WYPR has announced Matthew Martin has been named Chairman of the station’s Board of Directors. Martin succeeds Darcy C. Carroll, whose term ended June 30. The station also announced the election of four community and business leaders to its Board of Directors – Sandra Banisky, Charlie Fenwick, Jr., Joey Price, and Ernst Valery.

“We couldn’t be more grateful to these newly-elected board members for agreeing to serve during these unprecedented times when both our community and industry are experiencing seismic changes that will require deep self-examination and new strategies,” said LaFontaine E. Oliver, President and General Manager. “WYPR’s success depends on connecting with local communities and bringing in-depth insight into the issues that matter to listeners throughout the greater Baltimore region. Our dedicated Board members play an essential role in helping to extend those connections and guiding the decisions that will ensure that WYPR continues to grow its service, across platforms, to our diverse family of communities.”

Martin, Executive Vice President and Retail Market Manager for PNC Financial Services Group, has served on the WYPR board of directors since 2015. Martin has been with PNC Financial Services Group for nearly two decades and oversees PNC’s 135-retail-branch-banking network in Greater Maryland.

“I am honored to be elected as Board Chair for WYPR,” said Martin. “Our on-air programs, both from NPR as well as content produced locally by our staff, WYPR has never been more relevant and important to our city, our state and our nation. Public Radio is a lifelong passion, and I could not be more excited to work alongside our new general manager LaFontaine Oliver.”

Sandra Banisky is Abell Professor in Baltimore Journalism for the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Before joining the Merrill faculty in 2008, Banisky was Deputy Managing Editor for news at The Baltimore Sun. In that role, she supervised reports from the metro, foreign, national, sports and business desks and developed front-page stories from every department. She also served as The Sun’s Deputy Managing Editor for metro and was earlier National Editor and, before that, National Correspondent and a Local Reporter. Banisky holds a law degree from the University of Baltimore and was admitted to the Maryland bar.

Charles C. Fenwick, Jr. is the former Owner and President of Valley Motors, Inc. and a long-term underwriter and supporter of WYPR. Fenwick also had a successful career as an amateur steeplechase jockey with 105 wins. He serves on the board of trustees for Gilman School and GBMC HealthCare and is Executive Director of Shawan Downs.

Joey Price, MS HRMD is the current CEO of Jumpstart:HR and host of Business, Life, & Coffee podcast. Price began his career as a human resources assistant and moved up to the boardroom as a Chief Executive Officer of his own HR consulting firm, focused on growing small businesses and startups through cutting-edge HR consulting services. Price serves on the board of governors for The Center Club and is Chairman of the young members committee. He has been recognized by the Baltimore Business Journal as one of its “40 Under 40” and named by SHRM’s HR Magazine a“Top 30 HR Professional Under 30”.

Ernst Valery is the Founder and President of Ernst Valery Investments Corp., a private, minority-owned real estate & small business investment firm established in 2001, and President and Co-Managing Member of Stuart Alexander and Associates, Inc. a real estate development company established in 1975 & focused on development without displacement - combined the platform is known as SAA | EVI. For the past 20 years, he has been involved with helping launch small businesses that anchor & level the playing field, development projects ranging from mixed-use, multi-tenant rental properties, single-family renovations and preservation of affordable housing in various under valued People, neighborhoods and cities across the United States. Valery is also active in social entrepreneurship and volunteer work, including a collaboration with a team of professionals and graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Community Innovators Lab (MIT CoLab) as well as efforts at incubating businesses around the world that help alleviate poverty and increase the earning potential of low income individuals, families, and communities.

All will be serving three-year terms with WYPR.

As WYPR’s Board welcomes four new members, the station would like to recognize three retiring members: Frank Boston, who joined the Board of Directors in 2008 and has served for 12 years on the Development and Outreach Committees; Cheo Hurley, who joined the Board in 2017 and served on the Development Committee; and Jack Machen, who joined the Board in 2005 and actively served on both the Governance and Development Committees. Machen also served as Chair of the Board from 2010 to 2014.

WYPR is a National Public Radio station serving Baltimore, the state of Maryland and beyond. WYPR was founded in 2002 by local community members. It is an independent licensee with a diverse board of directors consisting of Maryland residents. In addition to airing national and international radio features, WYPR excels in local programming including its news, public affairs and cultural programs.

WYPR is located at 88.1 FM on the radio dial and at 2216 North Charles Street in Baltimore. As a listener-supported radio station, all contributions to the station are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. For more information, visit www.wypr.org or call 410-235-1660.