Dave Edwards

Background

About Dave Edwards

Dave Edwards served as Director / General Manager of WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio for 34 years. Under his successful leadership, the station expanded its local programming efforts, community-based fundraising and partnerships with many organizations in Southeastern Wisconsin.During his years as General Manager, WUWM was the most listened to public radio station in Southeastern Wisconsin. In 2010, the station was recognized as “Best Radio Station of the Year” by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and “Best Radio News Operation of the Year” by the Milwaukee Press Club.In addition to his work at WUWM, Edwards has served as Chairman of the National Public Radio Board of Directors and has held board positions on the Station Resource Group, Public Radio In Mid-America and the University Station Alliance. He has also served as Chairman of the Radio Research Consortium Board of Directors and a member of the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Board of Directors.Edwards has also served as a consultant to public radio stations around the country.Before becoming General Manager of WUWM, Edwards’ professional career included stints as a radio program manager, news director, news reporter, and anchor for public radio, commercial radio, and television stations. He won numerous local and regional awards for journalism and was a regular contributor to National Public Radio news magazines in the early 1980s.Edwards has also been involved in civic activities including the Milwaukee Rotary Club and he served for 15 years as an elected member of the Franklin WI Board of School Directors including seven years as its president. He teaches courses for Marquette University, Alverno College and has been an instructor at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.He and his wife Lauri live in Franklin WI. They have two grown children who grew up believing that the first button on all car radios was fixed on a public radio station. He loves spoiling his four grandchildren.