Kansas City, MO, January 28, 2026— After more than 17 years of service to Kansas City PBS, President and CEO Kliff Kuehl has announced his retirement, effective July 1, 2026. A planned transition that marks a new chapter for the 60-year-old public media organization.
During his tenure, Kuehl guided the station through a period of transformation and growth. He added three digital broadcast channels, launching livestreams for its main and kids' channels, and driving strategies on digital distribution platforms to attract new audiences while sustaining legacy broadcast operations. Kuehl earned national recognition by founding The Hale Center for Journalism (Flatland) in 2013, a multimedia platform addressing gaps in local reporting. That same year, he led the acquisition of 90.9 The Bridge, positioning the NPR music station as a hub for local music discovery and a platform for regional artists.
“Kliff has been a visionary leader for Kansas City PBS, and his stewardship has resulted in record viewership and membership while ensuring the station continued to evolve with a rapidly changing content landscape,” said David Burke, Chair of the Kansas City PBS Board of Directors. “These milestones have proven even more significant in light of recent federal funding cuts. I have no doubt that his steady, calm leadership played a key role in inspiring so many supporters to invest in new, original programming and in the complete overhaul of our facilities. The beautiful new studios and gathering spaces we now call home stand as a fitting tribute to Kliff’s legacy. We are profoundly grateful for his years as our CEO and wish him nothing but the very best in his retirement.”
Under Kuehl’s leadership, Kansas City PBS nearly doubled its membership base from 22,000 to 40,000 households, significantly grew major giving revenues, and the station now serves an average of one million people each month with its programs and services. In 2021, he completed a capital campaign that raised $22 million to overhaul the station’s headquarters at 31st and Main, upgrade transmission infrastructure and production studios, and establish a Content Excellence Fund supporting local documentary filmmakers with funding, in-kind services, and distribution opportunities.
In the fall of 2025, the station finalized its last major upgrade, a $2.5 million broadcast transmitter installation ensuring transmission sustainability for the next 20 years. Kuehl also positioned Kansas City PBS and Flatland as founding members of the Kansas City Media Collective, fostering collaboration among local news organizations. Additionally, he established the station’s permanent endowment and rainy-day fund, reinforcing long-term financial stability.
“After 17 years at the helm of Kansas City PBS, I’m leaving with deep gratitude to the Kansas City community, our members and staff,” said Kuehl. “Together, we strengthened public media, served our community with purpose, added many new services, and proved that local storytelling matters.”
Kuehl began his career as a film and video producer after graduating from the University of Texas. He held leadership roles at KWBU TV/FM in Waco, Texas, and KNPB-TV in Reno, Nevada, before joining Kansas City PBS in 2009. He served two terms on the PBS Board of Directors and two terms on the board of the Association of Public Television Stations, and was a founding board member of VuHaus Corp. He also contributed his leadership to national public media organizations, including the National Educational Telecommunications Association and the Public TV Major Market Group, through service on their boards. Throughout his career, he has used his expertise to support not only Kansas City PBS and The Bridge, but the public media system as a whole, offering stations guidance, strategic planning insight, and partnership opportunities.
“As I enter retirement, I do so proud of what our team has built—and confident the best chapters for Kansas City PBS and The Bridge are still ahead. It's been an honor to serve alongside such a dedicated staff and board, in such a wonderful community”, Kuehl said.
A search committee led by KC PBS Board Chair David Burke has begun the process of finding a new leader for Kansas City PBS. The Board selected NETA Consulting, a public media executive recruiting firm, to conduct a national search for the new CEO.