Courtesy of Spencer Thomason
Spencer Thomason
Spencer Thomason, 32 / Lead Producer for Project Southwest, Blue Ridge PBS
Spencer Thomason’s work at Blue Ridge PBS first began as a production assistant in 2010. Today, he is a lead producer for his work as host, producer, programmer and additional responsibilities for “Project Southwest,” a 24/7 streaming YouTube channel that highlights anything and everything that far Southwest Virginia has to offer to viewers all over the world. He was lead editor for the Emmy Award-winning documentary “Bob Ross, The Happy Painter” (the project made him a lifelong Bob Ross fan!). He also created the “Take a Hike” series, showcasing the outdoor activities available in SWVA, which earned him BRPBS Employee of the Quarter. “Hopefully my passion … will entice people from all around to visit or even move to the area to help stimulate the economic growth of this region,” Thomason says. “I hope that by shedding light upon all the things this region has to offer, the people who already live here will feel a sense of pride in being a Roanoker and a Southwest Virginian.”
- Graduated in 2010 Earned a B.A. from The School of Media Arts and Design with concentration in Digital Video and Cinema, James Madison University, 2019
- Began work as a production assistant at Blue Ridge PBS in 2010
- Host, producer, programmer, digital designer, web master, and social media producer of “Project Southwest”
- Lead editor for Emmy Award-winning Blue Ridge PBS documentary “Bob Ross, The Happy Painter”
- Currently working on a documentary about the 1951 Norton Little League team that won the Virginia State Championship, the first racially integrated Little League team in Virginia
- Created “Take a Hike” series showcasing the outdoor activities available in Southwest Virginia; awarded BRPBS Employee of the Quarter
From the Nomination: “Spencer Thomason could likely be the new Ken Burns. … As a valued member of the Blue Ridge PBS production team, Thomason has positioned himself as the lead producer for a one of a kind innovative media initiative in Southwest Virginia. After proving himself to be a master storyteller and an accomplished videographer and editor with Blue Ridge PBS, he is now leading ‘Project Southwest’ … a digital media first that dedicates a 24/7 streaming service to citizens of the region. … that shares the unique sights, sounds and stories of Southwest Virginia with people from all over the world. The focus of the project is to promote the often overlooked and underserved region by providing positive content that will highlight the assets of Southwest Virginia that make it special. … Thomason is almost singlehandedly providing this content to Southwest Virginia residents, helping viewers feel appreciated and invigorated with a refreshed sense of local pride. In turn, residents and recent graduates will be compelled to stay and work in the region, invest in their community, and make a positive impact. … Without Thomason ‘s exceptional editing skills, we would not have the Emmy Award for best documentary for “Bob Ross, The Happy Painter” in our BRPBS trophy case. …Every week Spencer is at a new location in Southwest Virginia. He travels from Roanoke across the region to give citizens an opportunity to tell their stories. With a friendly smile and a natural curiosity for adventure, he has worked with state parks and recreation areas to let viewers know how they can safely enjoy our area even through a national pandemic. … There have been many inquiries from other Public Media stations asking how we were able to create this new initiative. If it were not for Spencer, we would not be able to move forward. He has volunteered his nights and weekends to tell the stories of Southwest Virginia. … Thomason deserves this recognition. He is truly a one-of-a-kind dedicated employee and individual who will put Southwest Virginia on the map as a pioneer in innovation and technology within public media.”
What do you love about Roanoke?
Thomason: “The thing I love most about Roanoke is that it’s home. Growing up, my family moved around from state to state quite a bit. We landed here in Roanoke when I was 13. I went to what was then Cave Spring Junior High and then graduated from Cave Spring High School. After college, I returned to Roanoke but eventually moved to Savannah, Georgia where I worked at a television station for almost seven years. Savannah is a great town, but I never felt like I was at home the entire time I was there. I moved back to Roanoke in 2019 and immediately felt that sense of comfort and security of being at home. I love that when you go outside and look in any direction you see the mountains reaching up into a beautiful blue sky. I think that having those mountains surrounding us here in Roanoke provides that sense of security that just makes us feel nestled into our own community. I also love that it’s so easy to get out and explore here. It doesn’t take long at all to get out of the city and into the surrounding area where you can explore the outdoors, learn about the rich history and culture of this region, and meet all the friendly people that live here. There is a wide range of things to experience in Roanoke and Southwest Virginia from pioneer era history and traditional folk music to modern art and new tech and industries. I love it all.”
How does your passion impact our community?
Thomason: “Hopefully my passion for sharing the sights, sounds and stories of Roanoke and Southwest Virginia will entice people from all around to visit or even move to the area to help stimulate the economic growth of this region. I hope that by shedding light upon all the things this region has to offer, the people who already live here will feel a sense of pride in being a Roanoker and a Southwest Virginian. We should continue to preserve the traditions, history and beautiful environment that we have here. But we should also invite others to be able to experience and take part in those things so that we can grow and improve.”