Jay Pearce

Jay H. Pearce became the station's general manager Oct. 3, 2011. More than half of his 40-year career in broadcasting has been in public broadcasting.   A Detroit, MI native, Pearce grew up in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka, IL and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL.  He has worked at radio and television stations up and down Illinois as well as in Missouri and Texas.  Additionally, he taught broadcasting journalism at SIU and University of Illinois.  Pearce serves on several boards of directors including the Quad Cities Illinois Rotary Club; ONE Foundation, Bettendorf; Illinois News Broadcasters Association Foundation; and the Illinois Associated Press Broadcasters Association.  Pearce's wife, Melisse Trentz, is a Moline, IL native whose ancestors were some of Mercer County's early residents.  He has a son, Dale; a daughter, Sara; and a stepdaughter, Mannon (yes, named after the Mercer County community).