Executive Development Program kicks off the start of a very promising year

The America's Newspapers Executive Development Program kicked off this week in New Orleans.  The 17 participants selected for participation in the 2024-25 Class met Tuesday afternoon at the offices of The Times-Picayune for a welcome session, before a group dinner that evening.

Thank you to our Executive Development Program sponsors. Additional sponsorships are still available.

Topics of discussion and presenters over the next day and a half included:

• The Seismic Shift in Leadership: Creating a culture of connection — presented by Dr. Michelle Johnston, executive coach, keynote speaker and management professor
• Philanthropy: Adding news resources for our future — presented by Judi Terzotis, publisher, and Rene Sanchez, editor, Georges Media Group

Judi Terzotis, president and publisher of The Times-Picayune | Advocate, and Rene Sanchez, editor, Georges Media Group, talked with the group about "Philanthropy: Adding news resources for our future."
• What You Need to Know: Growing audience without the help of search and social — presented by Justin Mitchell, managing editor for digital, Georges Media Group
• Subscriptions 101 for Our Future — presented by Kyle Whitfield, vice president/consumer revenue, and Priscilla Binkley, subscriptions retention director, Georges Media Group
• DISC Behavioral Assessment — presented by Christel C. Slaughter, Ph.D., CEO, SSA Consultants
• Sales Transformation — presented by Robert Young, GM of sales, and Michel Chauvin, VP of sales New Orleans, Georges Media Group

• Ask Us Anything: What else do you want to know? — presented by Kevin Hall, president, Georges Media Group
• Wrap-up and Closing Thoughts — presented by Mark Cohen, Executive Development Program manager

This year’s class includes:

• Kristin Bauer, director of marketing and NIE coordinator, The Chronicle Telegram, The Medina-Gazette and Lorain County Printing & Publishing, Elyria, Ohio
• Olivia Benally, CEO and publisher, Navajo Times Publishing Company, Window Rock, Arizona
• Brandon Bowers, regional editor, River City Newspapers, Lake Havasu City, Arizona

• Jill Friesz, owner and publisher, GS Publishing, LLC, Elgin, North Dakota
• Crystal Grammer, ad operations director, Georges Media / The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Alaysha Maple, Next Generation news editor, The Sumter Item, Sumter, South Carolina
• Heather Mayer, general manager, Williston Herald, Williston, North Dakota

Dr. Michelle Johnston, executive coach, keynote speaker and management professor, led a discussion of "The Seismic Shift in Leadership: Creating a culture of connection."
• Jackland McDowell, advertising manager, The Baytown Sun, Baytown, Texas
• Chris Rausch, publisher, Cape Gazette LTD, Lewes, Delaware
• Phillip Reid, publisher, Reid Newspapers, Weatherford, Oklahoma
• Michelle Robinson, chief revenue officer, The Daily News, Galveston, Texas
• Robert Stoll, senior distribution director, Georges Media, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Christel C. Slaughter, Ph.D., CEO, SSA Consultants, conducted a DISC Behavioral Assessment with class members, designed to improve teamwork, communication and productivity in the workplace.
• Yaritza Vazquez, publishing operations manager, Sierra Vista, Arizona
• Sam Wagner, general manager, Iowa Information Media Group, Sheldon, Iowa
• Greg Weatherbee, publisher, The Lufkin Daily News, Lufkin, Texas
• Andrew Wellner, publisher and editor, Kodiak Daily Mirror, Kodiak, Alaska
• John Wells, general manager/publisher, The Post-Searchlight, Bainbridge, Georgia

Mark Cohen, Executive Development Program manager, said his conversations with class members makes him excited about this year's program. "Along with this shared enthusiasm combined with the speakers and relevant industry topics, these sessions will be memorable. Great city and newspaper company as our host is an added bonus."

This program, inspired by the Inland Press Foundation and sponsored by the Inland Press Foundation; the SNPA Foundation; Cribb, Cope & Potts; Seyfarth Shaw LLP; Software Consulting Services (SCS) and others, aims to cultivate the next generation of news media leaders in an ever-evolving industry landscape.

The program will run through the Mega-Conference meeting in April 2025.