When Jeremy Gulban launched CherryRoad Media in 2021, he wasn’t just acquiring community newspapers — he was betting that technology, when applied with care and strategy, could be the key to revitalizing local journalism. Coming from a background in delivering IT services to local governments, Gulban saw newspapers as the next frontier for civic impact. “We felt there was an opportunity to bring technology — our business skill set — into small community newspapers and revitalize them,” Gulban said.
But with each new acquisition came an immediate challenge: disjointed systems. Every newspaper CherryRoad acquired had its own advertising and editorial workflows — often outdated, manual, and inefficient. Within months, the company had grown to ten papers, and it was poised to acquire 20 more in one massive transaction. Scaling further would require a modern, unified technology infrastructure.
That’s where Software Consulting Services (SCS) came in.
A letter at the right time
Phil Curtolo, VP of Sales at SCS and a long-time newspaper tech veteran, spotted an article about one of CherryRoad’s recent acquisitions. Sensing both opportunity and shared mission, he did something unconventional: he wrote a letter — a real one — and mailed it to Gulban. The outreach worked. “Jeremy called me after receiving it, and we had an instant connection,” Curtolo recalled.
“The timing was perfect,” Gulban said. “We had an immediate need for technology, and SCS was right there when we needed them. We still looked at other technology options, but SCS was the best choice. And no other company could beat Phil’s and [SCS Owner] Kurt Jackson’s personal touch.” That “personal touch” quickly became a hallmark of the partnership. “We ultimately selected the SCS team because of their personal touch. I know I can pick up the phone and speak with someone who cares and will work collaboratively to quickly solve my problem,” Gulban added.
The tech that enabled rapid growth
CherryRoad needed to centralize and streamline its ad management operations. Many of its newly acquired papers were running ad sales, billing and layout manually or on outdated platforms. The team needed an advertising system with billing and accounts receivable capabilities that could be rolled out instantly — not months after closing.
SCS’s Community Advertising System provided just that. It includes ad dummying, classified pagination, ad tracking, and integrated billing — all crucial for a publisher growing as quickly as CherryRoad. “Under normal circumstances, the deployment of the advertising system would have taken as many as nine months to complete,” Gulban said. “We threw the team a challenge, and they stepped up and got it done for us in record time.”
“We knew CherryRoad wasn’t looking for just another vendor — they needed a partner who could adapt at scale without losing the personal touch,” said Phil Curtolo, VP of Sales at SCS. “Our team thrives in those moments. We listen first, move fast, and stay accountable long after launch.”
With the back-end ad infrastructure stabilized, the next step was modernizing editorial production. SCS deployed its Community Publishing System, enabling editors and designers at each newspaper to work within a centralized system — improving visibility, collaboration and oversight across the entire chain.
From chaos to clarity
The results were immediate and measurable. “With the advertising, editorial, and layout systems in place, everything is in one integrated system where ads and stories can flow easily into the layout,” said Gulban. “It’s all way more efficient than things used to be.” But efficiency wasn’t the only benefit. “It’s critical for us to have access to near real-time data on how the business is doing,” Gulban said. “We were flying blind before. Now, we have the insight we need to make the best decisions.”
With centralized dashboards, CherryRoad’s leadership team could compare performance across publications, identify trends and outliers, and make informed decisions — all without chasing down spreadsheets or manually compiling data. “The team at SCS is quite approachable and highly responsive,” Gulban emphasized. “I know that any issues I may have will get solved quickly.”
Powering a national footprint
Thanks to these operational gains, CherryRoad Media hasn’t just grown — it’s thrived. As of mid-2025, the company owns and operates more than 80 newspapers across 17 states. That kind of expansion would be unthinkable without the backend infrastructure to support it.
What began as a series of small-town newspaper acquisitions is now a sizable and growing force in American local media. And SCS has been instrumental in making that possible, providing not just tools, but a responsive, solutions-driven team that understands the real-world pressures of running a newspaper.
A model for local media transformation
At a time when many community newspapers are consolidating or shutting down, CherryRoad Media is bucking the trend — in large part by marrying classic journalism values with scalable technology.
The company’s story offers a compelling blueprint for others in the industry:
Standardize early. By rolling out a unified system from the start, CherryRoad avoided the inefficiencies that plague many multi-property groups.
Choose a partner, not just a vendor. The human relationships between CherryRoad and SCS proved as important as the software itself.
Don’t wait to act. Rapid deployment — even when challenging — enabled the company to hit ambitious growth targets while staying operationally sound.
For SCS, it’s a validation of decades spent quietly building the infrastructure that keeps community newspapers running. For CherryRoad, it’s the foundation of a new kind of local media network — one that’s tech-forward but community-focused.
As Gulban puts it: “We’re not just trying to save newspapers. We’re trying to make them stronger.”
About CherryRoad Media
CherryRoad Media is a rapidly growing community newspaper group committed to preserving and revitalizing local journalism. Founded in 2021 by CEO Jeremy Gulban, the company has acquired more than 80 publications across 17 states, focusing on strengthening civic engagement and information access in small towns and rural areas. Leveraging CherryRoad Technologies’ decades of experience in IT solutions for government agencies, CherryRoad Media brings modern infrastructure and innovation to traditional news operations—ensuring that local newspapers remain vital, sustainable, and community-driven.
About Software Consulting Services (SCS)
Software Consulting Services, LLC (SCS) has been building trusted newspaper systems for over four decades, providing robust, customizable technology solutions for publishers of all sizes. From advertising and editorial platforms to layout and billing systems, SCS designs integrated tools that streamline operations, reduce costs, and empower smarter decision-making. Known for its hands-on customer support and industry expertise, SCS is a partner of choice for media companies seeking scalable, future-ready systems that support both print and digital growth. Learn more at www.newspapersystems.com.
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