Rochester, NY (September 29, 2026) — Beginning October 5, WXXI News brings listeners a refreshed midday lineup on WXXI-FM 105.9, WEOS-FM 88.5/90.3 (Geneva), and streaming on WXXINews.org. At noon, join Evan Dawson for “Connections,” a live hour of conversation about the issues and ideas shaping the Rochester and Finger Lakes community. At 1 p.m., stay tuned for “Fresh Air,” the Peabody Award-winning NPR series featuring some of the most compelling interviews in arts, culture, news, and ideas.

“Local journalism and conversation are at the heart of WXXI’s public service,” said Chris Hastings, WXXI President & CEO. “This new lineup gives audiences a stronger midday destination, pairing Evan Dawson’s distinctive local voice and the conversations that matter to Rochester and the Finger Lakes with one of public radio’s most respected national programs. And by bringing ‘Connections’ to television and continuing to grow it across digital platforms, we’re creating more ways for people to engage with the issues, ideas and voices shaping our community.”

“Connections,” which also streams live on WXXI News YouTube channel, will also be added to WXXI-TV’s Sunday line-up, beginning October 11. The new Sunday presentation, featuring one of the select shows that week, will give audiences another way to experience “Connections” and allows WXXI to bring one of its signature local radio programs to a broader television audience.

“‘Connections’ is the public square of Rochester and the Finger Lakes, and we’re excited to grow the audience with great conversation and access to newsmakers,” said Dawson. “I’m going to be doing more original reporting, which is getting back to my roots a bit. We’re going to take the show to live audiences more often. And of course, it’s amazing to go back-to-back with a legend like Terry Gross.”

“Fresh Air” with Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley will follow the daily “Connections” broadcast at 1 p.m. on WXXI-FM 105.9,WEOS-FM 88.5/90.3 (Geneva), and stream on WXXINews.org. The nationally recognized long-form interview program features insightful conversations with a wide range of leading figures from the worlds of literature, film, television, music, and theater, with journalists covering the news and issues of the day. 

“The World” will move into the 7 p.m. weeknight timeslot that was originally held by “Fresh Air.” Co-hosts Marco Werman and Carolyn Beeler, along with their team of reporters and producers, “The World” brings listeners the world’s most interesting stories. 

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As Manager of Creator Partnerships, Williams will focus on making WXXI Studios a thriving production hub, where independent filmmakers, storytellers, artists, and creators can take their work from creation to distribution to engagement with audiences. She will develop rental and marketing offerings, cultivate client and creator partnerships, and launch a Creator-in-Residence program that brings new voices into WXXI Studios’ production space. 

“Storytelling has always been my way of bringing people together from the listeners of WDKX to the viewers of WHEC. I’m honored to join WXXI at such an exciting time when public media is expanding to embrace community co-productions and events,” said Williams. “I look forward to helping WXXI Studios become a hub for Rochester’s creator community, by developing innovative ways to sustain WXXI’s mission for the next generation.” 

Throughout her career, Williams has remained committed to broadcasting, serving as a traffic anchor and web producer at News10NBC before becoming the longtime afternoon host on WDKX-FM, where she has spent more than a decade connecting with audiences through live radio and community engagement as on-air personality “Jazzy T”. 

Williams is also founder of JazzCast Pros, where she has led the development, production, and distribution of 15 original podcast series and more than 1,200 episodes on business and personal growth. A connector and strategic collaborator, she has constructed her career at the intersection of media, business development, and relationship building, bringing together creative vision, production expertise, and authentic partnerships to help organizations and communities grow. Her leadership and impact earned her recognition as a 2026 ATHENA Young Professional Award finalist with the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. Jazz is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University, College of Communications. 

Williams will begin her new role this month.  

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station, he has covered sports, produced news and music programs, hosted a daily and then a weekly jazz show, produced live remotes, interviewed a variety of people from musicians to politicians, engineered talk shows, and produced newscasts.

In 1997, he became the local host of “Morning Edition,” where he remained until 2012, when he started hosting “All Things Considered.”

A graduate of Ashland College, now Ashland University, Crichton’s first radio job was as a part time disc jockey at WGMC in Greece, where he played a mix of jazz and contemporary pop music. He also served as a sports reporter and regular substitute anchor for John Doser at Rochester Radio Sports, where his stories were carried on WHAM, WBBF, WGMC, WYLF and WBSU. He also worked at WRTK Talk radio and WBBF before joining WXXI.

In addition to his radio work, Crichton narrated the WXXI documentaries, “Horses on Parade” and “Benches on Parade.” During his tenure, Crichton received several awards including the Established Media Professional Award from the Rochester Media Association and New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association awards.

Crichton’s last day is Friday, February 27.

(Rochester, NY) December 22, 2025 — WXXI President & CEO Chris Hastings today announced a strategic reorganization of its corporate structure as he works to build a new foundation and business model in response to the federal rescission of nearly $2M in funding and the shutdown of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting.  

This realignment includes the promotions of Rhonda Austin, Ryan Williamson, Veronica Volk, Greg Carter, Todd McCammon, Katie Epner, Sarah Wolcheski, Kristin Tutino, Jim Malley, and Jon Haliniak. The reorganization will combine key departments into four core divisions — the Content Division and the Marketing and Revenue Division, Technology and Business Affairs. This new structure is part of a broader strategy as WXXI looks to invest in innovation and diversify its revenue streams to build a sustainable future. 

“WXXI is entering a new chapter — one that demands fresh thinking, bold leadership, and a structure that positions us to grow. These promotions recognize the extraordinary talent that already exists within our organization and the critical roles these leaders will play as we strengthen our services for the community,” said Chris Hastings, WXXI President & CEO. “Even in a moment of financial uncertainty for public media, we are choosing to innovate, invest in our people, and build a future that ensures WXXI remains essential to Rochester for generations to come.” 

Radio Operations Manager Rhonda Austin has been promoted to Senior Director, Audio Operations and Programming, a new position which was created to unify and strengthen WXXI’s radio and audio services under a single strategic and operational leader. Austin will oversee both the Radio Traffic/Operations Manager and the on-air talent for WXXI Classical and The Route. Austin has been with the organization for 37 years. 

Strategy & Operations Director Ryan Williamson has been promoted to Executive Director City Magazine & Director of Digital Products, where he will continue to oversee the business and distribution strategy for City Magazine, while also helping to lead project management and development within the digital space for WXXI and The Little Theatre. Williamson joined CITY in 2015 as Art Director/Production Manager and in 2019 was promoted to Creative Director/Operations Manager. 

WXXI News’ Senior Producer and Reporter Veronica Volk has been named Executive Producer and Director of Podcast Strategy. She will continue to oversee production of daily content, as well as feature and enterprise reporting projects for broadcast and digital but will also develop and expand on-demand audio content beyond news to include music, arts, and education content.  Volk joined WXXI News in 2014 as a general reporter, was promoted to editor in 2019, and senior producer in 2022. 

WXXI’s VP of Technology & Operations Greg Carter will take on the title of Chief Technology Officer. Carter will be WXXI’s first Chief Technology Officer, a position created as WXXI looks to expand its internal technology to grow audience and expand digital production.  He joined WXXI in 2018 as Chief Engineer and was promoted to VP of Technology in 2023. 

WXXI’s Vice President of Television Todd McCammon has been promoted to Vice President of Programming and Content Partnerships. In this new role, McCammon will be responsible for shaping WXXI’s programming pipeline and negotiating production partnerships. McCammon joined WXXI as Assistant VP of TV in 2006 and 2019 was promoted to Vice President of TV.  

Creative Content Producer Katie Epner has been promoted to Director of Video Production. Epner will lead the organization’s original video strategy across broadcast, digital, social, and community platforms. In this role, she will be responsible for building and supervising a cross-functional digital video unit that works in collaboration with all content departments. She will ensure that video storytelling is brand-aligned, audience-centered, and mission-driven across WXXI’s full portfolio. Epner joined WXXI in 2016 as a videographer. In 2019 she was promoted to producer and in 2022 named Creative Content Producer. 

Digital and On-Air Fundraising Manager Sarah Wolcheski has been promoted to Senior Manager for Membership, where she leads WXXI’s multi-channel fundraising efforts across mail, on-air, and digital platforms to drive revenue growth and long-term sustainability. She oversees all on-air fundraising for WXXI’s radio and television stations and develops strategies to expand sustaining membership and strengthen community support year-round. Wolcheski joined WXXI in 2022.  

Communications Manager Kristin Tutino has been promoted to Director of Communications and Audience Development. In her expanded role, she will lead WXXI’s strategic communications, media relations, and social engagement efforts to advance the organization’s mission and deepen its connection with the community. She will serve as WXXI’s primary communications strategist, overseeing all external messaging, media relations, and public positioning. Originally hired as WXXI’s station publicist, Tutino has been with WXXI for 23 years.

Creative Director Jon Haliniak has been promoted to Director of Brand Strategy & Creative Services. Currently he directs all creative work, designing and overseeing the visual impact of all marketing materials. Under this new title, Haliniak will guide the creative expression of WXXI, CITY, and The Little Theatre, and ensure the organization’s brand identity is strong and consistent across everything we produce. Haliniak has been with the company for 20 years.       

Facilities Manager Jim Malley has been promoted to Facilities Director and will oversee the maintenance, safety, and daily operations of the buildings and grounds at both WXXI and The Little Theatre. He will manage staff and contractors, lead capital projects and improvements, and plan for long-term infrastructure needs that align with WXXI’s strategic vision. Malley has been with the organization since May 2015.  

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As Chief Marketing Officer, Kalvitis will lead WXXI’s marketing, brand, creative, and corporate sponsorship teams in a unified strategy to grow brand visibility, increase earned revenue and build audience loyalty across all platforms — radio, television, digital, CITY Magazine, and The Little Theatre. He will be responsible for building business development strategies that fuel mission-aligned growth, expand corporate sponsorship, monetize content in new ways, and unlock innovative partnerships across platforms.  

“As a proud, lifelong Rochesterian, I’ve always seen WXXI as a trusted voice and a pillar of our community’s storytelling. This is an exciting moment and chance to reimagine how public media connects, engages, and grows moving forward,” said Kalvitis. “I’m honored to join WXXI and look forward to working with such talented teams to strengthen our brand, deepen audience relationships, and foster innovative partnerships that will ensure our essential service thrives for generations to come.” 

Throughout his career, Kalvitis has helped companies, from startups to established brands, define their voice, build audience connections, and drive measurable results through strategic, creative solutions. He has led marketing efforts at Greenlight Networks, News10 NBC, Mason Marketing, and 13 WHAM. 

Kalvitis will begin his new role on Monday, January 5, 2026.

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Fisher was the host and producer of the annual Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur broadcasts live from Temple B’rith Kodesh, as well as the producer of the annual A Rochester Festival of Lessons and Carols and Christmas with Madrigalia, both recorded at Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester. She is also the voice of many underwriting spots heard on WXXI Radio.  

Fisher has served on the national boards of the Association of Music Personnel in Public Radio and the Public Radio Program Directors Association, and chaired the Board of Eastern Region Public Media. Fisher holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from William Paterson College in New Jersey, and a Master of Music Performance Degree from Wichita State University in Kansas. Prior to her position at WXXI, she was Program Director at West Virginia Public Radio. 

Fisher’s last day will be Wednesday, November 26, but she will continue to produce “With Heart and Voice.” 

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