B.C. Management

RANDY BLAIR – PRESIDENT, B.C. LOWER MAINLAND & VANCOUVER ISLAND

Randy Blair is Chief Operating Officer, Black Press BC Operations. He became Chief Operating Officer July 2016. Previously to this recent promotion Randy was President of the Lower Mainland Division of Black Press Group Ltd.,

since June of 2006. He added responsibility for Vancouver Island operations in October of 2013.

He has more than 35 years experience in newspaper publishing and printing and has played a significant leadership role within Black Press, serving as Vice-President, Lower Mainland Division and publisher of the Abbotsford News, Mission Record, Hope Standard and Chilliwack Progress.

Randy has served on the boards of the Abbotsford Community Foundation, The British Columbia Yukon Community Newspaper Association, The Abbotsford Hospice Society, 2004 B.C. Summer Games, the British Columbia Technology Education and Careers Council and The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce. He was also a founding member of the Abbotsford Executive Association. Randy has also assumed a director’s role on the board of Black Press.

Connect: 1-604-575-5819 Email Randy Blair Connect on LinkedIn

FRANK S. KLASSEN – CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

Frank S. Klassen is Chief Information/Technology Officer for Black Press. Under his leadership, the Technology Division develops, implements and manages all technological strategies, tools and services within the company, which operates newspapers and websites throughout B.C., Alberta and Washington State.

As CIO/CTO, Frank heads a team of technicians and programmers that keeps our 150 community media centres running smoothly. He brings a wealth of media, technology and management experience to his position.

Prior to joining Black Press in 2008, Frank worked in a variety of editorial, sales and creative roles with MetroValley Newspapers, Lower Mainland Publishing and CanWest. He also operated a successful online marketing business, participated in eight newspaper startups, managed Western Canadian accounts at Apple and was the publisher of the award-winning Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows News.

Frank has been involved with community media since 1975. He lives in Maple Ridge with his wife Karen.

Connect: 1-604-575-5790 Email Frank Klassen

ROBIN CLARKE – HUMAN RESOURCES, VICE-PRESIDENT

Robin Clarke is Vice-President of Human Resources for the Canadian Division of Black Press, responsible for providing leadership, through partnership with our management teams, for the successful organizational management of our Canadian workforce.

Robin began her career with a Black Press predecessor company, MetroValley News Group as an accounting clerk in 1984, and held the position of Corporate Accountant and Manager of Compensation and Benefits before taking on her current role as Director of Human Resources.

Robin lives in Mission with her husband Rick and they have two adult children in university.

Connect: 1-604-575-5827 Email Robin Clarke

DAVE HAMILTON – PRESIDENT, INTERIOR SOUTH

Dave Hamilton has worked with Black Press since 2007 beginning his career in sales at the Comox Valley Record, then taking on multiple Black Press publisher and group publisher roles including the Fernie Free Press, Invermere Valley Echo, Golden Star, Campbell River Mirror, Comox Valley Record, Comox Valley Echo and the North Island Gazette.

Now as President of BC South Division Hamilton oversees the operations for the Okanagan division that includes Kelowna Capital News, Vernon Morning Star, Salmon Arm Observer, Penticton Western News and other surrounding Okanagan Black Press publications.

Connect: 1-250-204-2720 Email Dave Hamilton Connect on LinkedIn

ERIC LAWSON – GROUP PUBLISHER, WEST KOOTENAYS / THE BOUNDARY

Eric Lawson has worked in community media for 30 years as a reporter, editor, sales manager, general manager and publisher. He has worked and lived across Canada; prior to joining Black Press he was publisher of the Brandon Sun in Brandon, Manitoba.

Lawson has been involved in community organizations throughout his career, including Rotary, the YMCA, Chambers of Commerce, and support for animal shelters. He has also been active in industry associations such as the Flyer Distribution Standards Association and Newspapers Canada.

Connect: 1-250-352-1890 (ext. 1270) Email Eric Lawson Connect on LinkedIn

GUS TONNELLIER – DIRECTOR OF PRESS OPERATIONS

Gus Tonnellier is the Director of Press Operations for Black Press B.C. Gus oversees an operation that prints 22 individual newspapers and four million inserts every month.

His press serves communities such as New Denver, Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Kamloops, Merritt, Clearwater, Invermere, Kelowna, Lumby, Nakusp, Barriere and Lake Country. It runs 24/7 from Sunday night to Saturday night.

Gus also oversees press markets in Alberta for Calgary and Edmonton.

Gus started with Black Press at the Vernon press plant in 1991. He also worked for Black Press in Hawaii from 2005 to 2010, where he was Vice President of Production at the press plant on Oahu.

Gus lives in Vernon with his wife, Kim. He has two children and four grandchildren.

Connect: 1-250-542-3558 Email Gus Tonnellier

publishing groups