Board of Directors
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- Ed. Renouard – Chair: A Gonzaga graduate, Ed. began his career as a radio news and talk show host, but quickly migrated to marketing. He’s worked as a creative director and marketing strategist with clients including AT&T, US Bank, Boeing, Microsoft, Intel, Nike, TopGolf, Providence, and others. He’s currently Director of Marketing at Inland Imaging, a regional healthcare organization. A past president of the Spokane Advertising Federation, Ed. has served on non-profit boards including Spokane Public Radio, Spokane Parks Foundation, YWCA’s Racial and Social Justice Committee, and currently, Thin Air Community Radio.
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- Spokane native Carol Ellis listened to Canadian radio to get the scoop during the Viet Nam War. After having three children, she became a primary educator, integrating music, art, and movement with basics. Carol saw Amy Goodman three times but heard her thousands of times on “Democracy Now”. She advocates for parks, particularly the Lower Falls on the North Bank of the Spokane River. She listens to “Earth Matters Now!” and “Bioneers”. Near nature, near perfect, near community, near radio!
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- Jason Johnson, Spokane Public Library Liaison – Treasurer: Jason Johnson is the Community Engagement Manager for Spokane Public Library where he oversees all public programs and events for the organization. He was named a Top Innovator by Urban Libraries Council, a Mover and Shaker by Library Journal, and the City of Spokane Employee of the year for Urban Experience in 2018. He is also fronts the americana rock band Buffalo Jones. Jason lives in Spokane with his partner and two children.
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- Shahrokh Nikfar has lived in Spokane since 1980. He attended Gonzaga and then got his masters at EWU. Originally from Tehran, Iran, he calls Spokane home, and Earth his country. He was the host of The Persian Hour on KYRS for 16 years. He says that as an immigrant, he first felt at home with a sense of belonging after becoming a part of KYRS and being able to share his voice. He has worked at a local nonprofit as a civil rights investigator for the last 23 years and has been an activist and volunteering with other local groups to advocate for the rights of all humans, animals and the planet. He doesn’t own a hairdryer and saves money on shampoo.
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Staff
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- Michael Moon Bear – Station Manager: Michael has been with Thin Air Community Radio since 2004, when he began producing a popular weekly music program, Around The World with Michael Moon Bear, which aired for 13 years. He has worked in several positions at KYRS, including Underwriting Coordinator and Program Director. He currently works as the Station Manager. With over two decades of community radio experience, Michael has been very active in training volunteers and staff in every aspect of station operations.
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- Dana Matthews, Program Director: Dana started off as a volunteer working on graphics in 2008. In 2016 Dana took on the position of Program Director at Thin Air Community Radio. Among his other responsibilities in this position, Dana is responsible for oversight and ongoing training of all of our programmers.
Marc Anthony, Social Media
Bill Barton, Audio Production
Savannah Champion, Outreach Coordinator
Marion Charatan, News Writer
Victoria Crissman, PSA & Press Release
Neal Hallgarth, Audio Production
Lynnea Kaylor, Office Manager, Co-Host and Feature Reporter KYRS Local News
Tom Kinsella, Program Loader
Mark Kordash, Broadcast Engineer
Matt Loi, Live & Local Calendar, Audio Production
JD Norton, News Loader
Craig Reider, Music Librarian
Dale Sanderson, Engineer
Les Stephens, News Loader
Raphael Swatzell, Underwriting Coordinator
Jim Tate, Volunteer Coordinator / FCC Quarterly Issues Logs
Daniel Zamora, News Director