Anthony A. Papa
As an Emmy® Award-winning Producer and Executive, I’ve spent 25 years leading with passion across public media, media production, technology, marketing/branding, digital media, and operations. I love turning ideas into reality and guiding projects from start to finish. With 15 years of experience managing and leading teams as a prime contractor and project manager, I thrive on creative innovation, team dynamics, and delivering results that help organizations grow and inspire audiences alike.
As Executive Consultant for KLCS Public Media, I use my expertise in media operations, digital transformation, and strategic planning to guide the Los Angeles educational television station through a changing public media landscape. I focus on leveraging emerging technologies, audience engagement strategies, and process improvements to advance KLCS’s public service mission and expand its digital reach.
Previously, I served as Director of Operations for KVCR Public Media at the San Bernardino Community College District from March 2019 to June 2025. I joined KVCR in July 2017 as a Producer and Editor for five television shows, later advancing to the post-production supervisor role. After demonstrating my capabilities, I was then appointed project lead for a $16 million station modernization project, which I delivered on time and $170,000 under budget.
Before KVCR, I was assistant editor on the National Geographic documentary Science Fair, which won a National Emmy. At SoulPancake, a division of Participant Media, I managed technical delivery of TV content to Disney Television and its ABC digital unit. As producer and editor for The Terry Kath Experience, I helped premiere the feature documentary at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival, securing worldwide distribution with FilmRise. I have led production or editing for over 200 videos, managing creative and budgetary details for clients. My work has appeared on MTV, Sony, Honda Music, Uproxx Media, Vogue Italia, and Vanity Fair. Notably, as a producer, I also led a team on an ad campaign for Oliver Peoples featuring Hollywood icon Robert Evans.
Early in my career, I joined LA start-up Dental Advantage as Marketing-Operations Manager, where I developed a CRM solution that enabled communication with over 100,000 dentists monthly. Within one quarter, I partnered with the Sales Director to secure over $900,000 in sponsorship and membership sales for Dental Advantage Publishing and Continuing Education. I then became the third employee at CarsDirect.com, an Idealab company, serving as Vice President of Web Development and contributing to the executive team that secured over $350 million in funding. These early experiences at Idealab fostered my passion for emerging technology and impactful media.
At KVCR, I led the station’s digital transition by launching a community calendar, mobile application, live streaming for PBS Television in the Inland Empire, and national live streaming for FNX First Nations Experience. I introduced local NPR Radio streaming on mobile and smart devices, upgraded all social media platforms, and launched a digital board report. In content strategy, I oversaw the creation of 21st Century Dialogues, a 30-minute television talk show featuring students and local experts discussing contemporary issues to foster empathetic dialogue. During the coronavirus pandemic, I worked with staff to launch Inland Edition, a weekly radio show later adapted for television, providing timely information from community leaders and experts.
In Fiscal 2022, under my leadership, KVCR secured a $1.4 million educational grant with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools to create Learn with Me, a bilingual animated television show for Pre-K to 3rd grade (learnwtihme.tv). By identifying and reducing operating expenses in 2020 and 2021, I achieved $2.8 million in budgetary savings. I managed daily oversight and planning for $6 million annual budgets in fiscal 2021 and 2022, including multi-year forecasting and cash flow management for three business units and a nonprofit foundation. For fiscal 2023 and 2024, I developed a $11 million global budget for KVCR, coordinating across four business units, a nonprofit, and 28 restricted grant-funded budgets.
I led KVCR to a balanced budget for fiscal year 2023 by efficiently managing team assignments, vendor contracts, deliverables, engineering, HR, production, fundraising, and marketing. I have represented the station as a voting member of the California Public Television and National Educational Television Association, and as a member of the University Licensee Association, Independent Public Television Station Association, and National PBS meetings. I have also served as the station's Grants Administrator with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and as the primary contact with the FCC, overseeing station licensing and reporting requirements.
My approachable and collaborative style enables me to work effectively with staff, the community, and stakeholders at all levels. I am committed to bringing passion, creativity, and strategic planning to every leadership role.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, running, and camping in the mountains. I have already completed my goal of whitewater rafting in Costa Rica, and look forward to one day enjoying Orecchiette with broccoli rabe in Volturara Appula, Italy, the hometown of my great-grandparents.
Thank you for visiting my career page. I look forward to connecting with you.
Sincerely,
