Local radio station names new president and general manager
Chris McBride.
– Chris McBride has been named president and general manager of KCBX Public Radio, a Central Coast public radio station founded in 1975.
McBride has worked at the station since 2023, when she was hired as development director to oversee fundraising and outreach activities, including biannual pledge drives. The following year, she was promoted to assistant general manager to support executive leadership while continuing her work as development director.
“I’m excited to step into this role. It is inspiring to see how deeply our staff, volunteers, and the Central Coast community care for and value KCBX,” said McBride. “The station truly is a community treasure.”
McBride succeeds former president and general manager Frank Lanzone, who will serve as executive director of the Live Oak Music Festival.
“I believe Chris to be an outstanding choice to meet the expected and unexpected challenges ahead of us. Her expertise in planning, fundraising, collaborating, and troubleshooting will serve KCBX well,” said Lanzone. “Chris has also been a longstanding member of the community with deep roots in San Luis Obispo County, just like KCBX, making her a great match for this position.”
Before joining the station, McBride served as director of annual giving for more than a decade at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and as the first outreach director at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. She attended California Polytechnic State University as a student and graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
McBride lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband.
KCBX is a noncommercial public radio station that serves an average weekly audience of more than 35,000 listeners in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and south Monterey counties. The station broadcasts local and national information programming, shows from National Public Radio, and music programming. Financial support comes from individual listeners, local corporate underwriters, and proceeds from the Live Oak Music Festival.
KCBX broadcasts on 90.1 FM in San Luis Obispo, 91.1 FM in Cayucos, 95.1 FM in Lompoc, 91.7 FM from Paso Robles to Salinas, and 90.9 FM in Santa Ynez, Goleta, Avila Beach, and Cambria. The station also streams online at kcbx.org.
