Marc Mandel, Executive Director
(781) 449-6964 x.7 – mmandel@needhamchannel.org
You can call him the Wizard of TNC, because Marc is the one behind the scenes making everything work! A former volunteer, Marc started working full-time here in 1995 as a Production Assistant, working his way up to News Director and finally the big boss when TNC became its own entity in 2002. Growing up in Needham and graduating from NHS, Marc co-produced a documentary about the history of Needham for the town’s 300th anniversary. The program, “Big Little Town,” aired on PBS and you can still see it on our TNC airwaves, as well as here on needhamchannel.org. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg of programming that Marc has been involved with, from municipal meetings to Thanksgiving Football to educational programs, Marc has done it all!
Mike Levin, Programming Manager
(781) 449-6964 x.6 – mlevin@needhamchannel.org
Another local boy, Mike started volunteering at TNC while going to Pollard Middle School, mainly helping with sports productions until he graduated from NHS. After college, he returned to Needham Channel Sports, broadcasting games, as well as anchoring and reporting on the “Needham Channel News.” After a decade out of state working in Sports Broadcasting, Mike was excited to return to his roots in 2016, serving as Municipal Affairs Producer before stepping into his current Programming role. You can see and hear Mike on NCN, NCS and other programs, including recent specials on the Needham-Wellesley Thanksgiving Football Rivalry, as well as his short cooking series “Making Meals with Mike.”
Ashley Julier, Director of News and Public Affairs
(781) 449-6964 x.1 – ajulier@needhamchannel.org
Ashley is the woman behind the scenes that puts together our weekly live “Needham Channel News,” which has been on the air since 1987. Since the start of the pandemic, she’s been furiously working with our TNC Staff and officials in town to bring the most important information relating to Covid-19 to the residents of Needham. Because of her tireless efforts, we have continued to bring the Needham Channel News to you every week. If you have an idea for a news story, send her an email.
Natalie Guthrie – Education Producer
(781) 455-0800 x2345 – nguthrie@needhamchannel.org
Natalie started out as a Production Assistant many years ago here at TNC and worked her way up to News Director, before settling into her current role as Education Producer. Splitting time between Needham High School and The Needham Channel, Natalie teaches the TV Production Classes at NHS, produces Superintendent Gutekanst’s “Needham School Spotlight” show, all while producing and editing several specials every year, including the Distinguished Career Awards, the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, as well as a recent documentary detailing the history of the METCO Program in Needham, of which she is a graduate.
Derick Risner – Special Projects Producer
(781) 449-6964 x.4 – drisner@needhamchannel.org
Derick is a Needham native who started volunteering at TNC and his drive and enthusiasm eventually earned him a full-time job here! As Special Projects Producer, Derick has put together several documentaries we have aired the last few years, one documenting the William Baker Ridge Hill Estate (“Beautiful and Bizarre”), another about the infamous robbery of Needham Trust Company in 1934 (“The Millen-Faber Gang”), the first ever exchange trip by Needham Elementary students to Daxing, China (“More Than a Field Trip”), as well as an ongoing series of documentary shorts on the schools of Needham.
Yuxiao Yuan – Municipal Affairs Producer
(781) 449-6964 x.3 – yyuan@needhamchannel.org
Yuxiao joined our staff in the summer of 2019 and has been hard at work covering our municipal meetings, including Town Meeting, Select Board, School Committee Zoning Board and many others. Coming to the US all the way from China, she works tirelessly to report on those meetings, as well as producing several municipal specials throughout the year. She also has sat down with several town dignitaries here in our studios.
