Northeast Regional Vice President, News,
USA Today Network
2018-present

State Editor, New Jersey | 2016-2019

Leadership

• Envisioned a bold new structure that flattens middle management, leverages resources, and creates print and digital hubs, while creating verticals that Advertising can monetize. Similar structures are being adopted across Gannett’s 109 sites.

• As state editor, designed and implemented regional newsroom structure, consisting of a hub-and-spoke system that eliminated duplication, increased content sharing and created cost savings.

• Partnered with advertising colleagues to create “friendly adjacencies” to monetize features content, resulting in nearly $1.5M in new revenue in 2018.

• Created television partnership with WJLP-TV (New York City) that began as a content-share and will become a 2019 revenue-producing initiative.

• Developed leadership, retention and successful diversity recruitment strategies that resulted in my being named the 2016 Robert G. McGruder recipient for Diversity Leadership, and a 2017 finalist for diversity leadership in Gannett.

• Oversaw 2018 revamp of Gannett’s comprehensive social media strategy and developed a set of best practices rolled out company-wide.

• Led team of senior executives who shaped and launched Gannett design studios; appointed to manage the Asbury Park Press studio which successfully partnered with 15 daily papers and 77 weeklies, while overseeing design and production.

• Created best-in-class events strategy, based on branded newsroom expertise, through efforts like Luxe Luncheons, Storytellers Project, APP Sports Awards, meet-the-expert workshops among other revenue-producing activities.

Award-winning work

• Led projects and coverage that landed first place awards in nearly all categories of the 2019 New Jersey Press Association (NJPA) contests. In the large paper category, The Record of North Jersey had 17 first place awards followed by nine first place awards for the Asbury Park Press, including Public Service, Best Investigation, Newswriting and Breaking News.

• Oversaw two projects that won regional Emmy awards, including reporting for “The Family Secret” (2017), and for a public forum and partnership with WJLP focused on the heroin crisis (2014).

• Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Public Service for Tax Crush (2010).

• In recent years, our team delivered hard-hitting projects and investigations that resulted in national awards and most importantly, public policy changes. Some examples:

Protecting The Shield
Investigation into police misconduct statewide (2018)
USA TODAY Network, Public Service Award, Finalist

Renter Hell
A look at slumlords and poor living conditions (2017)
American Society of News Editors,
Local Accountability, finalist
Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, finalist
Investigative Reporters and Editor, Print/Online
National Association of Black Journalists,
Investigative Reporting
NYC Deadline Club Award, Best Newspaper Story and
Best Web Project

Conviction: One Man’s Fight to Clear His Name
NJPA Best video documentary, 2018
The story of Dion Harrell, who was convicted of raping a teenage girl nearly 30 years ago. In a four-part documentary, journalists recounted his claims of innocence and his journey to redemption.

Other
Work history

Asbury Park Press (2008-2019) Executive Editor, VP News
Cincinnati Enquirer 
(2004-2008) Managing Editor; Executive Editor
Kalamazoo Gazette (2000-2004) Managing Editor
Atlanta Journal-Constitution 
(1987-2000) Reporter, Bureau Chief

Industry involvement