Detroit (March 8, 2023) – Detroit PBS’s board of trustees has elected Melissa Roy, managing partner at Lambert Global, as its new chair. She succeeds Timothy Nicholson, chief operating officer at PVS Chemicals, Inc., who served 12 years as a Detroit PBS board trustee and will continue in service as an emeritus trustee.

The board also named Simon Whitelocke, president of ITC Michigan and vice president, of ITC Holdings Corporation, as chair-elect.

“Under Melissa’s leadership, we will continue the progress we have made to build one of the most dynamic and community-focused public television stations in America,” said Rich Homberg, Detroit PBS’s president and CEO.

Roy has been a member of the Detroit PBS board since 2015 and helps guide governance, strategy, and journalistic integrity for the station through committee work and her dedication to the Detroit regional community.

“Detroit PBS is an important and unique community asset – wholly owned by the residents of the Detroit region,” said Roy. “This nationally distinctive media ownership model is a wonderful opportunity to leverage the voice of Detroit.”

She added, “The Detroit PBS board is an amazing group of dedicated leaders representing diverse industries and backgrounds from across the region. Together with the devoted and talented in-house team at Detroit PBS, I am looking forward to serving our community.”

Prior to working at Lambert Global, Roy founded Roy Public Affairs, providing public relations and communication services for companies, nonprofit organizations, individuals, and agencies throughout Michigan. Prior to launching Roy Public Affairs, she created and grew the business and community leadership organization, Advancing Macomb, as a primary philanthropic organization in Macomb County. Before that, she served as assistant county executive with the Macomb County government and spent 12 years with the Detroit Regional Chamber as senior director of Government Relations, leading federal, state and local government relationship management. She resides in Detroit.