He is known for his work in public television as Executive Producer of National Geographic Specials and other programming for PBS and WQED in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Free to Choose Network.

[4][1] In 1966, Skinner left San Diego State to become Assistant Manager of the public television station, WITF, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

[6][12][13][14] Skinner was responsible for bringing the National Geographic Specials to PBS and secured funding for the series from Gulf Oil Corporation.

[26] In 1994, Skinner left QED Communications to produce commercial television projects, including the seven-hour series Pirate Tales for Turner Broadcasting.

[28][29][30][31][32] Beginning in 2000, Skinner served as Managing Director at the Inland Seas Education Association, a non-profit organization in Suttons Bay, Michigan, that teaches school children about the science of the Great Lakes aboard tall ships.