ALEXANDRIA, Minn. – Two longtime newspaper managers have been promoted within Forum Communications Co.’s Lakes Newspaper Group, company officials have announced.
Alexandria Echo Press Publisher Jody Hanson has been named the new group publisher of the entire Lakes Newspaper Group, meaning she will oversee newspaper operations in Alexandria, Morris, Detroit Lakes, Park Rapids, Perham and Wadena.
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Additionally, Mary Brenk, the current advertising director for Detroit Lakes Newspapers , has been appointed the new publisher for the Detroit Lakes and Park Rapids newspaper operations.
She will manage the offices in the two cities as well as provide assistance to the Perham Focus.
“We are fortunate to have these two people in these two important roles,” said Matt McMillan, FCC’s vice president of newspapers. “Jody and Mary have outstanding track records of listening to the needs of their news and advertising customers and designing award-winning products to meet those needs. They’re already the best at what they do in Minnesota, so the sky is the limit.”
Hanson has been at the Echo Press since 1984. She began as a sales consultant, was promoted to sales manager, and in 1998 was named publisher.
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“I am so excited to working closely with the incredible staffs of these award-winning newspapers in Forum Communications,” Hanson said. “We all share the same goal of giving information life to our communities. Community newspapers are still being voraciously read, widely discussed and shared throughout their readership areas. They’re also clearly the dominant source of information local residents turn to for local news both in print and digitally.”
Hanson is active in her community and industry including serving two terms as president of the Minnesota Newspaper Association.
Brenk has been at the Detroit Lakes office for 24 years, moving from advertising sales to sales
management, and now to the publisher position.
“I’m very grateful to be given this amazing opportunity,” Brenk said. “I look forward to the challenge and I’m excited for the future of our company. The Lakes Group has a long history of success and I’m confident with all of us working together that success will continue.”
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Brenk is active in the Detroit Lakes Chamber of Commerce, Damien’s Society and Holy Rosary Church.
Hanson and Brenk replace Dennis Winskowski who had a dual role of group publisher and local publisher in Detroit Lakes. He wrapped up a 29-year career with the company last month.
The entire Lakes Newspaper Group is owned by Forum Communications Co., which is a multimedia information company based in Fargo. FCC owns more than 35 newspapers, 40-plus websites, television and radio stations and commercial printing plants in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
