Kellyn Yamada signs off from City Channel 26

By Jeff Kearns

After running the Cupertino City Channel for almost 15 years, producer Kellyn Yamada on March 10 resigned her position to pursue other interests.

Yamada began her career with the city in 1984 as a temporary camera operator, and was hired as a full-time employee the next year.

"I can't really believe it myself. I'm going to miss it," Yamada said. "I really enjoyed working for the city, but what I really enjoyed most was working with the community." Yamada said she's still getting used to the new chapter in her life and easing into the routine of being home while she decides what career path to take next.

City spokeswoman Donna Krey, who also oversees the government access station, said she's in the process of interviewing a handful of candidates to replace Yamada. The producer came to the city from the Tandem Corp. shortly after graduating from Santa Clara University. "She's really, really going to be missed, and she was really great to work with," Krey said.

As the producer, Yamada ran the city's little station, which broadcasts City Council and Planning Commission meetings and other local events and ceremonies on cable channel 26. Yamada split her time between administrative tasks, such as ordering equipment, and technical jobs of editing and taping segments.

Program Director Pete Coglianese, who was hired at the station a year after Yamada, says the small department of three employees has slowly grown since the City Channel started broadcasting in 1983.

"When we first started, there was really very little here," Coglianese said. "Primarily we were just covering City Council meetings with one camera. Kellyn's contributed so much to the city and helped us forge a vision for it, especially with how we use technology. She was someone who put in extra time on her own time just to get projects done, and even pulled a few all-nighters here."

Krey said she expects to name a replacement sometime this week.

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