The Family Communications staff has experience and expertise in a range of disciplines, including child development, education, family dynamics, public policy, business, production in a range of media, technology, outreach, and more. Because our senior staff members worked side by side with Fred Rogers for many years, they are uniquely able to carry on his mission-- and to ensure that newer members of the staff understand the philosophy that guides the work.

Our staff is deliberately kept small. We complement in-house resources with strategic partnerships that enhance our effectiveness, broaden our reach, and deepen our ties to the constituencies we serve.

While our backgrounds and daily work differ, each of us is dedicated to the Family Communications mission of supporting the emotional and intellectual development of children and families—and each of us is proud to be part of this organization.

STAFF:

William H. Isler
Chief Executive Officer

"Fred Rogers gave generations of children his honest self, and he showed all of us that the gift of our honest self to a child—or to an adult—is the greatest gift we can give."

Bill Isler is a longtime professional educator and advocate for children. He began his career as a teacher and administrator, then joined the Pennsylvania Department of Education, where he served as Commissioner of Basic Education and Senior Program Advisor for Early Childhood Education. In addition to his leadership role at Family Communications, he is Board President of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and Executive Director of The Fred M. Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media at Saint Vincent College. Bill is the father of an adult son and is active in the community, serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.

Kevin Morrison
Chief Operating Officer

"Fred Rogers had a unique ability to talk to children and was uncompromising in the way he used it.  To continue his work with the company he founded is both a privilege and an exciting challenge."

Kevin Morrison, who joined Family Communications in 2006, brought a lifetime of experience in television to the company.  Since coming to the U.S. from England in 1986, he has run an animation company, a TV movie company, and a company specializing in family entertainment.  He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and was a Churchill Fellow in public service broadcasting.  The father of a sixth-grader who grew up watching Fred, he has also been an active parent volunteer at school.

Bill Casey
Accountant

" I am honored to help carry on the initiatives started by Fred Rogers."

Bill Casey is a professional business financial manager, holding a BS in Business Management from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science Degree in Taxation from Robert Morris College. Prior to joining FCI he was President and COO of a private oil & gas development and investment company in Pittsburgh and also the President and General Manager of a linked real estate development company. He is Judge of Elections in his voting district. His areas of responsibility include accounting, reporting and inventory tracking.

Cathy Cohen Droz
Director of Special Projects

"One of the things I most appreciated about Fred was his thoughtful concern about how every word communicated in a mass medium might be understood by each individual child or adult."

With a background in communications and television production, Cathy Droz joined Family Communications to work on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, but soon became involved in the company’s non-broadcast initiatives. Since 1982, she has directed and coordinated a great variety of projects, including multiple books, brochures, and audio recordings; a planetarium program; a playspace installation at a mall; a hands-on children’s museum exhibit; and an interactive amusement park ride. Cathy is the mother of four children.

Alan Friedman
Project Manager

“Having grown up on Mr. Rogers’ Neighbohood, I still have much to learn from Fred’s messages and approach. Today I am honored to help pick up where this groundbreaking person and program left off.”

Alan Friedman is responsible for building the partnerships and securing the funding that will make new initiatives at Family Communications a success. Prior to joining FCI, he served as the director of the Institute for Social Innovation and associate director of the Department of Foundation Relations at Carnegie Mellon University, where he earned a masters degree in public management, following up on a degree in English from U.C. Berkeley. Previous professional pursuits range all the way from freelance writing to driving a recycling truck. Current not-so-professional pursuits include practicing yoga, playing piano, and volunteering for Jewish Residential Services. He tries his best to keep Fred Rogers in mind while raising his two “spirited” young daughters.

 Joseph J. Kennedy, IV
Director of Operations

"Fred Rogers was a hero to me—both in my childhood and my adulthood. Working with him and helping to carry on his legacy have been among the most rewarding experiences of my life."

Joe Kennedy was a mergers and acquisitions attorney for a major law firm before moving to the nonprofit sector. He joined Family Communications in 2001; his areas of responsibility include personnel, technology, music projects, and Internet projects. Joe is active in the community, serving on the Pittsburgh Civil Service Commission, as President of the Renaissance City Choirs, and as past Chairman of the Allegheny County Drug and Alcohol Planning Council. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review at Cornell Law School.

Elaine Lynch
Administrative Assistant & Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

"As I worked with Fred, it became clear to me that what we were producing was making a difference in the lives of young children and their families. I’ve enjoyed being a part of that."

Elaine Lynch began her career with the advertising agency responsible for bringing Fred Rogers to Pittsburgh from Canada in 1965—and she soon joined Fred’s young company. She has multiple responsibilities, including marketing, secretarial, and public relations work. Among her outside activities, Elaine is Secretary of the Board of Directors of an AIDS community center.

Lynn Malloy-Butler
Director of Marketing and Fulfillment

"It’s amazing how many people reach out for Fred’s special messages. I miss him, and it’s hard sometimes—but he knew he was well loved by everyone who came into contact with him."

Before joining Family Communications in 1999, Lynn Malloy-Butler was the Volunteer/Referral Counselor for United Way of Allegheny County. Her current responsibilities include dealing with orders from PBS stations and consumers, and managing requests from nonprofit organizations for donated items. Lynn, who has considerable technological expertise, is also responsible for product inventory and customer databases. In her personal life, she is an active member of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks of the World (IBPOEW).

David Newell
Director of Public Relations

"Working with Fred Rogers was like receiving a master’s degree in child development. Fred taught by example, and he was subtle—but suddenly you’d realize that, after working side by side with him, your knowledge base had expanded almost beyond description."

With a background in English and theater, David Newell began working with Fred Rogers in 1967 to create the role of Mr. McFeely, the “speedy delivery” man on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. As Mr. McFeely, David makes personal appearances across the country and around the world. From the beginning, he has also been the company’s Director of Public Relations, with primary responsibility for project promotion, media relations, and communicating with PBS stations. The father of three grown children, he’s a member of the Boards of Directors of several nonprofit organizations.

Sam Newbury
Director of Production

"I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to work with Fred for 24 years, and to learn from both him and his mentor, Dr. Margaret McFarland. Each day, I try to apply what I’ve learned to new projects that serve preschool children and those who love and care for them."

Before joining Family Communications in 1979, Sam Newbury worked in filmmaking and producing for public television stations in Boston, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. His current responsibilities include overseeing the company’s productions and projects; as time allows, he also serves as Project Director. He is an active volunteer, and serves his church and local nonprofit organizations in various capacities. Sam is a Swarthmore College alumnus, and currently a candidate for a graduate degree in Religious Studies.

Jack Rowley
New Media Developer

"I think about the uphill battle Fred Rogers must have faced when he began - bringing a message of quiet nurturing to a new medium filled with noise and distractions. Knowing how well he succeeded encourages us as we work to bring Fred’s message to a new electronic media.”   

Jack Rowley is responsible for using the latest electronic tools to reach new audiences and further the mission of Fred Rogers and Family Communications. For the last six years, he was the webmaster for the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and is on the adjunct faculty at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh and La Roche College. Jack is a graduate of Carnegie-Mellon University, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in Playwriting. He is the father of four and enjoys writing children's stories and composing music.