This marks the final time my byline as publisher will appear in the Rogue Valley Times. I’m stepping down, as of today, as the publication’s inaugural publisher and as chief revenue officer of the Oregon-owned, family-operated parent company, EO Media Group — an announcement reported in the Times earlier this week.

I want to first thank the Rogue Valley Times editors for offering me a space to write a proper farewell and thank you to this wonderful company, this talented staff, to our subscribers and readers, and especially, most especially, to this community — my community.

Twice in my career, I’ve had the opportunity to return to journalism, and twice in my career, I’ve had the opportunity to help build recently-launched or recently-expanded local newsrooms. It’s stressful and thrilling, challenging and rewarding.

I absolutely love local journalism, and I am honored to have been a part of the early days of the Rogue Valley Times.

A profound thanks to my colleagues at the Rogue Valley Times and those connected to the larger orbit of this publication and those no longer here: to Morgan and Cheryl and Dave; to Ashland News partners Paul Steinle and Bert Etling; to Bob Hunter; to my leadership peers in finance and human resources and my fellow publishers across EO Media Group and in particular, my thanks and gratitude to the incomparable Forrester and Brown families — owners of this company, launchers of the Rogue Valley Times, passionate Oregonians, powered by Grit and Ink, at the forefront of local journalism and newspapering in communities across our state for over 100 years.

Thank you to community leaders who have been generous and gracious with their insights, time and counsel on how to get to know the community and how to rebuild trust between a local newspaper and the local community it serves, including Al Densmore and John Watt and Bill Thorndike, Rep. Pam Marsh and Sen. Jeff Golden.

My local media peers and colleagues — competitors, at times, but also, friends and partners working toward the same goals for the same benefits to the community: Patsy Smullin, Bob Wise and Kingsley Kelley of KOBI/NBC5. Phil Meyer of SOPBS and Paul Westhelle of Jefferson Public Radio.

My thanks to the boards and councils I am a part of and care about deeply: Medford Rogue Rotary and President Kellie Hill; Majors Randy and Jonnette Mulch and The Salvation Army of Jackson County Advisory Board; Interim Executive Director Annie Jenkins and the board of the Downtown Medford Association; and Executive Director Ron Kramer and the Southern Oregon Historical Society.

We are home to superlative institutions of higher education, led by superlative leaders of vision, class, and ingenuity — thank you to Rogue Community College and President Randy Weber, and Southern Oregon University and President Rick Bailey. 

We have excellent Chambers of Commerce, government-related institutions and local elected officials across the valley. My thanks to Sandra Slattery and the Ashland Chamber, Eli Matthews and the Medford Chamber, Colleen Padilla of SOREDI, Ashland Mayor Tonya Graham, Medford Mayor Randy Sparacino, Medford City Manager Brian Sjouthun and County Commissioners Roberts, Dotterer and Dyer, and thanks to Jackson County Administrator Danny Jordan. 

Finally, thank you to my family, Anne-Marie and Aaron and Hazel. You are the greatest gift and to each of you, I owe my deepest thanks. 

To the Rogue Valley, thank you, and please subscribe, please advertise and please support the Rogue Valley Times as a reader, please trust our staff and follow the work of our journalists.

I do and I will continue to do so, rooting for the long-term success of the Times and local newsrooms everywhere.