Executive director, La Crosse Public Education Foundation (June 2014 to present) -- Provide administrative leadership and fundraising for nonprofit founded in 1988 whose mission is to enhance the education of children in the School District of La Crosse.
Executive editor, Springfield (MO) News-Leader (May 2010 to May 2014) – Top editor of Southwest Missouri’s leading daily newspaper and website.
Consultant, Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, Madison, Wis. (Jan. 2008 to present) – Served as a consultant in conceptualizing, launching and operating one of the first university-based nonprofit investigative journalism centers. Web site: www.wisconsinwatch.org
Graduated May 1981,Viterbo University , La Crosse , Wis.
Poynter Institute seminar on "The Newspaper and its Community," May 1996.
American Press Institute seminar on “Consumer Power Marketing,” March 1997.
New Directions for News series “Media Convergence and Globalization,” June 1998 to December 1999.
Juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, 2003 (investigative reporting) and 2004 (public service).
Media Management Center seminar, “Strategy and Implementation for New Leaders,” Northwestern University
Chairman, Media of Nebraska (statewide media lobbying organization), 1999-2001. Led effort to expand and rewrite the state’s open records laws.
Attended numerous educational meetings of Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Newspaper Association of America, and American Society of News Editors.
Co-founder and first president,Madison
Co-founder and first president, Madison Organization for Reporters and Editors, 1983.
Commitment to diversity: While editor in Lincoln, increased minority newsroom staff from one to eight FT employees. As Lee vice president for news, developed program to track gender and ethnic diversity in newsrooms and in overall newspaper business operations. Developed diversity recruiting and training programs for women and minorities. Partnered with National Association of Hispanic Journalists to support Parity Project. Frequent speaker and recruiter at minority journalism conventions.
2007 – Lee Enterprises President’s Award for innovation for directing project to launch 34 web sites for the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis.
1999 -- Lee Enterprises President’s Award for excellence in news, for serving as editor of the “Outsiders” reporting project focusing on kids who don’t fit in with the regular high school crowd.
1994 – Inland Daily Press Association Community Service Award and investigative reporting award for "City of Hope," a series of stories focusing on urban ills in the Madison area.
1991 – Inland investigative reporting award for role as editor of a series on U.S. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Les Aspin, D-Wis., and his close ties to the defense industry.
1991 – Lee Enterprises Excellence inEnterprise
1990 – Inland Community Service Award for series on Indian treaty rights dispute inWisconsin
2011 -- Participant in The Hamels Foundation "Fabulous Fillies" fundraiser for Care to Learn in Springfield; named 2011 Fabulous Filly for raising the most money among 10 men participating by wearing dresses for the charity event.
2010 to present -- Member, Rotary Club of Springfield.
1998 to 2001 -- Board member, Harvest of Books, nonprofit organization that collects and distributes books to Lincoln first-graders and second-graders; about 10,000 books collected each year.
1996-97 -- Member, steering committee, Coulee Region Collaboration, a group dedicated to regional cooperative ventures between the private and public sector.
1996-97 -- Member, Downtown Rotary Club ofLa Crosse
1997 -- Member, citizen review panel,United Way La Crosse County
1997 -- Originator, first-ever community Volunteer Fair inLa Crosse
1992-95 -- Coordinator, Wisconsin State Journal "City of Hope" project, a unique newspaper effort to involve key community leaders in working on solutions to social problems in Madison area.
Executive editor, Springfield (MO) News-Leader (May 2010 to May 2014) – Top editor of Southwest Missouri’s leading daily newspaper and website.
Principal, Touchstone News Consulting, Ferryville, Wis. (Dec. 2007 to May 2010) – Owner/operator of a consulting business working with news organizations to improve journalism and business operations. Frequent speaker at industry events throughout the U.S. Working with USAID, delivered workshops in Egypt to improve local news businesses and journalism skills.
Lee Enterprises, Davenport , Iowa
General manager, Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis (July 2006 to Nov. 2007) -- Top executive of 400-employee company with 40 publications at the time, including 33 free weeklies, plus specialty publications, notably the weekly Ladue News and quarterly St. Louis' Best Bridal magazine. Initially joined the Journals as vice president of news, directing launch of Journal web sites before becoming general manager in December 2006.
Interim publisher, Glens Falls (N.Y.) Post-Star (March 2006 to June 2006) – Directed mid-year rebudgeting and development of strategies for readership and revenue growth.
Publisher/editor, Arizona Daily Star, Tucson
Vice president for news (Dec. 2001 to Nov. 2005) -- First person to hold this position for Lee, which grew to include 56 daily papers. Oversaw training initiatives and provided coaching to improve editorial products. Directed Lee’s research department. Served on Lee’s acquisition team during the purchase of the Pulitzer group. In fall 2003, also served as interim publisher of the Casper (Wyo. ) Star-Tribune, the largest daily paper in Wyoming
Editor, Lincoln (Neb.
Editor, La Crosse (Wis.
Wisconsin State Journal, Madison, Wis. (May 1981 to Aug. 1995) – After seven years as a reporter covering local and state governments, served in various editing positions, concluding as city editor, overseeing staff of 28 covering state and local news, as well as producing projects and investigations.
Education and other professional qualifications
Graduated May 1981,
Poynter Institute seminar on "The Newspaper and its Community," May 1996.
American Press Institute seminar on “Consumer Power Marketing,” March 1997.
New Directions for News series “Media Convergence and Globalization,” June 1998 to December 1999.
Juror for the Pulitzer Prizes, 2003 (investigative reporting) and 2004 (public service).
Chairman, Media of Nebraska (statewide media lobbying organization), 1999-2001. Led effort to expand and rewrite the state’s open records laws.
Attended numerous educational meetings of Society of Professional Journalists, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Newspaper Association of America, and American Society of News Editors.
Co-founder and first president,
Co-founder and first president, Madison Organization for Reporters and Editors, 1983.
Commitment to diversity: While editor in Lincoln, increased minority newsroom staff from one to eight FT employees. As Lee vice president for news, developed program to track gender and ethnic diversity in newsrooms and in overall newspaper business operations. Developed diversity recruiting and training programs for women and minorities. Partnered with National Association of Hispanic Journalists to support Parity Project. Frequent speaker and recruiter at minority journalism conventions.
Selected honors and awards
2007 – Lee Enterprises President’s Award for innovation for directing project to launch 34 web sites for the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis.
1999 -- Lee Enterprises President’s Award for excellence in news, for serving as editor of the “Outsiders” reporting project focusing on kids who don’t fit in with the regular high school crowd.
1997 -- Lee Enterprises President’s Award for marketing excellence, for participation in management team of the La Crosse Tribune.
1994 – Inland Daily Press Association Community Service Award and investigative reporting award for "City of Hope," a series of stories focusing on urban ills in the Madison area.
1991 – Inland investigative reporting award for role as editor of a series on U.S. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Les Aspin, D-Wis., and his close ties to the defense industry.
1991 – Lee Enterprises Excellence in
1990 – Inland Community Service Award for series on Indian treaty rights dispute in
Community activities
2011 -- Participant in The Hamels Foundation "Fabulous Fillies" fundraiser for Care to Learn in Springfield; named 2011 Fabulous Filly for raising the most money among 10 men participating by wearing dresses for the charity event.
2010 to present -- Member, Rotary Club of Springfield.
2007 – President, Old Newsboys Day Fund for Children’s Charities, St. Louis; nonprofit affiliate of the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis; raises nearly $1 million each year for children’s charities.
1998 to 2001 -- Board member, Harvest of Books, nonprofit organization that collects and distributes books to Lincoln first-graders and second-graders; about 10,000 books collected each year.
1996-97 -- Member, steering committee, Coulee Region Collaboration, a group dedicated to regional cooperative ventures between the private and public sector.
1996-97 -- Member, Downtown Rotary Club of
1997 -- Member, citizen review panel,
1997 -- Originator, first-ever community Volunteer Fair in
1992-95 -- Coordinator, Wisconsin State Journal "City of Hope" project, a unique newspaper effort to involve key community leaders in working on solutions to social problems in Madison area.
