PBS SoCal Executives

Andrew Russell

President and CEO, PBS SoCal

PBS SoCal President & CEO Andrew Russell is a 25-year veteran of public broadcasting, having held leadership positions at PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting prior to joining PBS SoCal in 2013. He led the growth of PBS SoCal into the role of flagship PBS station for Greater Los Angeles and Southern California.

PBS SoCal uses the power of public media for good, strengthening the civic fabric of Southern California and providing our community with an essential connection to a wider world. As a local, member-supported non-profit organization, PBS SoCal manages 7 channels (including 2 primary broadcast channels, PBS SoCal and PBS SoCal Plus as well as 5 digital subchannels). With a commitment to make content available anytime and anywhere for free, PBS SoCal is available to viewers over-the-air, on all key streaming platforms and with two on-demand platforms (both the free PBS App as well as PBS KIDS). PBS SoCal provides content that informs, inspires and entertains spanning Education, News, Environment and Arts & Culture. As Southern California’s flagship PBS station, PBS SoCal tells stories that matter with programs that reflect the diversity of our region and showcases the full schedule of beloved and trusted PBS content. A donor-supported community institution, PBS SoCal sparks the sharing of ideas at in-person cultural events and community conversations as well as delivers social impact through a variety of services including those that prepare the most vulnerable children for school.

In 2018, PBS SoCal merged with KCETLink Media Group to create a public media organization serving more than 19 million people in the Southern California.

A California native, Russell holds degrees from Stanford University, Graduate School of Business, Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs, and the University of California, Davis. He is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for America’s Public Television Stations (APTS) and in 2021 was presented with their Pillar of Public Service Award. He is a Member of the CEO Roundtable at UC Irvine.

Jamie Annunzio Myers

Chief Operating Officer
Senior Vice President, Education and Engagement

PBS SoCal, KCET and Link TV Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jamie Annunzio Myers has been driving operations to ensure strategic alignment across all aspects of the organization since her arrival to PBS SoCal in September of 2009. After PBS SoCal merged with KCETLink Media Group (KCET and Link TV) in 2018 to form the Public Media Group of Southern California, Myers was appointed COO, responsible for the integration of the two organizations. With a goal of underscoring the important role of public media when it comes to informing, inspiring and educating the community, she has since managed new lines of business, forged new partnerships and evolved key departments to build a growth company that now specializes in fostering a love of learning, culture and community using the power of public media.

Previously COO at PBS SoCal (after serving as VP of Education and Community Engagement), Myers expanded the breadth and depth of the organization’s educational and cultural outreach across Southern California. She built programs that continue to close the gap in school readiness for young children by empowering families to fully integrate themselves into their children’s learning and spearheaded the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic with At-Home Learning, a free educational resource both on-air and online featuring original, short-form content and corresponding state standards curriculum-approved digital resources. At-Home Learning was adapted for local use by more than 100 PBS stations nationally in more than 40 states.

Myers’ background also includes 15+ years of classroom/school district experience with Chicago Public Schools as well as in southeastern L.A. County. She holds master’s degrees in education technology and educational administration, as well as a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and is certified by the National Board in Technology Education.

Tamara Gould

Chief Content Officer

Tamara Gould is as an award-winning documentary filmmaker, media executive and strategic partnership builder who brings a wealth of production experience and deep ties to Southern California’s flagship public media organization. Known for building strategic collaborations with both local and national partners to support independent filmmakers, she is an industry-recognized leader in the world of documentary storytelling.

At PBS SoCal, Gould leads a dynamic, creative and nationally recognized team of content producers across multiple platforms to amplify the voices and stories of the extraordinary communities within and beyond Southern California. She serves as the strategic leader and visionary in the development, production and distribution of the organization’s linear and digital content that includes existing award-winning, locally-produced series ARTBOUND, LOST LA, and EARTH FOCUS, as well as educational productions like FAMILY MATH.

Prior to coming to PBS SoCal, Gould has held numerous positions at ITVS during her 18-year tenure there, including most recently Head of Co-Productions and Strategic Partnerships. She served as Production Executive for multiple documentaries and series for public broadcasting and has worked closely with both journalism and media outlets as well as ITVS’ federal partners including CPB, NEH, NEA and USAID to increase opportunity and support for independent filmmakers.

Production credits include Matter of Mind (in production with Structure Films), a multi-part trilogy focused on neurodegenerative brain conditions, TED Talks Live, a three-part television series in partnership with TED Talks and PBS, Half the Sky, a four-hour television special for PBS with Show of Force based on the bestselling book by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn, and American Graduate Latino, a collection of bilingual television programs and digital shorts focused on the barriers to high school graduation facing Latino youth.

Gould has spearheaded ITVS' international work, including the Global Perspectives Project, an international documentary exchange program between U.S. and global filmmakers from over 80 countries with major support from philanthropic and government partners as well as the creation of Women and Girls Lead Global, a public-private partnership to bring the power of documentary film to work for women and girls in countries around the world.

Gould also made the award-winning Hell of a Nation, a PBS documentary film which focused on the Constitutional Convention in Afghanistan post-9/11 produced with Actual Films. Prior to joining ITVS, she served as an Executive Producer of Television at KQED and as Executive Director of the Bay Area Video Coalition.

Gould holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Film, where she graduated with honors from Brown University. She is a Fulbright Scholar and earned a Master’s Degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She is a Southern California native and currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with her family

Paul Nelson

Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer, Nelson directs Finance, Accounting, and Administration functions for PBS Socal. He works closely with the Board of Directors on financial planning and management, investment management, business development, growth strategies and strategic planning.

Nelson brings more than 20 years of experience in leading finance operations and public accounting engagements at major organizations – fourteen of those in senior leadership roles at national media companies. Previously Nelson was Senior Vice President Finance at Tribune Publishing where he was integral in shaping its digital media strategies. Additionally, as Vice President Finance and Controller for Universal Studios Home Entertainment, he led efforts to incubate an independent film acquisition and distribution business and built key financial processes and controls for the rapidly-changing operation. He started his career at Ernst & Young and KPMG managing financial audits, M&A engagements and integration planning for private equity clients and large organizations.

Nelson was born and raised in L.A., holds double bachelor’s degrees in economics and English from UCLA, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Cindy Galindo

Chief Development Officer

Cindy Galindo is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) for PBS SoCal, leading and overseeing the advancement and corporate support functions of the organization including institutional and foundation giving, planned giving, major individual philanthropy, corporate sponsorship and major donor events for Southern California’s flagship station. Galindo leads a team responsible for building the organization’s philanthropic support in the community.

Galindo is a philanthropic professional with more than two decades of experience in higher education, academic medicine, private and family philanthropy. Previously, she was Assistant Vice President of Advancement at the University of Southern California, serving as a member of the campus-wide health initiative fundraising team. Prior to her role at USC, Galindo served as the Chief Development Officer for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles – the largest and one of the most diverse dioceses in the country – where she oversaw philanthropic efforts for the Chancery office and an historic archdiocesan-wide campaign.

For more than 16 years, Galindo worked at the University of Southern California. In addition, she has held positions at California Institute of Technology, Claremont McKenna College, and Whittier Family Foundations/Whittier Trust Company.

An Oregon native, Galindo received her bachelor’s degree from Oregon State University and her master’s in public administration from Portland State University.

Dawn Ariza

Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration​

With a diverse background in accounting and finance, Dawn Ariza has played a critical role in transitioning PBS SoCal from a small local station to becoming the flagship PBS organization for Southern California. Ariza oversees teams in Finance, Information Technology, Facilities and Engineering housed in the organization’s two offices in Costa Mesa and Burbank that serve as homebase for the 130+ employees of PBS SoCal.

When Ariza first joined PBS SoCal in 2004, she created the HR, payroll and finance foundations for the organization, which included the development of competitive health and 401K benefits plans. Since then, she has effectively managed the organization’s finances during the 2008 recession, oversaw critical operational issues, centralized the organization’s finances and has since modernized the payroll system and other employee-driven functions for the staff.

In 2018, when PBS SoCal merged with the KCETLink Media Group, Ariza expanded her responsibilities and her staff count in the Finance, IT, Facilities, and Engineering departments. She has since spearheaded an effort to consolidate and simplify software platforms that are currently being used for the organization’s financials, payroll and cash management, all the while overseeing the move and replacement of the broadcasting equipment/facilities for the organization that serves 19 million people in Southern California.

Ariza’s previous experiences include management, cash management, finance, system integration, project management and HR roles for companies in a wide range of industries including medical appliances, restaurants, international manufacturing and television. Ariza holds a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs and Managerial Accounting Certification from Colorado Springs College of Business.

June Baldwin

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate & Legal Affairs

June M. Baldwin is the General Counsel of PBS SoCal. Baldwin joined the organization in March 2004. She played a critical role in the KCET merger with PBS So Cal, as well as KCET’s merger with Link Media in 2012 and its business restructure in 2017.

Previously, Baldwin held Business Affairs positions at NBC, UPN and Columbia TriStar Television. She also served as Head of Business Affairs at independent production companies for Johnny Carson, Norman Lear, Quincy Jones and Aaron Spelling.

Born in Philadelphia, she graduated from Stanford University before attending Harvard Law School. Leaving Cambridge, she then clerked for the esteemed jurist Luther Swygert on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, Illinois.

Currently, Baldwin serves on the Business Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar and is a Governor of the Institute for Corporate Counsel. She is a founding Board member and Treasurer of the Stop Bullying Foundation, Inc. and serves on the Advisory Board of The Minority Health Institute. Baldwin is also on the Board of the Arch Mission Foundation.

Dan Ferguson

Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications

As Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications, Dan Ferguson leads the planning, development and implementation of marketing and communications efforts across all platforms. He oversees the Marketing, Communications and Creative Services departments utilizing his experience across a range of strategic communications, media relations, marketing and brand management programs. Ferguson also spearheads the organization’s efforts in digital engagement, entertainment marketing and business intelligence efforts.

Ferguson brings over 20 years of experience to PBS SoCal where he oversees in leading the successful launch and growth of digital and subscription video services on streaming, satellite and mobile platforms. During his combined 15 year tenures at both DIRECTV and AT&T, he operated across several marketing functions, including Consumer, Lifecycle, Original Content, and Retention. Ferguson led the marketing and go-to-market strategy for the launch of several streaming services including DIRECTV NOW, WatchTV and Outfest Online Powered by DIRECTV. Ferguson was Director of Affiliate Sales and Marketing at STARZ from 2002-2006.

In addition to his professional experience, he brings a passion for community engagement and impact. From his work helping launch FosterMore eight years ago, an effort to rebrand foster care (in partnership with PBS SoCal), to serving on the Board of Directors with Outfest (the largest LGBTQ film festival in the nation), to his recent efforts to expand access to sports to underserved communities, Ferguson believes in the power of individuals to impact their communities.

Ferguson is originally from Lafayette, IN and received his Masters degree in business at the University of Colorado in Boulder after studying Marketing at Colorado State University.

Maura Daly Phinney

Senior Vice President, Membership Engagement and Strategy

With more than 30 years of experience in fundraising and production for public television and radio, Maura Daly Phinney oversees all membership fundraising efforts for PBS SoCal – on-air, online and direct mail. Under her leadership, the organization has seen tremendous membership growth and now counts more than 150,000 active members across seven Southern California counties. Phinney launched the station’s successful Sustaining Member and Producer’s Club programs as well as transformed the membership fundraising team into one of the top performers within the PBS system.

Phinney has produced over 200 programs, series and fundraising specials that have been distributed nationally by PBS. Those programs include Panda Tales, A Salute to Vienna, Tommy Emmanuel: Live from the Balboa Theatre, Quincy Jones Presents: Sheléa, Zoltan Maga and David Foster: Live from Budapest, Yakov Smirnoff’s Happily Ever Laughter, From Sea to Shining Sea and The New Divas: Live in Vienna as well as many local programs including the Emmy® nominated special Dodgers Stories: 6 Decades in LA.

Phinney has won numerous awards including an Emmy and several Telly awards. She was selected by station leaders as the recipient of PBS’s 2021 C. Scott Elliott Development Professional of the Year Award, which annually recognizes the outstanding work of development professionals that inspire others to succeed and grow in their own careers. Phinney was honored for her passion and commitment to public television, as well as for her inspiring leadership and outstanding work done to move the system forward.

Before joining PBS SoCal, Phinney held a variety of fundraising and production positions at WETA in Washington D.C., KQED/KTEH in San Francisco and KPBS in San Diego. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley.

Robert Dea

Vice President, Corporate & Nonprofit Sponsorships

Robert Dea brings over 20 years of experience in advertising sales and sales management in public television, print, digital and direct-response revenue development to his role as Vice President of Corporate & Nonprofit Sponsorships for PBS SoCal.

Since joining PBS SoCal in 2014, Dea has grown the organization’s corporate and nonprofit underwriting support, developing deep partnerships with organizations across Southern California and the State including First 5 California, CalOptima, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, LA Philharmonic, Whittier Trust and more.

Dea started his career as an advertising copywriter, then moved into sales, holding positions at Advo Inc., Los Angeles Times, Orlando Weekly, East Bay Express and, most recently, Associate Publisher for L.A. Weekly.
Dea is a native of Southern California and sits on the Board of Directors for Healthy Smiles for Kids of OC and is Vice Chair of the TV Heritage Group for PBS. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from California State University, Fullerton.

Ashley Vickers

Vice President, Human Resources

Ashley Vickers has played a vital role at PBS SoCal, responsible for developing and delivering best practices in HR management and providing strategic HR leadership and perspective for the organization. She oversees all HR functions, including talent acquisition, employee and labor relations, benefits and compensation, strategic objectives and planning, as well as coaching and leadership development.

Vickers led organizational integration efforts after the merger between KCETLink and PBS SoCal in 2018 and spearheaded pandemic response efforts to COVID-19 prevention within the organization starting in 2020. She has overseen critical operational and policy issues concerning remote work, telecommuting, compliance and staff safety in the building and the field. Vickers has played an essential role in building the organizational culture across departments and has been instrumental in developing and implementing change and risk management initiatives. Additionally, she has been responsible for the training and response protocols for the organization.

Vickers also provides leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Vickers DEI successes include the design of an internal DEI framework, the launch of Employee Resource Groups and collaboration with the Board’s Task Force on Anti-Racism and Social Justice.

Vickers received a Master of Science in Human Resource Development from Villanova University and brings over 15 years of human resources experience in the public and private sectors in the tech, legal and non-profit industries.