In June 2010, I sat in Mike Dobbs’ office, interviewing for a job reporting news for The Reminder. At the time, I was as a sports writer struggling to stay afloat in an industry with dwindling opportunities in print and opportunities through digital means not yet flourishing. I hadn’t covered a hard news story since 2005 when an editor at my place of employment determined I looked young enough to pass as a college student to get reaction after a campus tragedy. Before that, it was with The Phoenix, Holyoke Community College’s student newspaper.
By the time I sat across the desk from Mike, I had had a couple of full-time gigs, but nothing had stuck. I was making a living covering sports on a freelance basis — mostly local high school sports, but I’d occasionally luck out with an out-of-town paper looking for coverage of their AHL or college team visiting the area — while supplementing my income with retail jobs and manual labor. I was seriously considering a move to another part of the country where there was a perception, real or imagined, that more opportunities existed.
Mike Dobbs took a chance on me and to this day I am grateful.
At The Reminder, I learned so much more than the nuts and bolts of news reporting. It’s where I learned and saw the why of it all in action. I discovered the impact our work has on the community, up close and personal, and appreciated it beyond the theory you learn at J-school. It’s also in many ways where I learned to be a professional.
A few years later, Mike took another chance on me by promoting me to assistant managing editor, a job now known as managing editor. I held that position until, in the midst of an uncertain time for the company and with a new baby on the way, I decided it was time to leave. I took a job in a marketing and communications department at a local college and, at the time, thought my career in journalism might have been over.
It wasn’t long, however, that I started doing freelance work for Payton North, who had assumed my position. Later, I started regularly contributing to the Longmeadow News, which was at the time edited by my friend Jeff Hanouille. When Jeff decided it was his time to move to something other than journalism, he pitched his job to me and recommended me to then-Westfield News Group owner Patrick Berry. I had a feeling that journalism is where I truly belonged, and just like that, I was back in news business. Almost as quickly, I was back in the fold at The Reminder when it purchased the Westfield News Group a few months later.
That experience was familiar and new at the same time. A lot had changed in a very short time — maybe a year and a half? — at The Reminder. There were new owners, some new faces, and an entirely new set of papers and people from Westfield joining the family. Over the next few years, change has been the name of the game at Reminder Publishing. We rapidly expanded into new territories — and I was tasked with overseeing the editorial aspects of the expansion in some of those areas, like Hampshire County. We also faced many of the same challenges others in the industry have faced. Mike announced his retirement in 2022, and Payton was selected to lead the department, which she has done admirably through some admittedly very turbulent waters.
With all this change, however, one thing remained — the dedication of our staff to provide the best coverage and information on the news that impacts and is imprortant to you.
This is all a very longwinded way of introducing myself as the new executive editor for Reminder Publishing. It’s hard to explain what I plan to do without first explaining where I’ve been. I suppose a much simpler way to put it is I’m a news man and I always have been, whether I knew it or not.
In elementary school, I recall having to do a book report and instead of crafting it in the classic style, I created my own newspaper front page with each article representing a different part, theme or character in the book.
Years later, after a year at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia discovering that my perceived career path of teaching French wasn’t for me, I found myself alongside Elizabeth Roman (who’s now the director of news at New England Public Media) staying behind after our Introduction to Journalism class at Holyoke Community College with local legend Tommy Shea to pick his brain.
Liz and I eventually helped resurrect the defunct college newspaper under Tommy’s guidance. Tommy helped me land my first sports writing gig and his recommendation letter that helped me land my first full-time job I have kept framed. That’s how much his influence has meant to me. For years was a sounding board for me when I needed inspiration, encouragement, or even once in a while a kick in the pants — there was even a time or two when he provided the latter without me seeking it out. Sometimes, even now, I wonder WWTD — what would Tommy do?
Tommy’s zest for the job was directly fed by his thirst for knowledge and genuine interest people’s stories. It’s served as an inspiration for me and while I admittedly don’t have his sparkling smile, bubbling personality and quick wit, I have always tried to carry the same zest into everything I do. That remains true as I step forward into this new opportunity.
As a nearly lifelong resident of Western Massachusetts, I love this area, and I’ve invested in it. My wife and I made our first home together in a small apartment in Ludlow, bought our first house in Springfield and doubled down in our commitment to the city when we decided to make our forever home here. I’m the husband of a school teacher and my daughter attends our public schools. I am on the board of a local nonprofit that serves the needs of Western Massachusetts foster families. I attend church in Holyoke. You’ll often see me frequenting local restaurants and businesses — and I have a passion for the local craft brewing industry.
And most importantly for the purposes of this company, I remember this area’s history, because I was around to see it. Personally, I lived in Springfield primarily with stops in Wilbraham, Ludlow, Easthampton, Westfield and briefly in the Hilltowns. Professionally, I’ve witnessed and experience the growth, success, struggles and change of many of the communities served by Reminder Publishing, from the 2011 tornado, voter registration fraud scandals, the construction of new schools, community centers and economic development sectors, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and so much more.
I’m excited to see what’s next for the area and especially excited to lead Reminder Publishing’s part in all of it. I am truly humbled that the company has seen me fit to follow in Mike and Payton’s footsteps. Surely, with the groundwork they have laid for me and the talented staff we have here, I am set on a course to help continue Reminder Publishing’s success story.
With that said, it’s time to get to work.
