Jon K. Rust

Co-President
Rust Communications
301 Broadway Street
P.O. Box 699
Cape Girardeau, MO 63702

Jon is co-president of Rust Communications and publisher of its flagship daily, Southeast Missourian. He is a former vice-chairman of the Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news gathering organization and a past chair of the Local Media Association. He currently serves as chair of the LMA Foundation board.

He is an honors graduate of Harvard Business School, where he was president of the Leadership & Ethics Forum, later hired as Dean’s Research Fellow to write cases on digital media companies. He received a Morehead Scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with degrees in Russian and English.

Jon has served on the boards of Certified Audit of Circulations, LocalPoint Media, Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, Missouri Division of Youth Services, Dance St. Louis, United Way of Southeast Missouri, the Cape Girardeau Civic Center, the Greater Cape Benevolent Society, and the Downtown Community Improvement District, among others.

He is a former editorial page editor, columnist, and reporter who has covered government in Washington, D.C. He and his wife Dr. Victoria Vygodskaia-Rust have four girls, all under 13 years old.

Gordon Borrell

CEO
Borrell Associates
1643 Merrimac Trail, Suite B
Williamsburg, VA, 23185

Gordon Borrell is a sought-after speaker for conferences and company meetings and is the local media industry’s leading analyst. He is ranked in the top 2% among Gerson Lehrman Group’s 150,000 consultants worldwide and is quoted frequently in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Ad Age, Forbes and other publications. He has appeared on CNN and other TV and radio programs discussing trends and forecasts for local media. Prior to starting Borrell Associates, Gordon was vice president for new media for Landmark Communications, where he worked for 22 years. He started his career as a reporter and editor for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1989 he began pioneering interactive ventures and helped establish the first TV, newspaper, cable and network TV websites. Mr. Borrell conceptualized and helped create InfiNet, an Internet access and hosting company later split up and sold to Earthlink and to Gannett Co. He chaired the Local Media Association from 2015-2017 and was president of the Newspaper Association of America’s New Media Federation in 2000. He is married, has five children, and lives in Portsmouth, Virginia, where he has been active on boards and organizations supporting public education and community sports.

Suzanne Schlicht

Publisher
Swift Communications
580 Mallory Way
Carson City, NV 89701

Suzanne Schlicht is publisher of Steamboat Pilot & Today, a daily newspaper owned by Swift Communications, located in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Swift is a family-owned media company based in Carson City, Nevada. The company owns newspaper and magazine brands across six states including California, Colorado, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas and Utah. Schlicht has enjoyed a long career with Steamboat Pilot & Today. She joined the organization in 1991, shortly after its free daily newspaper, Steamboat Today, had been launched.

Schlicht earned her Bachelor of Journalism from University of Nebraska. In addition to serving the board of the Local Media Foundation, Schlicht is board member for Wick Communications, based in Sierra Vista, Arizona. At home, Schlicht is a board member of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association and served as president of the organization in 1998/99. Schlicht has been a member of the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs for 24 years. She was named Rotarian of the Year in 2007 and served as president of the club in 2010.

Schlicht is a past president of Colorado Press Association (2003) and was named Colorado Newspaper Person of the Year in 2006 by the organization.

Schlicht has participated in three LMF Innovation Missions in the past (2011, 2012 and 2104), visiting such companies as Google, Facebook, Word Press, Twitter, PayPal, New York Times and Washington Post.

Schlicht is mom to two children, Allison (15) and David (11). She enjoys trail running, horse riding, biking and skiing behind her lightening fast children at the Steamboat ski area.

Emily Walsh

Publisher
Observer Media Group
1970 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Sarasota, FL 34236

Emily Walsh is the Publisher of the Longboat, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key Observers; Season, LWR Life and Home magazines and YourObserver.com with the Observer Media Group, a family-owned multimedia company that publishes 12 newspapers, three magazines, six Web sites and multiple social and video channels in Florida. Previously, Emily ran the Observer’s digital operations for 7 years and as Social Editor for 8 years. Emily also was a professional ballerina with the Sarasota Ballet from 1995 to 2000. Emily serves as the Chair of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Board of Trustees; Immediate Past Chair of the Local Media Association Foundation Board of Directors; serves as a member of the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center Board of Directors; serves on the Ringling College Library Association Board of Directors as 2018 Town Hall Chair; and serves as a regional director of the Calusa chapter of Leadership Florida. She is on the Board of Directors of The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Kiwanis Club of Sarasota Foundation board. Emily’s awards and achievements include winning Girls Inc.’s “She Knows Where She’s Going” award in 2006, being named one of Sarasota Magazine’s “100 Most Powerful People” in Sarasota in 2007, Editor & Publisher’s “25 Under 35: The Next Generation of Publishing Leaders” in 2012, First Step of Sarasota’s “Caring Heart of the Year” in 2012 and the American Jewish Committee’s Civic Achievement Award in 2016. Emily’s most proud achievement is her six-year old son, Rhys Parry.

Eric Bright

Vice President of Marketplace Ecommerce
Deseret Digital Media
55 North 300 West Ste 500
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-3502

Eric Bright is Vice President of E-commerce at Deseret Digital Media, focusing on marketplace commerce products (including classifieds, local commerce and travel verticals). He has over 15 years of experience in e-commerce, online and offline marketing, and general business management. Prior to joining DDM, Eric was a partner and Vice President of E-commerce at FranklinCovey. Previously he was Senior Director of Interactive & Direct Marketing for eBags.com and Senior Director of Consumer Marketing with FranklinCovey. He and his wife, Cicely, have a litter of kids that keep them on their toes. He’s competed in many endurance events around the country, and on early mornings and weekends you can find Eric riding or running the pristine singletrack of the Wasatch Mountains.

Matt Coen

President & Co-Founder
Second Street, Inc.
1017 Olive Street, Mezzanine Level
St. Louis, MO 63101

Stephanie Slagle

Director of Digital
WBNS
77 Twin Rivers Drive
Columbus, OH 43215

Stephanie Slagle is the Director of Digital and Digital Strategy at 10TV WBNS and RadiOhio Inc.  Shortly after joining the team, she spearheaded the launching of a digital department by recruiting and developing top performing teams with in-depth digital strategy experiences. In addition to her digital experiences, Stephanie is a dynamic sales, marketing and communication leader.

Stephanie has over 15 years of media experience with companies such as Dispatch Media Group, Lin Media, and Sinclair Broadcasting Group. She has established a well-earned a reputation for her knowledge and passion for cutting edge concepts in the digital space. From embracing these qualities, she has implemented several innovative digital strategies in each position she has held.

Stephanie’s constant execution of digital strategies has been celebrated on multiple platforms for her leadership, delivery and commitment.

Guy Tasaka

VP, Chief Digital Officer
Calkins Media
8400 North Bristol Pike
Levittown, NY 19057

Stephen Wade

President of Chronicle Media and
The Augusta Chronicle for Morris Communications
725 Broad St.
Augusta, GA 30907

Chris Weatherly

Director of Digital Sales and Products
WRAL
2619 Western Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27606

Chris is the the Director of Sales and Operations for WRAL Digital Solutions and WRAL.com and is passionate about simplifying the complex world of digital advertising and marketing for local businesses. His main day-to-day responsibility is making sure the talented team at WRAL Digital Solutions continues to evolve and generate great results for our clients. Additionally, Chris oversees the programmatic and local sales strategy for WRAL.com, sits on the Local Media Foundation Board and has spoken at industry conferences on a variety of topics including OTT, DMPs, beacon targeting and WRAL Digital Solutions.

Prior to his current role, Chris held positions in broadcast media sales and sports marketing. Outside the office, Chris is active in his church, serves on the Meals on Wheels of Wake County Young Professionals Board, enjoys Cross Fit and traveling with his wife Kristina.

Liz White

EVP & Assistant Publisher
Record-Journal
500 S. Broad Street
Meriden, CT 06450

Liz White is the executive vice president and assistant publisher of the Record-Journal in Meriden, CT and she is the 5^th generation of the family business. The Record-Journal is 150 years old but has evolved into a cutting edge business, and the company was recognized nationally in March 2016 by Editor & Publisher Magazine as one of 10 Newspapers That Do It Right.

Liz is excited for the opportunities for growth and innovation in the future as the company evolves in a quickly changing environment. She has an MBA from Yale, a BS from Boston College and was recognized nationally in April by Editor & Publisher Magazine as one of The 25 Under 35 in the industry and in July by the Hartford Business Journal as one of The 40 Under 40. She is also currently serving her third year as president of the Meriden-New Britain-Berlin YMCA board of directors.