Last month Brooke Bumgardner joined the KLCC team as the Director of Membership and Outreach. Brooke has lived in Eugene since 2008. She relocated to Oregon from North Texas, where she graduated from Austin College and volunteered at KERA, the NPR and PBS member station for the Dallas area.
Q: Welcome to the KLCC team, Brooke! Why did this position interest you?
Thank you, I am delighted to be here. As a lifelong listener of public radio, I've always wanted to work in public media. Prior to joining KLCC, I worked for a private foundation headquartered in Los Angeles. As exciting and impactful as that work was, I wanted to reconnect with our local community. When I saw this opportunity with KLCC, I quite literally jumped for joy. This position is exactly what I envisioned when seeking to become more involved in the community and bring my skillset to public media.
Q: Why do you think public media is important?
A healthy, thriving democracy relies on public media, and recent research supports this idea. KLCC is powered by the generosity of community members who understand that fact-based reporting and access to news coverage are vital parts of a vibrant society. In a time when it seems commercial interests have taken over the news and media, the need for unbiased, fair reporting is increasingly important. I also appreciate how easy it is to access KLCC's programming. With the KLCC app on my phone, I can listen to any local or national news story and NPR's stellar programming anywhere and anytime.
Q: What is something you look forward to about your new role at KLCC?
I’m excited to get to know our members! We already have something in common: a belief in the power of public media. I'm eager to create opportunities for our members to engage with one another and with KLCC's award-winning news team. Our communities are strengthened by the relationships we build together, and KLCC's members are the foundation of those connections.
Q: When you’re off the clock and enjoying free time, what is your ideal weekend?
During the rainy season I wake up early and sip coffee while listening to the Weekend Edition before my family wakes up. After breakfast we often go “puddle hunting” (rain boots required!). I love making a cozy, warm soup during those rainy weekends. In the summertime, you can find me grilling outside, going on day hikes around the Willamette Valley, or picking blackberries in our backyard to make cobbler or sorbet. I also enjoy visiting different places around Oregon with my husband, young child, and Welsh Terrier (Maggie), making sure I purchase a bag of local coffee from each spot.
Q: This or That: Oregon Edition
Salmon or Steelhead: Steelhead
Coast or Mountains: Mountains in the summer, Coast in the winter
Ducks or Beavers: Austin College Kangaroos (I remain neutral!)
Kayak or Stand-Up Paddleboard: Kayak
Coffee or Tea: Coffee all the way
Snowboarding or Skiing: Snowboarding
Tacoma or Outback: Tacoma
KLCC on the radio or KLCC on the smart speaker: Both!
To drop Brooke a note and say "Welcome!" or recommend your favorite local coffee roaster, email her at bbumgardner@klcc.org.
