WAMC/Northeast Public Radio President, CEO Alan Chartock retires

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Alan Chartok

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ALBANY — Alan Chartock is retiring after more than four decades at WAMC/Northeast Public Radio.

The WAMC’s Board of Trustees announced its president and CEO was stepping down Thursday.

“As I reflect on over 40 years of service to the creation and development of WAMC, I feel it is time for me to turn things over,” Chartock, 81, said in a statement. “This has been the journey of a lifetime and I have loved every minute, every challenge and every opportunity for growth this work has afforded me. But it’s time to let a new crop of leaders take the helm and I have every confidence that the Board and staff will more than rise to the occasion.”

Chartock created and hosted a number of different shows including The Capitol Connection, a weekly show engaging New York leaders in conversation about the topics of the day, and The Congressional Corner, interviewing dozens of local congressional leaders from the listening area. He launched The Media Project and The Roundtable and offered commentary each day during Morning Edition. He has also served as executive producer of a number of National Productions programs.

Chartock was also political science professor at SUNY New Paltz. He ran the legislative internship program, and launched the Legislative Gazette newspaper when he took over WAMC in 1981.

“More than all the stations and all the programming, Alan built a community,” Dorothy H. Reynolds, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in the statement . “He built it with a passion and an energy that was just boundless. While we are incredibly sorry to see him leave the leadership of WAMC, he has more than earned the right to step down and relax a bit. While Alan’s retirement is effective immediately, he has assured us he stands ready to continue to help in any way we might need his support.”

A full celebration in honor of Chartock is being planned for a later date. In the meantime, he and his wife Roselle are enjoying some hard-earned and well-deserved rest and relaxation, according to the release.

The Executive Committee of WAMC’s Board of Trustees named Stacey Rosenberry, director of operations and engineering, as the interim CEO, according to the release. The Board will conduct an executive search for someone to fill the role permanently.

“I am incredibly honored that the Board is placing its trust in me,” Rosenberry said in the release. “I’m committed to maintaining the stability that Alan has built here at WAMC. This is and will always remain the WAMC we all know and love.”

Joe Donahue, senior advisor and host of The Roundtable and The Book Show has worked with Chartock for 30 years.

“There will be no ‘replacing’ Alan,” Donahue said in the statement. “His passion for this work, for this station, for what WAMC means to the larger community is simply unmatched. We will do all we can to ensure that his work moves forward and that the station continues to thrive.”

The summer Fund Drive will kick off soon, and will be held in tribute to Chartock and his accomplishments.

“We could not have come this far without the contributions from our members,” Chartock said in the release. “My heart is full of gratitude for years of support from our listeners, and their commitment to sustain WAMC’s future.”