Kansas City PBS CEO Kliff Kuehl to Retire

Kuehl has led the station since 2009, overseeing major expansions and upgrades.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:15am

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Kliff Kuehl, the President and CEO of Kansas City PBS, has announced plans to retire on July 1 after 17 years at the helm of the station. During his tenure, Kuehl founded the Flatland multimedia news platform, acquired 90.9 The Bridge NPR music station, led a $22 million capital campaign for headquarters renovations and infrastructure upgrades, and established a permanent endowment and rainy-day fund for the organization.

Why it matters

Kuehl's retirement marks the end of an era for Kansas City PBS, which has seen significant growth and evolution under his leadership. The station has expanded its reach and impact in the community, investing in new programming and facilities to better serve local audiences. His departure will require the board to find a new visionary leader to guide the station through the next phase of its development.

The details

During Kuehl's tenure, Kansas City PBS acquired 90.9 The Bridge, an NPR music station, in 2013. That same year, he also founded the Flatland multimedia news platform. In 2021, the station completed a $22 million capital campaign that funded renovations to its headquarters, upgrades to transmission infrastructure and production studios, and the creation of a 'Content Excellence Fund' to support local documentary filmmakers.

  • Kliff Kuehl joined Kansas City PBS in 2009.
  • Kuehl founded the Flatland multimedia news platform in 2013.
  • Kansas City PBS acquired 90.9 The Bridge, an NPR music station, in 2013.
  • The station completed a $22 million capital campaign in 2021.
  • Kuehl plans to retire on July 1, 2026.

The players

Kliff Kuehl

The President and CEO of Kansas City PBS since 2009, who is retiring on July 1, 2026.

David Burke

The Board Chair of Kansas City PBS, who is leading the search committee to find Kuehl's replacement.

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What they’re saying

“After 17 years at the helm of Kansas City PBS, I'm leaving with deep gratitude to the Kansas City community, our members and staff. Together, we strengthened public media, served our community with purpose, added many new services, and proved that local storytelling matters.”

— Kliff Kuehl, President and CEO, Kansas City PBS

“Kliff has been a visionary leader for Kansas City PBS, and his stewardship has resulted in record viewership and membership while ensuring the station continued to evolve with a rapidly changing content landscape. These milestones have proven even more significant in light of recent federal funding cuts. I have no doubt that his steady, calm leadership played a key role in inspiring so many supporters to invest in new, original programming and in the complete overhaul of our facilities. The beautiful new studios and gathering spaces we now call home stand as a fitting tribute to Kliff's legacy.”

— David Burke, Board Chair, Kansas City PBS

What’s next

The Kansas City PBS board has selected NETA Consulting to conduct a national search for Kuehl's replacement as President and CEO.

The takeaway

Kliff Kuehl's retirement marks the end of an era for Kansas City PBS, which has seen significant growth and evolution under his leadership. The station's board now faces the challenge of finding a new visionary leader to guide the organization through the next phase of its development and continue serving the local community with high-quality public media programming.