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KMUW's GM Mark McCain Announces Retirement

KMUW general manager Mark McCain has announced his retirement from the station and licensee Wichita State University. WSU announced the information this morning in a press release. McCain cited a family medical concern for his decision.

McCain has worked at KMUW for almost 25 years, beginning as music director in 1989. Station membership and support have grown because of his leadership.

"There has been a real goal in mind of having the station be relevant to the community," says KMUW's Member Services Coordinator of 35 years, Pat Hayes. "More and more he has been looking to the community and getting feedback from the community of what they need and want to hear from their public radio station."

Under McCain's tenure, the station's programming has become more focused with increased news coverage. He also oversaw the addition of many popular shows such as Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, Diane Rehm and This American Life.

McCain spearheaded the signal expansion project which moved KMUW's antenna to a higher location. This increased the coverage area and the signal now reaches north to Salina and well into Oklahoma.

Program Director Lu Anne Stephens has worked with McCain almost from the beginning.

"He hired good people and made sure we got the training we needed to do our jobs," says Stephens. "We will continue the work that he put in place and we'll make him proud."

WSU's Vice President for Academic Affairs Tony Vizzini is currently in the process of choosing an interim director.

McCain says he's enjoyed helping the station grow for nearly 25 years. He thanks KMUW members, volunteers, and business donors for their dedication to the public radio community.

When she's not out making lattes in her mobile coffee bus Sunflower Espresso, Kate Hutchens is a fill-in host for KMUW. She has worked in broadcast journalism at KFDI, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and at KMUW as Morning Edition host, which she did until March 2017.