American Public Media Group (APMG), including Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and American Public Media (APM), announce that Barry Gisser is the organization’s new senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO). Gisser succeeds Morris Goodwin who after eight years significantly increased the value of APMG’s endowment and led its investment strategy. Goodwin is moving to Greater MSP as their new Forge North Managing Director and Executive Financial Advisor.
Gisser’s first day at APMG will be September 6.
As CFO, Gisser will be responsible for supporting APMG’s digital transformation and overseeing the financial operations of American Public Media Group, the parent company of Minnesota Public Radio, American Public Media and Southern California Public Radio. Gisser will lead the finance team to ensure effective collaboration and alignment with APMG’s strategic objectives. As a member of the executive team reporting to the CEO, Gisser will champion financial transparency and data-informed decision making to build the organization’s financial acumen and a culture of financial stewardship and accountability.
“I am delighted to welcome Barry as our new CFO,” said Jean Taylor, CEO of APMG. “Barry has deep experience stewarding financial resources for organizations in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors in the greater Twin Cities area and across the Midwest. He brings expertise in working with organizations to create growth in times of change. I am excited about the perspective, energy and acumen that he will bring to the APMG team as we work to add more digital channels and broaden our audience.”
“I am excited to join APMG, an organization I’ve long admired and supported,” said Gisser. “I am impressed by APMG’s strong public media business model and its mission to serve the public and strengthen communities. I look forward to working with Jean and the rest of the team to advance the organization’s digital transformation and lead financial operations.”
Gisser has more than 30 years of leadership experience in non-profit, private, public and investment organizations. At The Science Museum of Minnesota, he led the Finance & Accounting, Technology & Digital, Building Operations, and Risk Management teams in advancing the Science Museum’s mission to inspire learning, inform policy, and improve lives. Gisser successfully helped the Museum through two pandemic driven closures by focusing on public and private fundraising, increasing new earned income revenue streams, and delivering strategic operating efficiencies. Prior to the Science Museum, Gisser held senior financial leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, ConAgra Foods, and Ecolab. Gisser’s areas of expertise include finance and accounting, enterprise growth strategies, general management, organizational development and change management.
“We extend our congratulations to Barry on his new leadership position at APMG,” said Alison Brown, CEO and president of the Science Museum of Minnesota. “Barry’s service to the Science Museum was critical to accelerating our growth prior to the pandemic and helping navigate the significant challenges presented by the pandemic over the last two years.”
As a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Financial Manager (CFM) and CSCA-certified from the Institute of Management Accountants, Gisser earned a bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College, an MBA from The Kenan Flagler School at The University of North Carolina and is currently pursuing a law degree at The Rogers College of Law at The University of Arizona.
Gisser serves on the Board of Directors for Twin Cities in Motion, the Mary T. and James J. Hill Foundation, as a judge for MN Cup, and as a mentor in the Techstars Farm to Fork Program. Gisser is an avid runner having completed 17 marathons—and counting. He and his family live in the Twin Cities.
