Business News
Regional publisher appointed for Butte and Helena, Montana
Tuesday 09. June 2009 - Lee Enterprises veteran publishing executive Randy Rickman has been appointed regional publisher for The Montana Standard in Butte and the Independent Record in Helena.
Rickman has been publisher of The Sentinel in Hanford, California, and president of Pulitzer Central California Newspapers since 2003.
Nathan Bekke, Lee Enterprises group executive, made the announcement. He said Rickman will oversee both enterprises, which are only 70 miles apart.
“This is a new position, and it will serve the needs of both operations extremely well,” he said. “Both The Montana Standard and the Independent Record are fortunate to have strong management teams that do an excellent job serving readers, online users, advertisers and their communities. I’m excited about this appointment because Randy brings a tremendous range of experience, successes and talent, as well as extensive familiarity with the communities and region.”
Mike Gulledge, Lee vice president of publishing, said Rickman’s intimate knowledge of the two communities will make the regional position successful. “His understanding of both Butte and Helena, along with his 30 years of publishing experience, makes him an ideal choice,” Gulledge said.
Rickman said both newspapers and their online sites, www.mtstandard.com and www.helenair.com, are well-respected for their individuality in local news coverage, opinions, advertising and community involvement. “My job is to preserve that individuality while gaining efficiencies in areas that make sense,” he said. “Those efficiencies will provide the resources necessary to expand our current offerings and serve our audiences as their needs change.”
Rickman was born in Butte and grew up in both Butte and Helena. “If I were given a choice of any job, anywhere, it would be this,” he said. “We are so excited to get back home to enjoy the opportunities and lifestyle Montana offers.”
He and his wife, Cindy, have two sons and a daughter. Corey and Nelson attend Carroll College in Helena, and Maggie is a sophomore in high school.
Rickman began his career with Lee Enterprises in 1979 as an apprentice press operator at Trico Publishing in Wilton, Iowa. In 1984, he joined the Los Angeles Times, working with automotive and real estate advertisers. In 1989, he rejoined Lee as a retail team leader at The Journal Times in Racine, Wisconsin. He later became retail advertising manager at the Rapid City Journal in South Dakota, direct marketing manager for Lee’s former television stations in New Mexico, and director of Lee’s former direct marketing operation in Davenport. Before moving to Hanford, he was general sales manager and then general manager of Lee’s former Nickel publications located in Seattle, Washington, and Portland, Oregon.
His community activities in Hanford have included serving on the board of directors of Kings County Economic Development Corp., Kings County YMCA, Hanford Chamber of Commerce, Lemoore Area Chamber of Commerce and Kings County Salvation Army, as well as serving on the Citizen Bond Oversight Committee for Hanford’s third high school. He also has been a member of the Kings County Cyclists Club, the Fresno Cycling Club and organizer for the annual Sentinel Criterium.
