Jeff Bieri has been named the new station manager of , Colorado Public Radio and KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï have announced. Bieri, a 30-year industry veteran who currently serves as program manager, was promoted to station manager for the Colorado Springs-based public radio station, which is owned by ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï and operated by CPR.
"Jeff has been a key member of the KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï staff for many years on the radio and behind the scenes," says CPR President Stewart Vanderwilt. "He knows and loves the community and understands what Southern Colorado audiences need and expect from KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï. We are grateful he will take on this crucial role to maintain KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï's unique position in the community together with Colorado Public Radio."
Bieri was born and raised in Colorado with a brief stint spent in New Mexico during his "wandering years." His love of music brought him to 91.5 KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï in 1989, and, in the interim, he has hosted every day-part slot of KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï's programming. Bieri has participated in more than 60 KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï membership drives during the course of his employment and hopes to garner even more public support for 91.5 KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï and CPR.
"I am honored to have the opportunity to continue working with my friends and colleagues at KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï, and now at Colorado Public Radio. KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï has been a source of inspiration to me for most of my adult life, and I'm grateful for the partnership that CPR has offered us. The resources and broadcast knowledge of CPR are immense, and I believe the listeners of both KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï and CPR will benefit greatly through our combined efforts," Bieri says.
Bieri has been an active leader of the integration of KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï into CPR's operations, working closely across all departments, and will be an essential member of the team working to design the new public media center for Southern Colorado at 720 N. Tejon St. in Colorado Springs. The center is slated to open next summer, and will include offices for KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï, ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï's Journalism Institute, and Rocky Mountain PBS' Regional Innovation Center.
Colorado Public Radio and ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï entered into a partnership in early 2020. As a part of the agreement KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï is affiliated with, and operated by, Colorado Public Radio in partnership with ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï. The station will continue to be identified as KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï. This collaboration increases KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï's ability to produce and deliver original local content and provides KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï's audiences with CPR's state-wide resources. CPR and ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï are committed to maintaining KR½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï's strong local and regional news presence and will continue to employ Colorado Springs-based personnel.
