Harrisburg police liaison joins WITF as senior VP

Harrisburg-based media outlet WITF has hired Harrisburg’s director of community relations and engagement, Blake Lynch, to be its senior vice president and chief impact officer.

Lynch is set to take over the role on August 30. As senior vice president and chief impact officer, he will oversee community engagement, fundraising, corporate sponsorship and marketing, according to WITF.

A lifelong resident of Central Pennsylvania, Lynch acted as community policing liaison for Harrisburg for nearly a year before becoming the city’s director of community relations and engagement this year.

In the director role, Lynch served as a liaison between the Harrisburg Bureau of Police and the community, government and media. Prior to joining the city he was director of development at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisburg.

“We are thrilled to welcome Blake to the WITF team,” said Ron Hetrick, WITF president and CEO. “Given his depth of experience in building community connections, fundraising for nonprofit organizations and advocating for his neighbors, Blake is well-positioned to make a lasting, positive impact on our region. WITF looks forward to inspiring lifelong learning with him on board.”

WITF provides public media news and programming to 2.3 million people in 19 counties through public television, public radio, websites and its production services division. The company is a member station of PBS and NPR.

“I’ve admired how WITF serves our region for a long time and how the programming influenced my childhood – which is why I joined the Board of Directors in October,” said Lynch. “I’m excited to join the team and add my passion for the community to the already great work they do, and to help impact the region on a larger scale.”