José A. Fajardo
President & Chief Executive Officer
WMFE-TV/FM *
fajardo@wmfe.org

José A. Fajardo is President & CEO for WMFE-TV/DT and 90.7 WMFE-FM, Orlando, Florida. During his time with WMFE, Mr. Fajardo has overseen the implementation of the activation of WMFE Digital Channel 24, which includes four over the air multicast channels; the activation of 90.7 WMFE-FM’s HD Radio transmitter which provides two full time radio streams of programming; and the increase in audiences for both Channel 24 and 90.7 FM.

Mr. Fajardo began his tenure at WMFE as Director of Radio Programming in March 1996. He was promoted to Vice President for Programming for both Channel 24 and 90.7 FM in October 1997, and to Senior Vice President for Broadcasting & New Media in June 1999. In January 2000, Mr. Fajardo was promoted to Senior Vice President for Operations; in June 2001, he was promoted to Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer; and in January 2006, he was promoted to President and General Manager. During his 24 years of broadcast experience, he has held positions as Station Manager, Program Director, Radio Operations/Production Manager, Television Producer/Director, Sales Executive and News Reporter. He has also taught broadcasting classes at Central Texas College.

Mr. Fajardo serves as a Director on the National Public Radio (NPR) Board of Directors and as a member of the Association of Public Television Stations (APTS). He is a member of the Florida Public Broadcasting Board and was the chair from 2007 – 09. Among his other activities, Mr. Fajardo is President of the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida, a board member of the Valencia Community College Foundation, and vice chair of the Orange County Mayor’s Fund Foundation. He also served on the Orange County Task Force on Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform.

In 2003, José was presented with the inaugural President’s Award from La Casa de Puerto Rico for his leadership achievements in media and a regional Silver Telly for excellence for his executive producer role in WMFE In-Depth: The State of the Children. In 2005, José was presented with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce & Hispanic Business Initiative Fund Don Quijote Professional of the Year Award. In 2009 Ahora Orlando magazine named Mr. Fajardo one of 25 most influential local Hispanic community leaders.

Mr. Fajardo is a native of Puerto Rico. In May 2010 he received an MBA from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. He holds a M.S. in Human Resource Management and a B.S. in Technology from the University of Central Texas as well as an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Telecommunications from Central Texas College.

* WMFE-TV/FM are the member supported, not-for-profit public broadcasting stations serving the Orlando, Daytona Beach, and Melbourne areas of Central Florida as WMFE TV/DT and 90.7 FM.