News

WCQS names new CEO

By Michelle Keenan/WCQS, Published: May 4, 2015

The Western North Carolina Public Radio Inc. Board of Directors has named David Feingold as WCQS CEO and general manager, succeeding former President and CEO Jody Evans, who resigned in December 2014.

"I couldn't be happier about joining the outstanding team at WCQS," he said. "I'm struck by the strong sense of community within Asheville's vibrant creative economy. We want WCQS to be fully engaged in that and to serve as a real connector in the region. I'm anxious to spend as much time out of the office as possible, listening to the many diverse voices of Western North Carolina."

Feingold is currently the assistant general manager for content at Nebraska Educational Telecommunications. With responsibility for content production and distribution for radio, television, and digital media, he provides a coherent vision and strategy for content creation and distribution across all NET media services.

Feingold believes deeply in public radio’s commitment to independence and its profound respect for localism, diversity, and community engagement. In Nebraska, he has relished connecting NET Radio’s listeners to their state and local communities by creating content and services they trust. At NET, he has developed fruitful relationships with a range of funders, including major donors, foundations, and corporations, which have resulted in significant revenues for many productions and services. As chair of NET’s project development committee, he has helped connect funders to projects that speak to their passions and personal philanthropic goals.

Before joining NET, Feingold covered local, national, and international news. He served as Executive Editor of Reuters Television, Ltd. in London, and held several senior positions at CNN, including Business News Editor in New York, National Editor in Atlanta, and London Bureau Chief. His love of radio began at his college station, leading to a career in broadcast journalism at NPR stations in Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, as well as Nebraska. He received a BA in psychology from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and a masters degree in mass communications from Central Missouri State University, with emphasis in broadcast and journalism law. Feingold and his family have strong affinities for North Carolina. He first visited Western North Carolina to participate in Outward Bound School. He and his family have been coming back ever since.