YR Media Adds to Leadership Team in Development and Operations; Announces Executive Promotion

Award-winning youth media organization brings experienced leaders to executive team and promotes Chief Creative Officer to expanded role 

YR Media is thrilled to announce the appointment of Suzanne Romaine as Chief Development and Growth Officer, along with the promotions of Rodney Butler to Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Pedro Vega Jr. to Chief Programs and Content Officer. These shifts come at a critical time for YR Media, during which the award-winning nonprofit commemorates 30 years of undeniable impact and looks ahead to 30 more ushering in the next generation of mostly historically underrepresented emerging journalists, music producers, designers, podcasters, and other powerful storytelling creatives who will reshape mainstream media. YR Media, which offers training and paid opportunities to 14 to 24 year olds, recently expanded its programming from Oakland to include a Chicago-based Midwest hub, and launched a music licensing program and line of branded merchandise. 

Romaine joins the organization as Chief Development and Growth Officer following a nationwide search to fill this critical role. The Bay Area resident has held key leadership positions in nonprofit development and communications for more than 20 years, most recently serving as Director of Development for One Step Beyond Inc., where she led the communications and development team in support of an organizational budget of $23M. Her career highlights include a mix of fundraising and media production, as she spent more than a decade at KQED Public Media, one of YR Media’s longest standing collaborators. During her tenure there, she was part of the producing team for many national PBS projects including FRONTLINE/World, American Experience, and  Cousteau’s “Ocean Adventures.” Suzanne has also led fundraising efforts for CityYear/Silicon Valley where she worked on expanding that organization’s footprint across the country.

“I am delighted to join an organization with more than three decades of undeniable impact in the Bay Area, as well as its recently established Midwest hub and contributors across the country,” said Romaine.

“As a longtime admirer of YR Media, this role is especially fulfilling and I am honored to be able to directly contribute to its mission.” 

Romaine joins a diverse, powerhouse executive team that includes Butler who brings a wealth of financial and operational experience from previous roles, including Senior Director, Financial Operations for Energy Foundation; Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Chancellor for UC Berkeley; and Head of Finance Planning & Analysis, Europe Middle East and Africa at Walt Disney International. 

Before joining YR Media as a financial and operations consultant, Butler led the Energy Foundation’s finance, accounts, grant management and systems capabilities for the U.S. and China. Notably, he developed a $200M annual operating budget and optimized the financial system by integrating it with customer relationship management, grant management, and banking. Within months of a consulting engagement, he was hired at YR Media with oversight of human resources, finances and operations, working in tandem with YR Media’s CEO Kyra Kyles on day-to-day management, which quickly led to his hiring and promotion to Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. 

“I am thrilled to be part of the YR Media team,” said Butler.

“I look forward to continuing to increase operational efficiencies across the organization, maintaining financial rigor at every layer of management, and working with my colleagues and the Board  to help sustain this important organization.” 

Vega Jr., who originally joined as Creative Director in 2020 before being promoted to Chief Creative Officer in 2022, has again been promoted to the newly created role of Chief Programs and Content Officer. With this latest move, he will more closely integrate and enhance YR Media’s experiential learning, mental health resources/wellness support, and the real-life career experience that is the basis of its mission.  

“I am a proud example of  someone who, in my teens, was engaged in, and shaped by, arts education and career opportunities I gained through nonprofits in my hometown of Chicago,” said Vega Jr. 

“I am honored to take on this expanded role through which I partner with our dedicated leaders across our training, media production, and platforms to improve outcomes for YR students, interns, and alumni.”