Vegas PBS Leadership

John Turner

Interim President & General Manager |Chief of Broadcast Operations and Emergency Response
engineering@vegaspbs.org 

John Turner is the Chief of Broadcast Operations and Emergency Response systems. Turner supervises all informational technology, engineering and emergency response functions. He also directs technical planning  and the direction of Vegas PBS’ broadcast systems. Turner is an Emmy award winning television manager with over 30 years in commercial television news. Turner has received Emmy and Telly awards for his news coverage during the Persian Gulf War, Los Angeles riots, Northridge Earthquake, trial of O.J. Simpson and Hurricane Katrina. He previously worked at KLAS-TV as the Assistant Chief Engineer and Director of News Operations, as well as for KVVU-TV as the Assistant Chief Engineer. Turner is the Nevada State EAS Chair and he sits on the Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC) as the media representative and co-chairs the PIO position. He has also served as a Reserve Police Officer for the Boulder City Police, staff at Disney Parks, and Technical Director for the Rams football team and Angels baseball team.

Dr. Niki Brunetti

Education Services and Business Development Director
emsinfo@vegaspbs.org 

Dr. Niki Brunetti is the Director of Education Services and Business Development. In her position, Dr. Brunetti provides supervision, strategic direction and innovative leadership for the station’s educational outreach beyond the broadcast and unique services that have been developed to assist Nevada’s public, private, charter and home schools, such as: a media library for families with special needs; early learning parent engagement workshops; teacher training and online classroom materials; K-12 programs and initiatives; and more. With more than 28 years of experience, Dr. Brunetti’ passion is education, and she is unwavering in her commitment to serving schools and the community. She holds a Master of Special Education degree and a Doctoral Educational Leadership degree with a minor in curriculum development. Dr. Brunetti also holds an executive certificate in leadership and management. 

Justin Cram

Director of Integrated Content
jcram@vegaspbs.org 

Justin Cram is the Director of Integrated Content at Vegas PBS, leading content and marketing across broadcast and digital platforms. His work focuses on expanding local storytelling, strengthening the station’s multi-platform and digital strategies, and reaching new audiences. Cram brings more than 16 years of public media experience spanning documentary production, digital strategy, branding and creative direction. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Digital Content at PBS SoCal and KCET, where he developed and produced series including “Departures,” “City Rising,” and “Family Math.” He has also created multimedia projects and public awareness campaigns for Doctors Without Borders, including an interactive project exploring the experiences of refugees. His work has earned Los Angeles Area Emmys, a Japan Prize, and an Edward R. Murrow Award. He holds a BFA in graphic design from Art Center College of Design.

Natalie Cullen

Program Development, Acquisitions and Scheduling Director
ncullen@vegaspbs.org 

Natalie Cullen is the Director of Program Development, Acquisitions and Scheduling. She is responsible for content development and production across all platforms. She also oversees the broadcast schedule and acquisitions. Previously, Cullen was the executive producer for “Nevada Week.” Before working at Vegas PBS, she spent several years as the online editor for Nevada Public Radio. Prior to that, she spent 20 years at KLAS-TV Channel 8 in Las Vegas. While there, she produced almost every newscast at the station, along with special projects, and served as the morning show executive producer.

Cullen received her degree in broadcast journalism from Brigham Young University. 

Brandon Merrill

Fiscal Management Director
contactus@vegaspbs.org 

Brandon Merrill is the Fiscal Management Director. Merrill is responsible for all aspects of fiscal management including budgeting, financial reporting, and grant management. He has worked in both the private and public sector with a significant understanding of both GASB and FASB reporting. Merrill graduated from Southern Utah University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and continued his education at Arizona State University, receiving his Master of Business Administration. He has been with Vegas PBS since 2011 and with the Clark County School District since 2005. Merrill and his wife are the lucky parents to six beautiful daughters and one son. He enjoys spending time with his family, being in the outdoors, being actively involved with his community and church, and seems to always be working on a home improvement project.

Kipp Ortenburger

Director of Strategy and Organizational Advancement
kortenburger@vegaspbs.org 

Kipp Ortenburger is the Director of Strategy and Organizational Advancement at Vegas PBS, directing major and mid-level giving, corporate sponsorships, grant development, government affairs, and data-driven strategic planning. With over a decade of prior experience as an independent grant writing consultant, he joined Vegas PBS to lead grant resource development in support of station initiatives. Kipp helped relaunch the weekly public affairs series Nevada Week where he produced and ultimately hosted the program for three years before returning to advancement operations. Dedicated to strengthening Nevada’s public sector, Ortenburger teaches courses in UNLV’s Continuing Education Grant Academy and Nonprofit Excellence series. A collegiate track athlete, he remains active through travel and outdoor activities with his three children.

Debra Solt

Workforce Training and Economic Development Director
workforce@vegaspbs.org 

Debra Solt is the Director of Workforce Training and Economic Development. In her position, Solt manages the station’s high stakes testing center which proctors exams for licensed occupations, high school completion and job qualifications. As part of the station’s workforce initiative, her department’s programs add capacity to Vegas PBS’ existing workforce system by offering candidates the choice to complete online programs. Solt is known nationally and internationally as a specialist in partnering with business and industry for the development and implementation of customized workforce programs that produce measurable results for clients and the community-at-large. Prior to joining Vegas PBS, Solt spent over fourteen years in higher education in Nevada and Washington State.