JOHN HARRIS (PROFESSIONAL VICE-CHAIR)

John Harris has served as President & Chief Executive Officer of Prairie Public Broadcasting with headquarters in Fargo, North Dakota since April 2003.  PPB is a community-licensed organization, serving North Dakota, Northwest Minnesota, Eastern Montana and the province of Manitoba, Canada with public television, radio and education services.  A 27-year veteran of public broadcasting, Mr. Harris began his public broadcasting career as the business manager for WLJT-TV in the Jackson, Tennessee market, eventually returning to serving as General Manager and CEO at WLJT-TV.  He has also held positions as business manager at WPBY-TV in Huntington, West Virginia; station manager for KWMU-FM in St. Louis, Missouri; President and CEO of public broadcasting stations in Harlingen, Texas, and director of finance and administration at WSBE-TV in Rhode Island.

Mr. Harris is a native of Tennessee.  Prior to his public broadcasting career he served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.  He then went on to receive a B.S. degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin in Administrative Management.