FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PBS NORTH CAROLINA NAMES LAURA KIELER AS ITS DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER

Kieler, a leader in public media, will help usher PBS North Carolina into its next chapter. 

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, 12/4/2024 — PBS North Carolina announces the promotion of Laura Kieler to its newly established role of Deputy General Manager. With her extensive experience in public media and a passion for serving the North Carolina community, Kieler will play a key role in overseeing operations, strategic planning, community engagement and the continued growth of the organization’s programming and services. 

“As PBS North Carolina moves forward into its 70th year and beyond, this newly created position is vital to advancing our mission to educate, inform, entertain and inspire all North Carolinians,” says David Crabtree, PBS North Carolina’s CEO and General Manager. “I’m confident Laura Kieler will ensure PBS North Carolina remains a dynamic and trusted resource and partner for communities statewide.” 

This expanded role builds upon Kieler’s success as PBS North Carolina’s Chief Marketing and Content Officer, where she has led a team of talented creators, strategists and communicators in developing engaging content across multiple platforms and deepening PBS North Carolina’s connection with audiences statewide. Under her leadership, PBS North Carolina has produced and distributed new series such as State Lines, The NC Listening Project and Ten to Try, among others. Additionally, the PBS North Carolina team coproduced the feature-length documentary American Coup: Wilmington 1898, which was broadcast nationwide in November 2024 on American Experience, the longest running history series on PBS. 

In 2021, Kieler spearheaded the network’s comprehensive rebrand, positioning PBS North Carolina as a powerhouse public media brand within the UNC System. A year later, her team introduced a statewide awareness campaign that broadened PBS North Carolina’s visibility and deepened its connection to the people of North Carolina. 

In this new role, Kieler will work closely with PBS North Carolina’s education team to expand programming that addresses the learning needs of communities across the state. She will also play a key role in organizational strategic planning, community engagement and development efforts, including supporting funding initiatives and the planning of PBS North Carolina’s future broadcast center. Kieler will continue to work closely with the other members of the senior leadership team, led by CEO David Crabtree, to guide the organization’s strategic vision, foster community partnerships and support ongoing efforts to provide exceptional public media content. 

Before joining PBS North Carolina in 2018, Kieler served as Director of Marketing and eCommerce at HBO in New York City. There, she developed strategies that grew global brand awareness and engaged audiences through high-profile initiatives like the Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience and activations at events such as Comic-Con and SXSW. Kieler, who holds both a BS and an MBA from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, has been recognized with honors including a Chapel Hill Magazine Women of Achievement award and a Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 award. 

With her visionary approach and commitment to public broadcasting, Laura Kieler is well positioned to help lead PBS North Carolina into its next chapter, championing the stories, people and culture of North Carolina. Her commitment to public service and dedication to high-quality programming align with PBS North Carolina’s mission to deliver trusted, educational and inspiring content to audiences across the state. 

About PBS North Carolina

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

-PBS NC-

Media Contact 
Allyson Meade, Marketing & Communications 
PBS North Carolina 
press@pbsnc.org