Leadership changes

Leadership changes announced at Texas newspapers.

Skewes succeeds Gray as publisher of Baytown Sun
BAYTOWN – Baytown Sun Publisher Janie Gray retired March 1 after nearly four decades of newspaper work.
Sun advertising director Carol Skewes succeeded Gray as publisher. 
Southern Newspapers President Dolph Tillotson made the announcement, thanking Gray for “her nearly 40 years of successful work with SNI.” 
Gray, who grew up in Baytown, has served as publisher of The Sun since 2010. She will continue to work for Southern Newspapers as a consultant. 
“It’s been a privilege working with the staff and so many different organizations and community leaders,” Gray said, adding that her husband retired two years ago and she felt it was the right time to join him in retirement.
Gray praised Skewes as a “hard worker who cares about producing quality products for our readers.” Skewes has many years of newspaper experience, previously serving as publisher for The Vindicator in South Liberty County and The Anahuac Progress in Chambers County.
Tillotson noted Skewes “has a terrific track record of success, and I know she’ll do well in Baytown.”

Moise takes helm as eighth publisher of Dallas Morning News
DALLAS – One year after being named general manager of The Dallas Morning News, Grant Moise has been elevated to president and publisher of the news organization. 
Moise, 42, succeeds Jim Moroney, who will continue to serve as board chairman, president and chief executive of The News’ parent company, Dallas-based A. H. Belo Corporation. 
Moise, who retains the title executive vice president of A. H. Belo, becomes the eighth publisher at a news organization that traces its lineage to 1842 and ranks as Texas’ oldest continuously operating business. 
He takes the helm at a time when regional newspapers around the U.S. are expanding into the digital world, as declines in print revenue force cutbacks and some closures. Adding to that challenge is a consumer base that’s reluctant to pay for online news. 
As one of the chief architects of The News’ business strategy, Moise said the company already has taken steps that serve as a strong launch pad.
“No one has solved the major metro newspaper business model,” said Moise, who has managed mergers and acquisitions in his 13 years in various executive roles with the company. “However, we are positioned, I believe, better than anyone in this industry, to be the first to solve it. We have a strong balance sheet. We have a focused strategy. And we’ve already diversified our revenue sources in marketing services beyond what most other major metro newspapers have.”
Moroney, who has been publisher since 2001, added the corporate titles of chairman, president and chief executive officer in 2013 when Robert Decherd, still an A. H. Belo board member, retired. The Dallas Morning News was founded by George Bannerman Dealey, great-grandfather to Moroney and Decherd, who are cousins. 
A journalism graduate of the University of Kansas, Moise also has a master’s of business administration from Texas Christian University. He joined Belo in 2004 as an account executive. 

Daily Record welcomes Winter as publisher
SAN MARCOS – Lance Winter, who most recently worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, has joined the San Marcos Daily Record staff as publisher. 
He replaces Don Moore, who will remain in an advisory capacity with Moser Community Media. Inc., the management company serving the San Marcos Daily Record.
Winter, 56, has spent more than 30 years in the newspaper industry in a variety of roles. He worked for the Star-Telegram for almost two decades, managing two successful community newspapers, the Mansfield News-Mirror and the Weatherford Star-Telegram.
“The Daily Record and publications in Wimberley and Dripping Springs are on a firm foundation committed to the citizens of Hays County,” Winter said. “We will remain diligent in our efforts to produce quality journalism while delivering products and services to our advertisers.”
Winter said his goal is to succeed in both the print and rapidly growing digital arena. “We want to continue to expand and engage readers who subscribe to the newspaper while growing a new audience,” Winter said. “That’s done by utilizing multiple digital platforms people are using.”

Englehardt appointed general manager for Seguin Gazette
SEGUIN – Elizabeth Engelhardt is the new general manager for the Seguin Gazette.
Formerly the advertising director, she took over from the Gazette’s former publisher, Jeff Fowler. 
The change was announced by Dolph Tillotson, president of Southern Newspapers Inc., which owns and operates 16 papers, including the Seguin Gazette. 
“We’re delighted that Elizabeth has joined our management team. I know she will produce a terrific newspaper,” Tillotson said. 
“Seguin has been an important part of the Southern family for many years, and I know Elizabeth will strengthen that fine tradition.”
Engelhardt joined the Gazette in September 2016 after previously serving in the advertising department at the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. 
She has more than a decade of sales and advertising experience. 
Engelhardt said she hopes to become more involved in local events and plans to take an active role in the community. 
She said her primary goal as general manager will be steering the Gazette in keeping pace with the economic growth in Guadalupe County.