Louisville Public Media

Kenya Young serves as President and CEO of Louisville Public Media, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision, operations, and community impact across all platforms and services.

With nearly two decades in public media, Kenya brings proven success driving organizational excellence, sustainable growth, and civic engagement through innovative content and impactful partnerships. She oversees Louisville Public Media’s multi-platform content strategy, financial operations, and community engagement initiatives while championing a diversity of perspectives and journalistic excellence.

Prior to joining LPM, Kenya served as Senior Vice President at New York Public Radio, where she led strategic planning across multiple divisions, overseeing podcast studios, programming, digital platforms, live events, and audience development while securing major philanthropic investments.

Kenya previously spent 15 years at NPR, where she held several newsroom leadership roles including Managing Editor and Executive Producer. She led NPR’s flagship news programs and podcasts including Morning Edition, Up First and All Things Considered, maintaining top national rankings. She was instrumental in developing groundbreaking collaborations connecting public media stations nationwide.

Throughout her career, Kenya has specialized in creating inclusive cultures that celebrate excellence, strengthening community bonds, and positioning media organizations as essential platforms for dialogue and engagement. She is a recipient of several industry honors including Peabody, Society of Professional Journalists, Edward R. Murrow and National Association of Broadcasters awards.

Kenya holds a B.A. in American Studies with a minor in Journalism from the University of Notre Dame.

Ellen Oost has been with Louisville Public Media since 2018, serving in roles that have included Director of Development, VP of Development and Marketing, VP of Revenue and now Chief Operating Officer. Oost also served as Co-Interim CEO from late December 2024-late May 2025.

As COO, Ellen serves 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. She oversees community partnerships, marketing and communications, audience engagement, live events, and corporate sponsorship — working to strengthen LPM’s connections with the Louisville community and beyond.

Since joining LPM in 2018, Ellen has overseen multiple arms of revenue, growing the organization’s membership, grants, legacy giving and major gifts programs and most recently its corporate sponsorship and underwriting team. She has led multimillion-dollar campaigns to support growth in the LPM newsroom and business teams, as well as in support of annual operations. She has also led marketing strategy and signature events including Waterfront Wednesday and the 75th Anniversary Luncheon and New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Ellen was the 2022 recipient of the Public Radio Association of Development Officers Development Professional of the Year award and currently serves on NPR’s Collaborative Philanthropy Advisory Council since it’s inaugural year.

Previously she served as Director of Development and Marketing at 21st Century Parks, launching their annual fund’s membership campaign, major gifts and grants program as well as their fundraising events. Prior to that she worked in a variety of marketing and advertising positions, most recently at Louisville-based advertising agency Doe-Anderson.