KMOS PBS Programmer Receives National Recognition With PTPA Mentorship Award

From left, Nellie deLaurier, KMOS Traffic and Programming Coordinator; Michael O’Keefe, KMOS Programming and Communications Manager;
and Kristen Kuebler, Director of Client Services for TRAC Media.

 

The Public Television Programmers Association (PTPA) has named KMOS PBS Programming and Communications Manager Michael O’Keefe as the recipient of the Jerry Trainor Mentorship Award.

The award was presented at the annual PTPA meeting on Nov. 10 in Cleveland, Ohio. O’Keefe was nominated by KMOS Traffic Coordinator Nellie deLaurier, who presented him with the award.

The PTPA Mentorship Award, also known as the Jerry Trainor Mentorship Award, honors individuals who exemplify leadership and extraordinary mentorship among programmers. Conceived in 2013, the award was named and presented in honor of former programmer Jerry Trainor, who demonstrated a commitment to the growth and advancement of his peers throughout his career spanning more than 20 years. Like Trainor, awardees are devoted to the engagement of programmers in a way that positively impacts the future of public media.

O’Keefe graduated from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting and Film and completed his Master of Arts in Environmental Studies in 2014. During the four decades he has served as KMOS-TV’s program director, O’Keefe has worked on multiple initiatives that have made KMOS the organization it is today. He has been responsible for the station’s programming and promotional efforts, including scheduling for all four KMOS channels, creating the monthly program guide, “Contact,” and designing and maintaining the KMOS website.

 

Among his many achievements, O’Keefe played a significant role in helping the station transition from a single-channel to a multiple-channel broadcast platform. These efforts have enabled KMOS to increase its viewership and recognition within Central Missouri and the PBS system.

As a member of PTPA, O’Keefe is part of an organization that is considered a trusted partner and an essential resource for programming professionals in an ever-changing industry. In their working environment, members of the organization make daily decisions regarding broadcast and digital curation, distribution, and consumer viewing trends. PTPA promotes an atmosphere where members can trade best practices and utilize professional development and mentoring opportunities to help them connect the public television stations they represent to the communities they serve. 

 

KMOS serves the citizens of 38 Central Missouri counties with high-quality educational content and experiences online, over-the-air and in various communities. The station is integral to engaged learning as a professional learning lab for students from a variety of disciplines at UCM. KMOS broadcasts programming on four channels full of programs for all ages on 6.1, lifestyle and how-to programs on 6.2, international news, documentaries and dramas on 6.3, and a full schedule of kids’ programming to fit the schedule of every busy family on 6.4.

 

For more information about UCM’s public television station, visit kmos.org. To learn more about PTPA, visit ptpa.tv.