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August 16, 2005 - Bill Wheelhouse Named General Manager of WUIS/WIPA

Bill Wheelhouse, statehouse bureau chief for WUIS/WIPA Public Radio has been named general manager of the station effective August 16, 2005.

Wheelhouse brings 25 years’ experience in radio news broadcasting to the job and emerged as the top candidate in a national search to fill the position. He began working at WUIS as statehouse bureau chief in 1995, where he has led award-winning state capitol coverage for the 12-station Illinois Public Radio (IPR) network. Additionally, he has been a contributor to National Public Radio news programs. Wheelhouse served as president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association from 1998-2000. He served as a regular panelist on the weekly State Week in Review program produced by WUIS and carried statewide by IPR stations.

Prior to his position at WUIS, Wheelhouse held the position of news director at WIUM in Macomb, Illinois from 1987 to 1995. He has also served as news director and reporter for commercial stations in the region including Springfield, Macomb and Quincy. Wheelhouse has been an adjunct faculty member of the UIS Public Affairs Reporting program since 1996. He holds a master’s degree in political studies from UIS and a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from Western Illinois University.

Wheelhouse succeeds Brad Swanson as general manager. Swanson retired in December 2004 after 28 years of service to WUIS. Rich Bradley, news director, has been serving as interim general manager since Swanson’s retirement.

In announcing his appointment, Barbara Ferrara, interim executive director of the Center, said “Bill Wheelhouse is uniquely prepared for the challenges of the general manager’s role. He has the knowledge and contacts developed as a journalist and the right mix of skills and experience in public broadcasting, management, and fundraising to take on the challenges of this significant position in our community. We realize the importance of WUIS and our repeater station, WIPA to the quality of life of the residents of central and western Illinois. We are confident that Mr. Wheelhouse will succeed in building on the station’s 30-year tradition of excellence in programming and service to its listeners.”

We would like to welcome Bill Wheelhouse as the new general manager of WUIS and wish him all the best as he begins to lead WUIS into the future.