Oost Named COO, Louisville Public Media
• Louisville Public Media (LPM) has elevated Ellen Oost to Chief Operating Officer; a newly created senior leadership role focused on strategic execution and community engagement. As COO, Oost will serve as a strategic partner to President & CEO Kenya Young, facilitating cross-functional collaboration and building alignment across LPM’s teams as the organization executes on these priorities.
“Ellen has been instrumental in building LPM’s relationships with this community,” said Young. “As we move into an exciting new chapter focused on impact, engagement and innovation, I’m thrilled to have her as a partner in bringing our strategic vision to life. Her ability to build bridges, across teams, across our audiences, and across our three stations, makes her the right leader for this role.”
Since joining LPM in 2018, Oost has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Director of Development, VP of Development & Marketing, and most recently, VP of Revenue. Oost also served as Co-Interim CEO from December 2024 through May 2025.
“Eight years at LPM has only deepened my belief in what this organization means to Louisville — and in the extraordinary generosity of this community,” said Oost. “In this new role, I’m focused on making sure LPM is showing up for this community the way it deserves — deepening our service, strengthening our partnerships, and building the kind of organization that remains relevant and trusted for generations to come. That’s what drives our new strategic plan, and it’s what I’ll be thinking about every day in this role. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our talented team and to help lead that work.”
• Young also announced two additional leadership moves: Ryan Van Velzer, Managing Editor of the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom (AMSN), joins the LPM leadership team. LPM serves as the lead station on both the regional AMSN collaborative and the statewide Kentucky Public Radio network, both of which Van Velzer manages. Laura Ellis, Director of On-Demand and Digital Strategy, takes on responsibility for aligning standards and practices across the organization — including the three broadcast stations, web and LPM App presence, and digital on-demand spaces.
• LPM is currently hiring for a Vice President of Development to step in and oversee philanthropy for the organization, working closely with the CEO and COO to align donor and funder interests with the ambitions of the organization. All the details are available HERE. [Ellen Oost Photo Credit: J. Tyler Franklin / LPM]
https://tinyurl.com/3t3m98ts
