Joan Barrett is the VP/GM of KDVR-Channel 31 and KWGN-Channel 2 in Denver, Colorado. Prior to her appointment, she served as President and General Manager of Sunflower Broadcasting Inc. for 14 years. She managed five television stations: KWCH, KSCW, KBSL, KBSH and KBSD; two digital channels, four websites, one magazine, a digital agency and a full-power Spanish JSA/SSA for Entravision, KDCU.

Before she became general manager, Joan was the news director at KWCH. The Great Bend, Kansas native worked in the television broadcast industry as an anchor, reporter, producer and news manager at stations in: Lubbock, Texas; Topeka, Kansas and Austin, Texas. She was also the vice president of news at KPNX in Phoenix, Arizona. Before coming to KWCH, Joan worked as a consultant and trainer for “The Broadcast Image Group.”

Joan served as the Board President of The Kneeland Project for more than five years and was member of the group of Carole’s friends and co-workers who established the Project. She was instrumental in helping to develop the organization’s one-of-a-kind training, which is based on many of the principles Carole advocated. For the training of new directors, Joan provides training in delegation, decision-making, time management and managing multiple priorities, all based on the lessons she learned from Carole.

She has served on a variety of boards, including: Kansas Association of Broadcasters, Goodwill Easter Seals, the Kansas Food Bank, Wichita State University Elliott School of Journalism Advisory Board and President’s Council, and the A.Q. Miller School Advisory Board at Kansas State University. Under her direction, the KWCH 12 news team has won three national Edward R. Murrow Awards. She was also awarded the prestigious Gannett Broadcasting “Award of Excellence.” Joan is a graduate of Kansas State University. She and her family now reside in the Denver area.