Joe O'Connor

general manager
joconnor@wrni.org

Joe O'Connor came to WRNI by way of his role as Senior Producer for the award-winning radio program On Point, produced for NPR by The WBUR Group in Boston.

O'Connor first worked as a producer for CNN, then spent 22 years at ABC News where he started as a news writer for ABC radio. O'Connor has been a producer for Good Morning America, ABC News Nightline and PrimeTime Live.

In 1994, he became the Senior Producer in Washington for World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, where he was responsible for all news coverage in the nation's capital. O'Connor has worked on almost every story imaginable, from the democracy protests in Tianamen Square to the Persian Gulf War to home-equity fraud in South Central Los Angeles.

O'Connor received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and his masters in broadcast journalism from Boston University. He has been a leader in the Parent Encouragement Program, which offers parenting classes in Washington D.C. and its suburbs. O'Connor has had the privilege of coaching both of his children's soccer and basketball teams. He has garnered five Emmys, two Columbia DuPont Awards and a Peabody Award.

Bob Seay

host : Morning Edition
bseay@wrni.org

Thousands of Rhode Islanders have been waking up to Bob Seay's voice since 2006, when he became the host of Morning Edition on WRNI.

Before joining the WRNI team, Seay spent many years as the director of news and public affairs at WQRC-FM in Hyannis, MA. He has also worked for WBUR in Boston and was station manager at community radio station WOMR in Provincetown, MA.

Seay has a B.A. in English from Muhlenberg College. He is married to reporter Josie Guarino. They are the proud parents of son Maxwell.

Robert Ames

news anchor : reporter
host : All Things Considered

Robert Ames has been anchoring Rhode Island news for WRNI since the station went on the air in 1998.

After starting as an Army correspondent with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, Ames now has more than 30 years of experience in broadcast journalism. He anchored news for CBS-owned news radio stations in Philadelphia and Boston, most recently at WBZ-AM. Most memorably, Ames anchored live coverage about the Shuttle Challenger explosion and the beginning of the Gulf War.

A graduate of Temple University and an avid runner, Ames has been married for more than 30 years and is the father of two adult children.

Scott MacKay

political analyst

With a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Vermont and a wealth of knowledge of local politics, it was a given that Scott MacKay would become a commentator for WRNI’s Political Roundtable.

As a former political reporter for The Providence Journal, MacKay has spent more than thirty years documenting the ins and outs of politics in Rhode Island and New England. MacKay is married to Dr. Staci Fisher, an infectious diseases specialist at Rhode Island Hospital.

Ian Donnis

political reporter

Reporter Ian Donnis is no stranger to Rhode Island politics. Having served as news editor for The Providence Phoenix for almost a decade, he's also been a regular panelist on WPRI’s Newsmakers program since 2003. With a BS in Journalism from Boston University and experience working with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and The Associated Press, Donnis' most valued memories include the time he spent working with legendary investigative reporter Jack White.

Donnis' accolades include reporting awards from the Rhode Island Press Association, the New England Press Association, and Rhode Island for Community and Justice. In addition, 2007 marked the beginning of Donnis' blog Not for Nothing. The first of its kind at The Providence Phoenix, Not for Nothing was recognized by the Washington Post as one of Rhode Island's best political blogs. 

Flo Jonic

reporter

Flo Jonic joined the WRNI team in 2005 and has quickly become an integral part of it.

Jonic boasts a wide array of broadcast experience from stations all over the country. Her career includes reporting and anchoring for KXLY Television in Spokane, WA, KPTV Television in Portland, OR, and WBZ-AM in Boston. Jonic points to her coverage of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens as her most memorable moment in the industry to date.

Jonic holds a Bachelor of Science from Duquesne University. Her work has been honored by the Associated Press and the Radio and Television News Directors Association. In her spare time, Jonic enjoys antiquing and spending time with her two English Springer Spaniels, Luke and Mack.

Megan Hall

reporter

Megan Hall's radio career began as a student at Brown University where she produced "Bike Talk," "Urban Mosaic," and "Mix Tape for the City" for Brown Student Radio on 88.1FM. After graduating with a degree in Urban Studies, Hall received a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the University of British Columbia where she produced a radio documentary about the city's attempts to save low-income housing.

Her work has appeared on nytimes.com, NPR, Transom.org, KXOT, East Village Radio and KOPB. Before becoming WRNI's healthcare reporter in 2008, Hall worked at the station in many different capacities, first as an intern and later as an assistant producer and freelance reporter.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Hall now lives in Providence's Federal Hill neighborhood with two new kittens named "Flo" and "Jonic."

Elisabeth Harrison

education reporter

Elisabeth Harrison's journalism background includes everything from behind-the-scenes work with the CBS Evening News to freelance documentary production.

She joined the WRNI team in 2007 as a Morning Edition producer and freelance journalist. In 2009, she became a full-time reporter.
Harrison's education is as wide ranging as her work at WRNI. She has a B.A. in English and French from Wellesley College, and a joint M.A. in Journalism and French Studies from NYU.

A native of Los Angeles, Harrison loves good food and good movies.

Susan Levy

news anchor : reporter
host : Weekend Edition

Susan Levy joins WRNI with more than 15 years of news radio broadcast experience. She has worked as a writer, editor, producer, reporter, and anchor producing both breaking news and feature stories. Before arriving at WRNI, Levy worked at WBZ-AM in Boston.

Honored by the Associated Press, Levy is currently the host of Weekend Edition and fills in on All Things Considered.

Levy graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 children.

Frederic Reamer

producer : This I Believe – RI

Frederic Reamer, PhD, brings sophistication to WRNI as the producer of the compelling series This I Believe – Rhode Island, modeled on the national This I Believe project.

Reamer's involvement with National Public Radio began in 2000 when he was invited to broadcast a national commentary for All Things Considered. Over the years, Reamer has made guest appearances on various radio broadcasts throughout the country. His own This I Believe essay was broadcast on NPR in 2005 as part of the national series. In March of 2007, Dr. Reamer became the producer of This I Believe – Rhode Island, which broadcasts weekly on WRNI.

Reamer is a professor in the graduate program of the School of Social Work at Rhode Island College. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the subjects of professional ethics, professional malpractice and liability. Reamer is also the author of books on professional ethics, criminal justice, and research methods.

Maureen Moakley

commentator : Political Roundtable

Maureen Moakley's extensive experience analyzing political trends make her a vital member of the Political Roundtable team. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University and is as professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island, where she teaches American government, State Politics and Political Theory. Moakley is the author of several books, including one on Rhode Island politics, and has written numerous articles and chapters on politics in Rhode Island and New England.

In addition to her work at WRNI, Moakley is a regular political commentator on A Lively Experiment, a program discussing state politics on Rhode Island’s PBS channel.

Moakley enjoys lending her academic experience to efforts aimed at expanding local programming, and she identifies her work on Political Roundtable as one of the real highlights of her week.

Bill Gale

arts critic

Bill Gale has had a widely varied career (including a stint as an air traffic controller) before dedicating himself to The Providence Journal for 35 years — 25 of those as the Journal's theater and dance critic. He is the former executive committee chair of the Foundation of the American Theater Critics Association and currently serves on their board.

Gale has received a variety of awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Theatre Conference. He has taught at Rhode Island College and Roger Williams University, and is currently an Admiral at Hope High School. He is married to clinical social worker Peggy Gale and is the father of two children. And he loves working in radio.

Donna Bannon

manager of corporate underwriting

Donna Bannon has been in the radio industry for more than 25 years.

Bannon was exposed to radio through one of her first jobs. She applied to the local station for an open sales position and has been part of the Rhode Island radio market ever since. She has held various management positions at Citadel, Clear Channel and AAA entertainment.

Bannon has lived in Rhode Island for 11 years. She is very family-oriented and is proudly devoted to her two children, four stepchildren, and her husband.

Steve Callahan

director of engineering

As Director of Engineering, Steve Callahan’s primary responsibility is to keep WRNI on the air. Callahan received his first taste of broadcasting in fifth grade when reading a Bible passage on the school’s radio station—he’s been hooked ever since.

Callahan has been working in the Rhode Island radio market since 1980. He even established his own radio station (WVBF) fifteen years ago, thus fulfilling his lifelong dream of establishing a local radio station that focused on local interests. Callahan says WVBF provides “unique radio for local folks.”

Callahan holds an Associate's Degree in Radio and TV from Grahm Junior College, a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from University of West Florida, and an MBA in Marketing from Anna Maria College. Callahan received a National Freedom’s Foundation Award in 1977 for his work as producer of a show on the Bicentennial.

James Baumgartner

business & operations manager

James Baumgartner has become a vital member of the WRNI team for his diverse knowledge of music and business: a great combination for his role at WRNI.

Before joining WRNI, Baumgartner served as administration manager for CJSR 88.5 FM, a community radio station in Edmonton, Canada, where he also hosted a weekly music program. He got his start in radio during his graduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he hosted a weekly electronic music program on WRPI in Troy, NY.

Baumgartner holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from Missouri State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Electronic Arts from Rensselaer. He enjoys cycling, playing the cello and singing Sacred Harp music.

Nicole Purcell

development director

Nicole Purcell joined the WRNI team in January 2009 with more than ten years of fundraising experience. In addition to her experience at a national fundraising firm with clients including AIDS service, public broadcasting, human rights, arts and environmental organizations, Purcell has worked with local nonprofit organizations for the past five years.

Most recently, Purcell’s work with Trinity Repertory Company and Dorcas Place Adult & Family Literacy Center helped these groups significantly grow both their number of donors and revenues raised from individuals. Purcell also led efforts to establish volunteer programs and engagement models that created and strengthened relationships with constituents. In addition, she is an accomplished freelance writer and a blogger for dLife, an integrated consumer/patient education and marketing platform that targets people living with type 1 diabetes.

Purcell attended Stonehill College, where she majored in Communication. She enjoys good books, great music, movies, and theater.