Meet the Advertising Team
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When Steve graduated from Oklahoma State in 1987 he had set his sights on being a publisher of a newspaper. He started his career at the Lawton Constitution/Morning Press as an account representative and in 1988 accepted a position with the Kansas City Star. Working steadily toward learning all aspects of the newspaper business, Steve was promoted to District Manager at the Star, then to Retail Advertising Director and in 2002 became the publisher of the Lee's Summit Journal, a sister paper to The Star. Connected heavily to the communities he lives and works in, Steve accepted the publisher position at The Examiner in February 2007, eager to fulfill his dream of making a difference in bringing local news to the readers. Under Steve's leadership the paper has already seen major changes such as a total redesign and a focus on being intensively local. Catering to two individual communities - Blue Springs and Independence - Steve has successfully mandated two separate papers each day to bring local news back into those communities. As the concept grows, Steve envisions that the readers will become an integral tool as a source for news and information. Steve is involved with the Blue Springs, Lee's Summit and Independence chambers as well as the economic councils of these communities. Steve's passion in life is his wife Cindy and two children, along with fishing and reading newspapers. |
Dave Lammers accepted the position as the Advertising Director for The Examiner bringing a high level of energy, experience and professionalism to the team. After graduating from Iowa State University with a marketing degree and an emphasis on advertising, Dave moved to Detroit to be the marketing representative for Maytag. In 1990 he and his wife, Julia moved to this area to be closer to their family and made the decision to open an appliance store in Blue Springs until 1995 when he began pursuing a career in what he does best - advertising. For nine years Dave worked at the Kansas City Star beginning as an advertising representative and worked his way up to publisher at the Lee's Summit Journal, also owned by the Star. Following his passion for working with businesses in the suburban areas of KansasCity, Dave returned to his hometown newspaper - The Examiner - determined to make a difference. Having ran a small business for five years, Dave knows and understands the business owners' day- to-day dilemmas and has successfully consulted hundreds of clients to help bring revenue into their establishments through advertising campaigns that match the clients needs and budget. As advertising director, Dave has brought a cohesiveness to the sales team through mentoring and coaching while celebrating a new approach in helping clients of The Examiner form a foundation and strategy for a successful business plan. |
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Sharon has been at The Examiner since 1993 and has been involved in every aspect of advertising beginning as a Marketing Specialist, promoted to Classified Manager and then as the Advertising Director for nine years. Currently Sharon is the Marketing Director bringing in over $100,000 in revenue each year with special events, hosted by The Examiner involving the community. These events, along with special sections, Sharon has successfully coordinated annually a Bridal Fair, Prime Time Event for Seniors, Taste of Home Cooking Schools and a Health Fair. Sharon coordinates other monthly specialty publications such as The Sports Monthly and WelcomeHome, our new real estate magazine that is published weekly. These sections alone generate over a half a million dollars in revenue each year. Additionally Sharon also coordinates advertising for major national accounts and political campaigns. Sharon is a member of Junior Services League and serves on numerous committees for the Independence Chamber including the annual banquet and the Truman Heartland Gala. The Examiner's Safety Handbook, which is published every other year was instigated by Sharon and has won numerous corporate awards for its informational value to the communities. Sharon has served on the Fort Osage School Board for many years and is currently serving as the president. |
Karen joins an elite team of account executives in our Blue Springs Examiner location, servicing clients in Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, Odessa, Buckner and Warrensburg. Karen has already surpassed revenue generated and continues to grow with her territory. Prior to joining the team, Karen worked at another local paper "The Focus" for five years, which is distributed primarily in Oak Grove and Odessa. Already having relationships with these advertisers in those areas, she has been able to layout unique marketing plans for her clients. Karens' ability to relate to her clients as well as the consumers, directly relates to her experience as a stay-at-home mom for 19 years. Being the primary decision maker on purchases for the family, she understands the need for her clients to get prominent information in front of the consumers that will lead them into their stores or establishments. Her major in art at Central Missouri State University helps her in the creative process of laying out ads and advertising campaigns. She enjoys working with clients so that each ad represents the company and products or services they are providing. During her hours away from work, Karen enjoys her grandchildren, and horsing around in the country life. Karen also serves on the Oak Grove Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors along with local fundraising events such as the Taste of Oak Grove Event and a rodeo. | |
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Chris is a graduate of Central Missouri State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. She has three years of retail management experience and understands the importance of effectively marketing your business. Chris also brings more than 15 years in advertising experience that includes print, online, broadcast and cable television, print, direct mail, and other targeted publications. Chris' sales philosophy is to always do what is in the best interest for the customer. She takes the time to learn all she can about each customer's business or industry and wants to become more of a business partner with her clients which includes never making recommendations without first understanding their goals and objectives. Chris uses her expertise in working with various businesses, as well as from selling a variety of other media, to help develop sound marketing plans. Her main goal is to help her customers achieve their marketing goals and to help them grow their business. She also strives to provide the best customer service that she can. |
Megan has made The Examiner her home and continually shows how her ability to connect with her clients to bring results - both for the customer and the newspaper. With her background of owning and operating a commercial and residential painting company for eight years Megan understands the value of the dollar for the business owner and develops campaigns that will bring results, but will also fit their budget. Prior to being a business owner, Megan gained experience in finding the right fit for the right people as she was the employee coordinator for a school to career partnership through the Learning Exchange. Matching students and teachers to businesses, as interns, to help launch potential careers. Megan's enthusiasm is unmatched when it comes to servicing her clients and gets satisfaction when they tell her their advertising campaign is working. Taking the lead on several occasions, Megan has stepped up to the plate to be a leader in team efforts at the newspaper. Megan doesn't have any problem with being a leader as she is a single mom raising four boys. | |
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Darla graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in English and has spent her career building experience in executing sales campaigns that bring results. Darla came onboard with an impressive background of being the managing director of a major advertising agency along with spending several years as an account executive for several other local newspapers. One of Darla's assets is her ability to connect with customers, developing relationships and providing solutions to increase business for her clients. Consultations and marketing plans are part of the reason Darla has seen success working with her clients towards the same goal - increased revenue. Her specialty is taking all of the elements for a successful campaign and putting them into an advertising package that will best suit her clients' needs and will be the most effective for them. Darla is a big KU basketball fan, along with the Chiefs and enjoys going to the movie and theater with her son, Adam. |
Kathy has been on The Examiner staff since 2000 and continues to see a revenue growth on her desk year after year. Beginning her career as a telemarketer, she focused on specialty pages such as high school courtwarming and homecoming events as well as pages thanking those who serve the communities such as the Police and Firefighters Page. With her telephone skills and marketing strategies well intact, Kathy undertook an additional role. As the final push for many special sections and promotions, Kathy contacts existing clients and does cold calling to gain new customers. As Kathy would find success in reaching her goal and most of the time helping the department reach their goal, she found herself again taking on yet another task. Outside sales became a part of her daily routine, along with her responsibilities as a telemarketer and she continues to thrive as she shares her professionalism and marketing skills with her clients. Antiques are her passion at home and she has several storage sheds stacked full to prove it. Living in a quaint historic town, Kathy's hobby is continually updating her wide range of antique collector items. | |
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Tracey joined The Examiner in 1979 and in her 28 years has handled everything from churches, retail advertising, medical, political and most recently specializing in the real estate market. With the challenge of launching a real estate magazine with an on-line component, Tracey along with the help of an advisory board, made up of local brokers and Realtors the WelcomeHome magazine was created. Working alongside agents and brokers she continually develops the best marketing strategy for her clients focusing on company image and marketing homes. Tracey was chosen to be the real estate marketing specialist because of the multiple awards she has received over the years as the highest revenue generator. In 2006 she was awarded the prestigious President's Club Award by The Examiner's parent company, Morris Communications. This award is presented only to the best in the company. Missouri Press has also awarded Tracey numerous times for her creative layout on advertising campaigns. Tracey has also been named employee of the month at The Examiner. After working with thousands of clients and accounts, she has successfully helped her clients market their business through newsprint as well as online. Tracey and her husband, Gary reside in Grain Valley and spend their leisure time traveling, and boating at the lake. |
Mary Anne recently joined The Examiner, bringing skill and a wealth of knowledge to the display advertising team. Before moving to this area, Mary Anne and her husband Larry lived in Washington State on Whidbey Island, the largest of the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound. After becoming empty nesters, her husband began to pursue his dream of teaching at a seminary and they moved back to Kansas City so that he could get his masters degree. Mary Anne, who had been the marketing director for a Coldwell Banker Affiliate for eight years, was recruited by the local newspaper on Whidbey Island to be an account representative and it took hold. Having sales "in her blood" Mary Anne enjoys consulting with her clients and has fun creating campaigns to best suit their needs. Enjoying rides in the countryside with her husband on their motorcycle, the couple also tries to spend as much time as possible with their three children and three grandchildren who are scattered to both coasts. Her experience also includes being a real estate investor as well as a Title Officer and Notary in Kansas and Missouri. | |
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Coming to The Examiner in 1980 Sandy has had the opportunity to learn almost every aspect of the newspaper business. Beginning as a typesetter she was promoted to manager of the Creative Services Department. After helping to successfully launch the pagination process at the paper, Sandy was promoted to General Manager of the Examiner's sister paper, The Town and Country News. In this role Sandy sold advertising, created ads, took classifieds, wrote stories, laid out the paper and sometimes even delivered them. In January 2007, she accepted the position of Special Projects Editor with her main focus on The Examiner's home magazine WelcomeHome. Sandy also writes content for special sections such as Prime Time, Bridal and Health and Fitness. Down Home, Sandy's column that appears on the cover of Life and Times every Saturday, has generated a large fan base as she shares her life stories each week bringing both laughter and tears and sometimes both. As part of the advertising team Sandy plays an important role in the department helping the account representatives, whether it is creating ads, writing advertorials or going on sales calls. |
Steve Curd
David Lammers
Sharon Dankenbring
Karen Gladson
Chris Goff
Megan Gurera
Darla Hall
Kathy Heptig
Tracey Mummaw
MaryAnne Tennant
Sandy Turner
Yellow Pages
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except where noted.
