PMWL BRAVE TALK 2026
MEET our brave voices
Get to know the leaders, innovators, and experts bringing two days of virtual keynotes, fireside chats, Action Labs, panels, and candid conversations to life. Explore their backgrounds, expertise, and perspectives on leading through disruption and turning bold ideas into action.
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Click here to Register for Brave Talk 2026.
hover each headshot below to learn more about our lead experts.
Sachi Kobayashi, NPR - Director Collaborative Philanthropy
Public media fundraising leader and NPR Director helping organizations grow sustainable revenue, strengthen audience support, and harness AI-driven innovation to navigate a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Sachi Kobayashi
Glenda Davis, WABE - Executive Vice President, Membership & Development
Public media executive with deep expertise in membership, philanthropy, and revenue strategy, helping organizations grow audience support, strengthen donor engagement, and build sustainable funding models.
Glenda Davis
Lana Berck, CARS - Chief Development Officer
National leader in nonprofit fundraising and partnership development, helping organizations unlock new revenue opportunities, cultivate donor relationships, and build sustainable funding models.
Lana Berck
Liz Cheng, Retired GM for TV & Streaming, GBH2, 44, GBH Kids, WORLD Channel
Visionary public media leader whose work has helped launch award-winning national programming, expand audience reach, and strengthen the impact of mission-driven journalism and storytelling.
Liz Cheng
Jennifer Strachan, Former Public Media Executive and CEO of Cinereach
Emmy Award-winning media executive and former Chief Content Officer at KUOW Public Radio, now advising organizations on strategic transformation, audience engagement, and future-focused leadership across the media landscape.
Jennifer Strachan
Kimberly Singleton, KERA - Chief Financial Officer
Experienced CFO and CPA whose leadership spans public media, Fortune 500 companies, and high-growth organizations, with expertise in financial strategy, organizational growth, and operational excellence.
Kimberly Singleton
Sonja Pasquantonio, CPTV - VP / Human Resources, Training, & Development
Strategic people and culture executive with extensive experience in leadership development, talent strategy, organizational change, and building high-performing, mission-driven teams.
Sonja Pasquantonio
JC Polk, Public Media Strategist, Fundraiser & Producer
Public media strategist and coalition builder helping organizations reimagine audience engagement, strengthen sustainable revenue, and build partnerships that advance mission and impact.
JC Polk
Sean Coveleski, Stand Up To Cancer - Senior Vice President of Development
National fundraising leader with expertise in major gifts, corporate partnerships, and strategic philanthropy, helping advance the mission and impact of Stand Up To Cancer through innovative revenue strategies and high-impact relationships with corporate leaders, donors, and philanthropic partners.
Sean Coveleski
Erika Pulley-Hayes, General Manager at Washington, DC’s WAMU
Executive leader with a distinguished career spanning station management and national public media leadership, helping organizations strengthen local service, strategic growth, and long-term sustainability.
Erika Pulley-Hayes
Mary Dunaway Cage, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Cinereach
Award-winning philanthropy executive with more than 20 years of experience leading transformational fundraising, organizational growth, and strategic change, including spearheading the historic Save KPLU campaign that secured the station's future as an independent nonprofit.
Mary Dunaway Cage
Erica Osher, NPR - VP AI Labs
Vice President of AI Labs at NPR, leading the organization's responsible AI strategy and helping public media leaders navigate the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies.
Erica Osher
Trisha Richter, KPBS - Director of Grants and Engagement
An Emmy Award-winning public media executive whose expertise spans grant development, community engagement, and mission-driven partnerships, helping secure and steward millions of dollars in support for public media initiatives.
Trisha Richter
Nikki Jones, Chief Digital Officer at Rocky Mountain PBS
Public media digital executive with expertise in innovation, audience engagement, and organizational transformation, helping organizations thrive in an evolving media landscape.
Nikki Jones
Carlin Beckman, Vice President of Finance and Administration at WNIN Tri-State Public Media, Inc.
Public media finance and administration executive with deep expertise in organizational leadership, financial strategy, and operational management, helping build sustainable organizations positioned for long-term success.
Carlin Beckman
Tracy Kaplan, Vice President of Membership at KQED
Executive leader with expertise in membership strategy, audience growth, and revenue innovation across public media and technology. Previously held leadership roles at WGBH, CBS Interactive, Twitter, TuneIn, and Patreon, and created the award-winning The Ten News podcast for kids.
Tracy Kaplan