Eric Hyyppa is the President of the National Educational Telecommunications Association. Prior to joining NETA, Eric served for 11 years as Director and General Manager of MontanaPBS in Bozeman, Montana. He has a background in Information Technology, including a BS in Computer Science from Montana State University. He is a PBS veteran, with over 25 years in public broadcasting and extensive experience in television production, including work for every major network and many independent companies. He is a former member of the Society of Motion Picture Television Engineers and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.

Eric is past chair of the board of directors of the National Educational Telecommunications Association, past chair of the board of trustees of America’s Public Television Stations, past chair of public television’s Affinity Group Coalition, and past co-chair of the Organization of State Broadcasting Executives. He has also served on the board of directors of PBS as well as the board of directors for the Montana Broadcasters Association.

Eric resides in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife Alexis and daughter Annika.

Anita Sims has worked at NETA for more than 29 years. The Texas native created the NETA Business Center in 1999 to provide financial services, payroll and benefits administration, and project management for public broadcasters and related organizations. In 2006, Sims was the first person (and first woman) to become a vice president at NETA. Her background is in the not-for-profit sector. Sims holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in accounting. She is a member of the board of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and is IMA’s Carolina Council chair. Sims was inducted into the organization’s prestigious Stuart Cameron McLeod Society in recognition of her leadership and service to the industry.

Angee leads the NETA Content team. Prior to joining NETA she was with KCPT, Kansas City PBS for 24 years starting in programming, becoming an award-winning producer, executive producer, vice-president for TV Production and Creative Services and most recently as vice-president for Engagement and Education.

During her tenure at KCPT, Simmons produced, wrote, and directed a variety of media including promotional materials, interactive web sites, mobile applications, magazine format series, live concert performances and long-form documentaries.

Simmons’ long-form documentary work includes Bad Blood: The Border War That Triggered the Civil War, recipient of two Regional Emmys and a NETA citation for Best Historical Documentary, Tapping Kansas City: A Beer/Love Story, recipient of a Regional Emmy for Special Program, KC to Kanorado: An Uncommon View from I-70, a Regional Emmy award-winning travelogue narrated by Melissa Etheridge, Assembly Required, recipient of a Regional Emmy for Special Program, Homecoming: The Kansas City Symphony Presents Joyce DiDonato, distributed by PBS as part of PBS Arts Festival, and numerous others.

She produced an integrated marketing campaign, interactive website and national engagement for the National Emmy Award winning documentary Be Good. Smile Pretty and following the success began developing engagement strategies for engagement driven content and community conversations around video storytelling. Recently she has led the CPB funded American Graduate initiative, as well as engagement around Ken Burns’ Vietnam.

Simmons has worked with multiple producers – both internally and externally - to provide content, editorial, packaging and marketing guidance. She also mentors student journalists through the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs.

She is the recipient of 10 Regional Emmy Awards (nominated for 23), 6 NETA Awards, The American Association for State & Local History Award of Merit, and numerous other regional, state, and local accolades in content and marketing. Simmons has film and English degrees with minors in education and women’s studies from the University of Notre Dame and is married with two children, Flannery (15) and Finnegan (13).

As Vice President, Education for NETA, Timothy leads NETA’s team to strengthen and amplify Public Media’s education mission. His team supports Professional Development, Education Services, NETA Peer Learning Communities, NETA Awards, and the NETA Conference. Prior to NETA, he was the Director of Development and Marketing with WGVU Public Media where he led the Development & Business Development team as well as Marketing, Outreach, Art, and Education areas.

He was with WGVU for twelve years, two as an Underwriting Sales Representative and the past ten years as Director of Development and Marketing.

Timothy is a proud Air Force Veteran, having served from 1990 – 1998 working with the 439th Military Airlift Wing and the 127th Air Wing as a PERSCO Team Member and the 110th Fighter Group as a Weapons Loader on A-10 Aircraft and has been deployed domestically and overseas in support of several Air Force operations.