Leadership changes

Texoma names Rodriguez senior group publisher

SHERMAN – Following a series of recent changes at the company that publishes the Herald Democrat, including re-branding it as Texoma Marketing and Media Group, the company’s general manager Nate Rodriguez was promoted to senior group publisher.

Texoma Marketing and Media Group publishes the daily Herald Democrat in Sherman and the Van Alstyne Leader, Anna-Melissa Tribune and Prosper Press weekly newspapers.

“Nate brings a lot of creativity and drive into managing a local media company,” said Jason Taylor, GateHouse Media president of Western U.S. Publishing Operations, Texoma Marketing and Media Group’s parent company. “He is passionate about our industry, the staff in Sherman and working to help move the community forward.”

Rodriguez said he is proud of what the company and its employees have accomplished during his four months as general manager.

“The community has been very receptive to the new relationship that I promised upon my arrival,” Rodriguez said, noting the company has increased its staff by 24 percent and renewed its digital focus.

“What I’ve committed to is more local news more often and preserving our legacy, along with looking for a bright future.”

Sherman Chamber of Commerce President Eddie Brown said he’s noticed the changes in the Herald Democrat and he likes what he sees, especially in the business section. “I liked the ideas he’s got and I think that’s going to benefit all of us,” Brown said.

Going forward, Rodriguez said the company will be interacting with the community in ways outside the normal platform of publishing its newspapers. “That includes events, that includes a renewed focus on our weekly newspapers, it includes promotions, it includes commercial printing and it also includes committing to the organizations that make Texoma a better place to live.”

Veteran editor named publisher of Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel

NACOGDOCHES –Daily Sentinel Managing Editor Debi Ryan has been named the newspaper’s publisher, succeeding Robin Land, who is returning to his home in Tyler.

“I am honored — and humbled — by the opportunity to lead what is already a great community newspaper,” Ryan said.

“I’ve lived in Nacogdoches since 1985, and I love this town, its people and especially the Sentinel. I look forward to continuing to serve our readers and advertisers as publisher.”

Land had been with the newspaper since October 2012.

“I have enjoyed my time with this newspaper and getting to know and working with so many people in this community,” he said. “I’m leaving for family reasons, but I’m going to miss the Sentinel’s employees and Nacogdoches.”

Dolph Tillotson, president of Southern Newspapers, Inc., of Houston, said he is happy to have such a proven, experienced journalist to step in to the publisher’s job. Southern is a Texas-based company that owns 11 newspapers in the state.

“We appreciate the fine work that Robin did while in Nacogdoches, but we’re happy to have Debi on board,” Tillotson said. “She’s proven herself over many years as a fine newspaper woman, as a leader and as a citizen of Nacogdoches County.”

Ryan has been with the Sentinel for most of the last 31 years. 

Under her leadership as managing editor, the newspaper has won more than 200 awards from three press associations, including five Texas Associated Press Newspaper of the Year honors.

She also has deep ties to Nacogdoches County.

“My family has been in this area for six generations,” she said. “My parents still live on the land (here) that has been in the family since 1918.”

At the Sentinel, Ryan has done everything from typesetting to pasting up pages under the direction of the late Publisher Victor Fain to helping transition the production to a digital platform. She has been page designer, copy editor, news editor and managing editor.

Ryan has two grown children, Kelly Comeaux and Chris Ryan, who were both educated in the Nacogdoches Independent School District. Kelly attended SFA and finished her degree at North Texas State University and Chris graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University. Both are living in Houston with their spouses.