager. Will Peterson, formerly of Anchorage, Homer and McGrath will start his new position in the Upper Valley on May 17th.
Peterson was the Director of Development for Alaska Public Telecommunications for 5 years and managed special events for KAKM, KSKA and the Alaska Public Radio Network. Before he held that position, he was the general manager of KNBA in Anchorage. During that time, he also served as chairman of the group of radio stations that includes Barrow, Kotzebue, Bethel and Unalaska. Previous to that, he served as general manager of Kachemak Bay Broadcasting in Homer and from 1981 to 1991 he worked at KSKO in McGrath. For the past several years, he has been the Partnership Manager for the Iditarod Trail Committee in Wasilla. He has worked as a volunteer on the Iditarod Sled Dog Race since 1977.
Peterson said when his son reached high school age, he moved his family to Anchorage, but it was time for a change again. He says he was looking for a place not as remote as his former McGrath home, but a small community on the road system. He says he and his wife are looking forward to moving back to rural Alaska.
KTNA Board President Maureen McLaughlin said that Peterson had two qualifications that made him stand out: managing personnel and volunteer issues and fundraising development. She said the timing worked out very well for both KTNA and Peterson.
Interim manager Charlie Loeb will stay at KTNA through the transition period through the end of May.
