About Kyle
Kyle McCurry is a communications and marketing strategist with nearly two decades of experience in public relations, broadcasting, higher education, health care and tourism. A former journalist and award-winning broadcaster, McCurry is known for blending old-school publicity instincts with a deep understanding of modern media strategy. His work spans national press placements, brand elevation campaigns and executive visibility across sectors. Whether behind a camera, in front of a classroom or guiding a strategic pitch, McCurry builds stories that matter and connects people to purpose.
The backstory
Growing up in the mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, McCurry's path into media began when he realized he could treat homework like a press assignment. By high school, he was interviewing prominent figures—Ann Compton, Mika Brzezinski, Richard Petty and Junior Johnson among them—for class projects. Those early encounters set him on a course to study broadcasting at Western Carolina University, where he earned his bachelor's and MBA.
Radio
At WCU, McCurry led the student-run radio station—WWCU-FM—and launched an interview series that became a hallmark of his early career. On WWCU-FM, he interviewed legendary rock and roll figures, a practice he continued at WNGZ-FM in New York, where he served as program director. There, he hosted a daily shift, curated playlists and built promotions while continuing to feature high-profile guests such as Joe Perry, Mick Fleetwood and Alice Cooper.
Music
McCurry's on-air interview with Tommy James during college led to a working relationship with the rock and roll icon. James later brought him on board to support publicity for concert tours and album releases. Under the mentorship of James' longtime publicist and manager, Carol Ross, McCurry transitioned into full-fledged PR—securing national coverage, organizing university master classes and promoting the memoir, "Me, the Mob, and the Music." He later expanded his client roster to include Americana act Underhill Rose and the Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, leading press campaigns and driving radio promotions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Kyle McCurry with Tommy James
Television
In 2014, Fox Television recruited McCurry for a lead reporter role covering an eight-county region north of Charlotte. As a one-man-band journalist, he shot, edited, wrote and delivered daily news and features—many centered on auto racing. His coverage included exclusive interviews with some of the sport's most prominent figures, including Dale Earnhardt Jr., and extended reporting on the Kevin Ward Jr.–Tony Stewart case. He received recognition from the National Motorsports Press Association for his work that year.
Higher education
McCurry returned to Asheville in 2015 to lead media relations at Warren Wilson College, where he served as spokesperson and internal communications strategist. He oversaw crisis communications there and played a key role in emergency planning. He later became assistant vice president for marketing and communications at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he led proactive public relations efforts, oversaw a 15-person team and managed everything from media training to executive visibility. His strategies helped secure coverage nationwide, including placement on CNN and in The New York Times and Fortune. All the while, he was supporting major institutional milestones, including a $100 million fundraising campaign and launching a new academic unit, The Water School.
Kyle McCurry with Janis Ian, Kathy Mattea and others at Warren Wilson College.
Hospitality and tourism
In March 2025, McCurry joined Explore Asheville as director of public relations—an especially meaningful role given his family's 225-year connection to the Asheville area, dating back to the county's founding in 1800. Since joining, he has played a key role in the city's post-Hurricane Helene media recovery, including support for the full broadcast of "Good Morning America" from Asheville six months after the storm hit the region. He has also secured high-impact placements in the Charlotte market and launched an initiative to shoot and edit in-house video news releases, leveraging his television and editing background. His work supports regional collaboration, creative storytelling and increased visitation, which aligns with Asheville's brand and values.