TAYN Ep. 70 - Tom Gerhardt

Born and raised in Bismarck, Tom Gerhardt brings a lifelong passion for storytelling, community, and public service to his role as Executive Director of Dakota Media Access. He graduated from the University of North Dakota with a degree in television broadcasting and kicked off his career in sports at KMOT-TV in Minot. From there, he moved to KXMB-TV in Bismarck, where he spent the next two decades as a reporter, anchor, and eventually news director.Tom covered some of the region’s most memorable stories—everything from the 2011 Missouri River flood and the Craig Cobb saga to the Bakken boom, DAPL protests, wildfires, federal court coverage, and even Will Ferrell’s legendary Anchorman spoof at KXMB.In 2016, he stepped away from the anchor desk to join North Dakota United, advocating for teachers and public employees across the state. While there, he launched three education-focused podcasts, including The Cutting Ed(celebrating innovative teachers), Education Mindset (a real-time look at how educators adapted during COVID), and a deeper dive into teacher recruitment and retention.Tom later joined ND Assistive, where he led statewide marketing and communications efforts to help people access life-changing assistive technology.Today, at DMA, Tom is helping usher in a new era of community media—supporting local creators, elevating underrepresented voices, and strengthening civic engagement across Bismarck and Mandan. He’s also a proud Rotarian involved in the Youth Exchange Program and a board member for the North Dakota News Cooperative.When he’s not at DMA, you might find Tom out for a run (he’s completed 11 half-marathons and one full), hiking with his rescue dog, sipping coffee or bourbon, cheering on the WNBA with his wife Brenna, or spending time with their five kids.