Community Advisory Council

Irina Bolotin (she/her) — Chair

Kirkland, WA

Irina Bolotin has been a daily listener of KNKX since she moved to Kirkland in 1996 (KPLU at the time). She admires the station for the quality and selection of the programs and knowledge and professionalism of its hosts. There is always something interesting and entertaining to listen to on KNKX. She considers KNKX a community educator, as it introduced her to amazing music, talented musicians, books and writers. In appreciation for that, Irina has been supporting and volunteering for the station for years. She is happy to share her dedication to KNKX with her employer, WSECU, who also is a fan and supporter of the station.

Paulette de Coriolis (she/her)

Redmond, WA

Paulette de Coriolis has been interested in radio since she received her first multiband shortwave receiver as a kid. Initially thinking she wanted to be “ham” (amateur radio operator), she became the chief engineer of her high school ham club. In college, she took a deep dive into broadcast radio at WMBR at MIT, as an announcer, producer, and assistant station manager. Needless to say, this negatively impacted her school work. At the U. Wisconsin, she took a measured approach at WUWM. Moving to the area in 1991, she found KPLU as the first strong signal on a cheap clock radio and has been hooked ever since. She visited the studios starting in 2006 to answer phones during pledge drives. After learning of the CAC’s role in saving KPLU, she started to attend the quarterly meetings as a member of the public, eventually becoming a member of the CAC.

Kimi Ginn (she/her)

Seattle, WA

Kimi is a long-time resident of the Puget Sound; she grew up in Tacoma and now resides in Seattle. Her passion for promoting the value of diversity was launched at age 7 when she first experienced racial discrimination. She chose the field of education to help empower people to understand the value of diversity. IMIK Enterprises, her small business consulting company, offers high quality engaging and empowering DEI Services (workshops, affinity group facilitations, keynote speeches), African American Storytelling Programs and Martin Luther Commemorative Assemblies. Kimi is the granddaughter of Joe Jordan, Ragtime/Jazz Champion in creating and preserving the Jazz Genre. Her grandfather's appraised, museum-worthy 600+ item collection is housed at Hampton University. Under her guidance, plans are underway to incorporate the collection into the university's music department's curriculum for the teaching the History of Jazz. Kimi looks forward to bringing a creative, equity lens to KNKX for on-going program development and diversity-focused community outreach.

Questen Inghram (he/him)

Bellingham/Anacortes, WA

Questen Inghram grew up listening to NPR in a one-stop-light Montana town and now stays informed and keeps a cool head tuned-in daily to KNKX while on his commute on I-5 from Bellingham. He graduated in 2019 with a degree in journalism at Western Washington University where he was a DJ for KUGS and editor for student publications. Before becoming a local news reporter, he worked as a wildland firefighter and bookseller. He is a passionate record collector, especially of jazz and world music.

Erin Kealy (she/her)

Tacoma/Vashon Island, WA

“Music is a means of rapid transportation” (John Cage). New KNKX advisory council member Erin Kealy plans to bring as many people on that voyage as possible. As an elementary music educator, Kealy puts in transit the musical being that lives in each student with fun and creativity. Herself a musician, composer, and dancer, Erin expresses her unique voice in the world of music; with the support of KNKX, she is eager to listen to the wider community and express the nuanced interests of all listeners. Regarding musical transport, Erin says, “I intend to Take the A Train.”

Eve Tai (she/her)

Seattle, WA

Eve is a Midwestern native who has called Seattle home for over 20 years. KNKX has been her "roommate" nearly the entire time, always offering friendly, informed conversation and a great jazz playlist. A professional fundraiser for the Humane Society of the United States, Eve can't imagine a life without animals. Eve graduated from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and enjoys yoga, red wine and riding dressage.

Vince Wallace (he/him)

Newcastle, WA

Vince has been an avid listener of NPR (KPLU and KNKX) music and commentary for over 20 years. Vince traveled with the radio station contingent to Chile and Argentina for the 2013 Buenos Aires International Jazz festival. This experience reinforced his commitment to the station and its goals. Vince actively participated and supported the 2016 move to the community owned radio station KNKX and looks forward to what the future holds for the community focused KNKX radio station. Vince is a KNKX sustaining member. Now retired from a career in IT he is an avid bowler and golfer and takes the opportunity to volunteer and support initiatives that are important to him.

Mary Alice Theiler (she/her)

Seattle, WA

Mary Alice has been a public radio supporter since her days as a newscaster at the student radio station at the University of Michigan. After law school, Mary Alice moved to Seattle and practiced law for 28 years before being appointed to the position of United States Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Washington. Her work outside the courtroom emphasizes support for civics education and the expansion of civic literacy. Mary Alice enjoys travel and rowing on Lake Washington.

Mike McClain (he/him)

Eatonville, WA

Mike started working in radio stations when he was in high school and continued into college. He was then drafted and spent his time in the US Army as a medic, keeping his part time job at a local radio station. After his time in the Army, he was working at a CBS affiliate during Watergate. He still remembers the excitement of listening to the story unfold hour by hour with CBS correspondents. When deregulation eliminated news and public affairs programming at many radio stations, and when the station where he worked was sold, he lost his radio job.

Fortunately, Mike’s college degree was in Biology and he had been volunteering as a Naturalist at a County Park. This experience allowed him to make a smooth transition to a new career with the National Park Service as an Interpreter Ranger. Ever since, he has worked at National Parks all over the west.

Gilbert Wong (he/him)

Mercer Island, WA

Prior to retirement, Gilbert was working as scene designer for theaters and special events in Seattle and later as Art Director for the movie industry. He also went back to school at the UW for another Master Degree in Landscape Architecture. Gilbert has been a loyal listener and supporter of KPLU and now KNKX. He proudly hosted a fundraiser at his house to raise funds to keep his beloved station under the control of the community during the transitional time. He is honored to be accepted by the CAC and looking forward to contributing to the station and to learning from all the members and staff of the station.

Ken Bryan (he/him)

Seattle, WA

A retired engineer and an active community volunteer, Ken's love for jazz and blues began in his high school band in New Jersey in the early 1980's. Ken is a lifelong NPR listener and started hearing KNKX (KPLU back then) in the 1990's when visiting his parents, who had moved to Seattle from the East Coast. Upon moving to Seattle himself in 2016, he became a dedicated fan of KNKX's thoughtful blend of NPR programming, jazz, and blues. He has discovered many great jazz and blues artists through KNKX! Although no longer a practicing instrumentalist, Ken has performed as an actor and singer in musical improv groups. Ken appreciates KNKX's service to Pacific Northwest communities and is honored to join the CAC to contribute more to a station that brings him joy.

Sarah Ciambrone (she/her)

Tacoma, WA

Sarah grew up listening to NPR, and found KNKX (then KPLU) when she moved to Tacoma in 2013 to go to the University of Puget Sound. KNKX provided an engaging way to learn about and access the Puget Sound community and local news, and allowed her to connect more deeply with the local community. During her time working at the Sexual Assault Center for Pierce County, Sarah found listening to the jazz programming as an important outlet for self care. Continually impressed by the quality and care of coverage of local issues and people, Sarah is excited to contribute to KNKX's growth and person-centered approach as a member of the CAC.

Photo: Jennie Griek

Christian Isaac (he/him)

University Place, WA

Christian was born and raised in Tacoma and has spent the majority of his life living in the PNW. He is passionate about youth development and education and has spent much of his career working in these fields. Currently, he works in human resources for one of the nation's largest airlines but still serves in a volunteer/advisory board capacity at different youth-focused non-profits in the area. In his off time, he enjoys playing pickleball, riding his Peloton, and playing with his corgi pup, Bo.

For nearly a decade, Christian has been listening to KNKX and has found it to be a place of rest and refuge in times of distress and division. As a Tacoman, he loves listening to the stories that highlight the happenings around the city. And as someone who grew a love for jazz and blues early on in his life, he loves being able to turn on mid-day jazz during the week or Grooveyard on a Saturday. He is excited to begin serving with KNXK and hopes to help in the work of diversifying its audience!

Photo: Ashley Villanueva

Eugenie Jones (she/her)

Port Orchard, WA

Eugenie Jones is an Earshot Jazz Recording of the Year & Vocalist of the Year award winner. Her singer/songwriter jazz recordings have ranked internationally at #7 on Jazz Week Charts. Jones holds an MBA in marketing, operates Bright Ideas, a marketing communication consulting firm and is currently a FUSE Corps. Executive Fellow assigned to lead an affordable housing data research and analysis project for the King County Department of Assessment. Under her non-profit Music for A Cause, she has served as Executive Producer of the Jackson Street Jazz Walk for five years, presenting events that keep Seattle’s African American music history alive while raising funds for community service organizations. She also hosts a monthly jazz music/talk radio show – Your Personal Best – on WWFM Radio/Trenton, NJ., and has been a faithful listener and monthly donor of KNKX since its establishment under Pacific Public Media.

Photo: Steve Korn

Ron Schwab (he/him)

Bremerton, WA

Ron has been listening to NPR for 13 years, and KNKX for about 10 years. He still remembers when he heard Kirsten Kendrick first announce the new call letters. He could feel goosebumps, it was so exciting!

Ron was born in Seattle, but grew up in Vancouver, WA. He has lived in various parts of Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, and New Hampshire. He enjoys fitness, nutrition, reading, sign language, hiking, church activities, and helping men/couples who find themselves dealing with issues. Music has always been a big part of his life, ever since he was a child.

Ron has been volunteering with KNKX for the last three years. He loves with others who have a passion for the station and its listeners, and to get to hear listeners' excitement about KNKX when they stop by our booth. Listening to their stories is gratifying and inspiring.

Kimberly Reason (she/her)

Seattle, WA

An award-winning communicator, Kimberly has more than 30 years of executive management, strategic communications, and community engagement experience in the public, corporate and nonprofit sectors. She has driven media relations, community relations, stakeholder relationship- building, and reputation management for regional and municipal government agencies, a Fortune 500 Company, and several community-based, social justice organizations.

As a lifelong Seattleite and longtime KNKX listener, Kimberly first developed a love for jazz through her mother, who migrated to the Chinatown/International District from Oklahoma during the heyday of Seattle’s early jazz scene. Eventually, Kimberly developed her own singing career, co-founding the local popular septet, COCOA MARTINI, which earned Earshot Jazz’s prestigious “Northwest Vocalist of the Year” Golden Ear Award in 2009.

Claire Gifford (she/her)

Tacoma, WA

A self-identified “Public Radio Nerd”, Claire grew up in Corvallis Oregon listening to the local NPR affiliate with her family. These days she starts each morning listening to KNKX before going to work as a school psychologist in Tacoma Public Schools. In addition to daily broadcasts, Claire enjoys listening to podcasts produced by NPR and KNKX. Claire is passionate about staying informed about her local community and was thrilled when KNKX opened their Tacoma Studios within walking distance of her home. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, friends, and dogs and tackle home improvement projects.

Matthew Putnam (they/them)

Tacoma, WA

Matthew has been listening to KNKX for more than 30 years, discovering the station when it was known as KPLU when they joined their high school jazz band. They came for the music, and became a lifelong fan of the NPR news and programming. Having lived most of their life in Washington, streaming KNKX online was a lifeline to home when life took them elsewhere. Matthew is excited to use their experiences in community building to inform KNKX's continued efforts to program for and connect to our diverse communities.

Kenneth Aramaki (he/him)

Seattle, WA

Kenneth’s family has been an integral part of the Bellevue and Seattle community since the late 1800s, starting out as farmers. His parents instilled in him a strong passion for music at a very young age starting with piano lessons at the age of four. It was in middle school when he discovered jazz music and joined the jazz program that changed his life; he hasn’t stopped playing jazz since, teaching lessons and playing in multiple bands across Seattle. He has worked in the banking industry as a financial crimes investigator for over 15 years and also enjoys life with his wife and two cats.

As an avid listener, Kenneth has a huge amount of pride and excitement to serve on the KNKX Community Advisory Council and hopes his experience with the community and music will help his ability to serve in his role.

Peter Postovoit (he/him)

Seattle, WA

When Peter finished up with school and relocated from his native Southern California to the Pacific Northwest, he discovered public radio and KNKX (more precisely, KPLU at the time). He's always enjoyed and appreciated KNKX's distinctive balance of jazz, blues, and other programming, and now looks forward to contributing as a CAC member. Peter sees KNKX as a vibrant and accessible resource to its Puget Sound audience and beyond, and hopes he can help continue the conversation to reach more people and make more meaningful connections and add inspiration to people's lives.

Peter works as an independent technical consultant/technical project manager for clients from a variety of industries, including high tech, professional services, telecom, financial services, and the public sector. He's had the good fortune to live in a number of wonderful PNW neighborhoods, including Phinney Ridge and the North End of Tacoma, before recently relocating to the Rainier Beach area. Whenever possible, he does his best to avail himself of outdoor opportunities including but not limited to biking, hiking, playing tennis badly, and cross-country skiing. He has also found fulfillment from participating in local feeding and housing-related ministries.