By Nicole Lyons,
November 22, 2024
From left, Nellie deLaurier, KMOS Traffic and Programming Coordinator; Michael O鈥橩eefe,
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鈥橩eefe 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鈥橩eefe 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鈥橩eefe graduated from the (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鈥檚 program director, O鈥橩eefe has worked on multiple initiatives that have
made KMOS the organization it is today. He has been responsible for the station鈥檚
programming and promotional efforts, including scheduling for all four KMOS channels,
creating the monthly program guide, 鈥淐ontact,鈥 and designing and maintaining the .
Among his many achievements, O鈥橩eefe 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鈥橩eefe 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鈥 programming to
fit the schedule of every busy family on 6.4.
For more information about UCM鈥檚 public television station, visit . To learn more about PTPA, visit .