University of Wisconsin - Extension

Three organizations have struck an agreement that will ensure continued production of public television programs originating from northeast Wisconsin.

Educational Television Productions of North East Wisconsin (ETP-NEW), a not-for-profit corporation based in Green Bay, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay are partners in the agreement.

UW-Extension will use ETP-NEW’s services for the production of television programs that will air on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT), a service of UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board. UW-Green Bay will continue to house and support these facilities.

In the coming year, ETP-NEW, WPT and NEWIST/CESA 7 will produce “Teen Connection” programs and a documentary about ethics and teenagers. NEWIST/CESA 7 and WPT have produced award-winning productions for nearly three decades.

ETP-NEW is a newly incorporated 501(c)3 group with an independent board of directors and financial support from the community. The board members are: William Hynes, Nancy Armbrust, Dotty Juengst, Michael Troyer, Betsy Hendrickson, Paul Jadin, Eileen Littig, Carol Conway-Gerhardt, Alex Zacharias, and Brendan Bruss. Dean Thomas will be the new Executive Director of ETP-NEW.

Marv Van Kekerix, interim chancellor of UW-Extension, said, “We’re doubly pleased that we can work with this new entity to produce quality television programs, and that we’ve been able to maintain production on the UW-Green Bay campus in anticipation of this new partnership.”

William Hynes, chair of the board for ETP-NEW and president of St. Norbert College, said “I am delighted that we have found a win/win solution so that ETP-NEW and Wisconsin Public Television can continue to provide nationally acclaimed educational programs from this area and ETP-NEW can assist other local artists and organizations to produce educational video productions.”

UW-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard said the partnership shows what the community can accomplish when people work together. "We're pleased that UW-Green Bay will be involved in this collaborative effort," Shepard said. "It's a good way for our campus to be used as a resource for the benefit of the community and state."

Hynes agreed, saying “This major success has occurred because of the creativity and dedication of all concerned, especially our ETP-NEW Board members, Kevin Reilly, former Chancellor of the UW-Extension, now President of the UW, and Malcolm Brett, Director of Wisconsin Public Television, and Ken Strmiska, President of the Greater Green Bay Foundation.”

ETP will also provide a range of services to other clients who wish to produce educational programs.