Board of Directors

Executive Director, Staff

Joe Barr

Joe Barr has dedicated his career to journalism, communications, and community engagement. His first job was at Venango Video, the public access TV station in his hometown in Pennsylvania. Most recently, he served as Director of Communications for the California Hospital Association, supporting more than 400 hospitals and health systems statewide.

Prior to that, Barr spent three decades as an award-winning journalist and media leader in both commercial and public broadcasting. At Capital Public Radio in Sacramento, he tripled the size of the newsroom, developed the CapRadio network serving public radio stations across California, and launched the community engagement documentary series The View From Here. Under his leadership, CapRadio earned numerous honors, including national Edward R. Murrow, Gabriel, and Sigma Delta Chi awards.

Earlier in his career, Barr was a Senior Producer at the Westwood One radio network, overseeing news coverage for more than a thousand commercial radio stations, and an anchor and reporter at NPR member station KJZZ in Phoenix, AZ. He is a senior fellow with the American Leadership Forum and has been named to Capitol Weekly’s annual Top 100 List of influencers in Sacramento.

Board Chairperson

Hester Wagner

Hester Wagner is the director/producer for Futures Films Production Company. She runs the Futures Explored Practical Film and Media Studios, a vocational film making program for adults with developmental disabilities.  Hester earned her BA in Theatre Arts from The University of the South in Sewanee, TN and her MA in Educational Theatre from NYU. She worked in New York as a teaching artist and educator in schools and prisons before moving to California in 2007.

Board Treasurer

Kierre Stowes

Kierre Stowes is dedicated to the growth of Filmmaking in Sacramento, CA. He is a Sacramento-based Film Critic with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), a Film Festival President/Curator of SacTown Movie Buffs Film Fest, and produces and hosts a television series on Access Sacramento Channel 18, called SacTown Movie Buffs TV.  Kierre holds a BS Degree from Sacramento State University in Communications and is actively involved in the Sacramento community, by both attending live events and interviewing Sacramento business organizations.  He brings a strong background in Public Speaking, Business Management, Marketing, Sales, Social Media Marketing, HR and Recruitment to the Access Sacramento board.

Board Member

Sue Buske

Sue Buske has been involved in cable television field and local cable programming since 1972. Her practice includes providing advice in the areas of initial franchising, franchise renewal, ownership transfer, cable operator performance monitoring, assessment, and all aspects of local cable programming.