WTCI announces that Phil Trammell has joined the leadership team at the community PBS station as vice president of development.  In this role, Mr. Trammell will lead the station’s regional fundraising efforts, spearheading WTCI’s advancement goals and strategies for community growth.

"Having served in leadership positions at Fortune 100 businesses, entrepreneurial ventures, higher education and nonprofits, Phil brings a breadth of experience, a solid history of stewardship and a strong commitment to public media and the Chattanooga community. President-elect of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Southeast Tennessee Chapter, Mr. Trammell successfully led Girls Inc. toward strong fiscal and organizational health and will lead the Tennessee Valley PBS station’s advancement efforts into this new era of digital media and nationwide changes in the telecommunications industry," officials said.

WTCI reaches 1.4 million viewers and over 400,000 households in our 35-county area, including parts of Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina.  “I’m honored to have the opportunity to support advancement efforts for an organization that provides a safe place for people of all ages to discover their world, broaden their horizons and become active participants in shaping our community’s future,” says Mr. Trammell.

As a community PBS station, WTCI depends on viewers and members for over fifty-percent of the nonprofit organization’s annual budget, raising these funds through pledge drives, membership support, corporate underwriting and special events and programs. 

Paul Grove, president and CEO of WTCI, says “We are proud that Phil Trammell has joined our team and I am confident that his work will be critical to the continued success of the station as we move forward in this ever-changing media environment. Phil’s commitment to strategic plans that support achievement and the metrics needed to benchmark their progress will help our station navigate the challenges of the new media landscape.” 

Joining Phil’s team, Rachel Froug will lead efforts to serve the station’s members, increase member benefits and create a schedule of pledge and community outreach. A Lee University graduate, Ms. Froug has engaged members in community outreach events, led the station’s live pledge events and will be introducing the community to the station’s member benefits at events throughout the year.