Meet the Team

Leon Messenie

Director of Engineering

Leon Messenie is a former KPBS staff member.

Leon Messenie has worked in the engineering department at KPBS for 32 years and currently serves as the Director of Engineering. Leon has also worked as a freelance engineer for several media networks, specializing in sports audio engineering. Leon Messenie started his career in the commercial broadcasting industry at KREX Grand Junction, Colorado. He then moved on to KTNV and KVBC in Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to San Diego and joining KPBS. Leon is a past member of the PBS Enterprise Technology Advisory Committee where he served as Chairman for four years.

RECENT STORIES ON KPBS

Chappell Roan's thick-skinned 'The Subway' captures a survivalist New York mood

Hazel Cills

Her latest single has a new sound (wistful '90s acoustic pop), and a new vibe (toughing out whatever NYC public transportation throws at you, from rats to trash to unexpected encounters with your ex).
National

An engineer restores pay phones for free public use

Julian Ring

In a rural Vermont county, spotty cellphone coverage is the norm. But a local tinkerer is using old technology to help his community stay connected free of charge.
GREAT PERFORMANCES AT THE MET: Grounded

Follow a fighter pilot who operates a drone in a high-tech world battling both war and motherhood. With pressures from every angle, she balances being the perfect soldier, wife and mother. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer's staging.
International

Videos of emaciated hostages in Gaza raise pressure on Israel for a ceasefire

The Associated Press

New images of emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas.
Military

New contract between Marine Corps, Frontwave Credit Union provides more protections for recruits

Scott Rodd

A KPBS investigation last year found the Marine Corps funneled thousands of Marine recruits into the Oceanside-based credit union annually in order to process their paychecks. It also found the credit union relied on overdraft fees as a key source of revenue.
Yosemite employees worked for weeks with no pay before the government hired them

Chiara Eisner

Seasonal employees counting on housing at Yosemite were asked to volunteer for the park while the government was unable to onboard them at the start of the summer.