When Fran Tobias joined the QPTV staff in the fall of 1989, she wasted no time in putting QPTV on the map.

During her tenure as Community Outreach Coordinator, Fran established relationships with literally hundreds of Not-For-Profit Organizations and Community Leaders. She also worked closely with numerous Elected Officials and coordinated QPTV's College Internship Program.

Fran is a true dynamo. She implemented and coordinated QPTV's first newsletter, the Certified Access Producer Awards (CAPA), Grant Aid Productions including the preparation of numerous budgets, promotional packages, newspaper articles, press releases and advertising. She represented Queens Public Television at Community Fairs, Club Meetings, luncheons, job fairs and Community Board meetings throughout the Borough. In addition Francene arranged tours of QPTV's facilities, planned, developed and hosted Producer oriented events so volunteers could network with each other.

In 2001, as part of the Queens Committee of the International Year of the Volunteer, Francene traveled to Amsterdam, Holland. While there she addressed an international audience on the subject of Community Television Production and how it can benefit volunteer organizations in the future.

QPTV celebrates Francene Tobias, a QPTV trailblazer whose work and legacy continues to inspire. We wish her well in her retirement.