From Food Bank of the Southern Tier to WSKG: What to know about new public radio leader

Jeff Murray, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
·3 min read

After more than 20 years helping combat hunger across the Southern Tier, Natasha Thompson is turning her energy toward her second love — public broadcasting.

Thompson, who has been president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier since 2008, will step down from that role in March to become the new president of Binghamton-based WSKG.

Both organizations serve multiple counties across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.

Through its network of nearly 160 partnering agencies, the food bank distributes close to 13 million pounds of food annually to needy families in Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins counties.

"Natasha is a respected leader and is well-known for her vision, compassion, and drive to end hunger in our communities," said food bank board Chairman Joe Thomas. "During her tenure, she has developed an extremely strong leadership team with the same passion and fire that she brought to the role every day."

Natasha Thompson
Natasha Thompson

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Thompson will succeed WSKG filmmaker and Director of Operations Brian Frey, who has filled in as interim president and CEO since the October 2022 retirement of Greg Catlin, who held the post for five years.

WSKG Public Television and Radio serves 21 counties across the Twin Tiers.

Thompson is not only a longtime member of WSKG, but she also served as the on-air host of the station’s award-winning public affairs television series “Chasing the Dream" during its three-year run.

"Natasha Thompson is well known and highly respected in both the nonprofit and commercial world in our region," said WSKG board Chairman Allen Buyck. "Her track record of success and wealth of experience in organizationalleadership, fundraising, and building community partnerships is the perfect skill set for our organization."

Thompson, who lives outside Ithaca, said her proudest moments during her tenure with the food bank include leading the agency on its first capital campaign in 2009 that raised $5.7 million for a new headquarters building in Elmira Heights, a move that increased available space from 15,000 to 65,000 square feet.

Under her guidance, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier was also named Food Bank of the Year in 2017 by Feeding America, the nation's food banking network.

"We've built a very strong team," Thompson said. "I think my greatest legacy is leaving it in a very positive condition. The person who gets the CEO job won't have to put out any fires."

The food bank's board of directors and parent agency Catholic Charities are working on a transition plan as the external search for a full-time replacement gets underway.

Once she takes the reins at WSKG, Thompson said she hopes to enhance the strong organization already in place.

"WSKG is a valuable community resource," she said. "It's a great opportunity to build upon its legacy. In this very divisive media climate it's important to have a public media station that's an asset to the community."

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Food Bank of the Southern Tier president takes top role at WSKG