Mattioni Named WVTF Program Director; Other Changes Made

By DAN SMITH

Rick Mattioni (right) has been named program for WVTF Public Radio in Roanoke and RADIO IQ officially assigning him duties he has been performing for a while. Mattioni has been news director of the station for years and has been in public radio for 26 years.

With Mattioni's elevation to the control chair for both news and other programs, other changes are being made, as well. Susan Geary, who has been in the local Morning Edition chair at WVTF for more than two years has determined that going to work at 4 a.m. is something she'd rather let somebody else do. Geary says she was also running a resume-writing business she’s had for nine years and "having both jobs was wearing on me."

Geary has left the morning assignment to Beverly Amsler, who has been reporting for the station for several years and has been the morning person before. Connie Stevens, the veteran reporter at WVTF, has been assigned coordinating duties for the news department.

Finally, Sandy Hausman, who arrived at WVTF's Charlottesville operations from Chicago Public Radio, will be the bureau chief in the new Charlottesville bureau. The Charlottesville operation of the station is the top rated radio station in the market, says Mattioni, which may be a first for a public radio station in the country.

Outside the news operation, Cynthia Gray (above left), the former major gifts officer for the stations, is the new director of resource development for WVTF and RADIO IQ.

Mattioni has worked in broadcasting since the mid-1970sand he joined WVTF as news director in 1987, having previously worked at Syracuse’s NPR member station WAER. In 2002, Mattioni became program director WVTF’s all-news station RADIO IQ while continuing to supervise the WVTF news department.

Gray joined the public stations 2006 and she is now in charge of all fund-raising efforts for both stations, including individual, corporate, and major and planned gifts. She will also coordinate marketing, promotions, and special events. Gray has worked with area advertising agencies and Blue Ridge Public Television where she was director of development.