About Dean Ridings:

Dean Ridings joined America’s Newspapers as its inaugural CEO in November 2019. America’s Newspapers is the largest newspaper association serving family, independent and corporate owners in the U.S. Prior to joining America’s Newspapers, he was the president and CEO of the Florida Press Association and its subsidiary Intersect Media Solutions.

Ridings began his news media career as publisher of a community daily newspaper in Missouri, and he has published newspapers in North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Flagler College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and he is a Certified Association Executive as designated by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Ridings has served as chair of Leadership Florida, president of the Newspaper Association Managers Association, trustee of Florida TaxWatch and the First Amendment Foundation. He and his wife Kellie live in Panama City, Florida.