The Houston Public Media Foundation announced the appointment of new board directors and officers.
Michael Stewart has been named president of the board of directors, succeeding John Bradshaw, who will continue to serve the board in an ex officio role as immediate past president.
“I am honored to serve as president of the Houston Public Media Foundation Board at such an important moment for public media,” said Stewart. “We have an exciting opportunity to build on Houston Public Media’s strong legacy, expand its reach and ensure this vital community resource remains strong for the future.”
In addition to Stewart’s appointment, the foundation announced its slate of board officers:
César Giralt, vice president - Vice President, Pariveda
Lee Entsminger, secretary - ExxonMobil (Retired)
Larry Dudek, engagement committee chair - Franchise Sales and Network Manager, Shell Lubricants/Jiffy Lube (Retired)
Jeffrey Whitley, finance committee chair - LNG Commercial Operations Director, Sempra Infrastructure
Victoria Cordova, governance committee chair - Executive Director of Communications, University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs
The foundation board also welcomed new directors:
- Amin Nosrat, Deloitte (Retired)
- Sue Payne, ExxonMobil (Retired)
“We are fortunate to have a board with such a strong range of experience, expertise and commitment to Houston Public Media,” said Joshua Adams, associate vice president and general manager of Houston Public Media. “I look forward to working with Mike and the board to strengthen our connection with the community and build a sustainable future for public media in Houston.”
The Houston Public Media Foundation supports Houston Public Media’s mission across radio, television, digital, and social platforms through fundraising, resource allocation, and philanthropic efforts. The new board leadership and directors bring diverse professional expertise and community perspectives to the foundation as Houston Public Media navigates a rapidly changing media landscape.
More information about the foundation and its board of directors is available here.
Houston Public Media Launches Future Fund with $1 Million Gift from The Cullen Foundation
Houston Public Media announced today the launch of the Future Fund, a $15.5 million fundraising initiative focused on building a sustainable model that helps to ensure the future of local public media and strengthen its ability to serve future audiences. The fund received a strong start with two inaugural gifts: $1 million from The Cullen Foundation and $100,000 from the Conely Foundation.
The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for public media, as organizations across the country continue to grapple with the long-term funding shortfall created by the rescission of federal funding enacted in 2025. For Houston Public Media, the Future Fund represents a long-term investment in the organization’s ability to remain an independent, trusted and essential community resource for news and information. By strengthening its financial foundation, the fund supports long-term stability and the ability to evolve with changing audience needs.
“The Future Fund is about more than sustaining Houston Public Media, it’s about building the public media organization our community will need for the future,” said Josh Adams, associate vice president and general manager, Houston Public Media. “Houston is growing and changing rapidly, and we have an opportunity to think boldly about how we serve this region, reach new audiences and strengthen the role of independent local media. These investments will help ensure Houston Public Media remains a trusted source of journalism, arts, culture and connection for generations to come.”
The Future Fund will support six interconnected priorities:
Expanding local journalism to deepen coverage of the people, issues and communities that shape the Houston region.
Increasing access to arts and culture by connecting more people with Houston’s vibrant cultural institutions, artists and creative voices.
Reaching new audiences through new platforms, formats and approaches that meet people where they are.
Growing community support by strengthening relationships with members, donors and other stakeholders who value independent, local public media.
Developing earned revenue opportunities to diversify HPM’s funding and create new sources of long-term sustainability.
The Future Fund follows the successful completion of Houston Public Media’s Resiliency Fund, which was launched in response to the loss of federal funding. The organization achieved its goal of $4.4 million, providing two years of bridge funding, allowing Houston Public Media to navigate the immediate impact of the funding change while developing a longer-term strategy for sustainability. With that immediate need addressed, Houston Public Media is turning its focus toward the future.
“We saw firsthand through the Resiliency Fund how strongly Houston values public media,” said Lynne Cook, chief development officer, Houston Public Media. “When our organization faced an immediate funding challenge, donors stepped forward and helped us reach our goal. The Future Fund builds on that momentum, giving our supporters an opportunity to help share a sustainable future for Houston Public Media. We are grateful for visionary donors such as The Cullen Foundation and Conely Foundation whose generosity has given this effort a strong start.”
Houston Public Media provides trusted local and national news, educational programming for children and adults, emergency and public safety information, and storytelling for the entire family across its radio, TV, streaming and digital platforms, reaching audiences throughout the region. Houston Public Media’s newest platform innovation, HPM+, allows streaming and connected TV households access to free news, entertainment and educational programming.
To contribute to the Future Fund and support Houston Public Media, visit https://bit.ly/4Au5JDN.
