Beth Ptak was cleaning up coffee spilled across her workstation when a routine video meeting took an unexpected turn. The conversation was about the latest production successes in Des Moines. Then came an introduction, a recitation of her accomplishments and the news: Ptak, director of manufacturer for USA TODAY Co., had been selected as the 2026 Operations All-Star Large Market runner-up. “Well, thank you so much. I am shocked,” she said. “Tom, you pulled it over on me.”
Asked what advice she would offer others navigating the pressures of newspaper operations, Ptak needed just five words: “Stay calm and keep going.”
It was fitting advice from one of six professionals recognized through this year’s Operations All-Star Awards, presented by Editor & Publisher and the International Newspaper Group. Their responsibilities span circulation, distribution, manufacturing and engineering. Their accomplishments demonstrate how much newspapers depend on people who can solve today’s problem while preparing their teams for tomorrow.
Four honorees learned of their recognition during surprise Zoom calls before the ING conference, held Sept. 30–Oct. 1 at the Houston Chronicle. Two Hearst honorees received their surprises live at the event, where I announced the awards before an audience of more than 100 operations executives.
Across those conversations and nominations, a common theme emerged: operational excellence grows through both technical skill and the ability to help other people succeed.
Circulation winner: Josh Hart, circulation leader, West Division, Adams MultiMedia
Josh Hart’s answer to a question about his “secret sauce” began with a recruiting pitch. “I guess my best advice would be to join Adams MultiMedia,” he said.
Behind the humor was a serious point about organizational support. Hart credits leadership, complementary skills and collaboration with giving his team room to focus on the long-term health of the audience business.
Nominated by Esther Maina, vice president of circulation and audience development, Hart assumed leadership of the West Division in early 2023. According to his nomination, he transformed one of the company’s largest geographic operations into one of its most profitable. Maina described sustained momentum across several years.
Hart explained that the West’s management structure had been pared down to six people. Regional directors bring different strengths, while call center, marketing and other support teams help them concentrate on growth, viability and profitability. For Hart, improvement comes through regular examination of familiar business decisions: a contract renewal, a potential partnership or a transportation opportunity created by press consolidation. “Just really doing the basics really well,” he said. His recognition underscores the value of repeatedly revisiting those decisions, with a team equipped to act on what it finds.
Circulation runner-up: Anthony Rapczynski, executive director of distribution, Hearst Newspapers
Anthony Rapczynski’s recognition came live in Houston. His nomination described a leader whose work connects financial discipline, distribution systems and emerging technology.
Jeff Lawson, Hearst Newspapers’ senior vice president of operations and distribution, nominated Rapczynski for consistently delivering measurable operational value. According to Lawson, Rapczynski routinely exceeds budget expectations and identifies opportunities to reduce expenses. His responsibility for route optimization and planning helps improve service and efficiency while making better use of distribution resources.
That work also extends to major organizational transitions. Rapczynski led the implementation of distribution systems supporting the acquisitions and integration of the Austin and Dallas markets. Lawson credited him with helping maintain continuity while establishing processes to support both markets over time.
The nomination also highlighted Rapczynski’s practical use of artificial intelligence (AI). “Beyond his core distribution responsibilities, Anthony continues to distinguish himself as our AI All-Star,” Lawson wrote. He uses AI to streamline work, reduce manual effort, improve decisions and generate savings. Lawson’s account describes someone who evaluates technology through the operational needs it can address.
Rapczynski’s recognition reflects the expanding demands on distribution leadership: keeping service dependable, controlling costs, managing change and identifying tools that make the work more effective.
Small Market winner: Rob Rasor, production director, The Norman Transcript
Rob Rasor’s surprise call included a playful suggestion that the sun rises in Norman because of him. His documented accomplishments are impressive.
Nominated by Jim Falzone, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.’s vice president of production, Rasor leads an Oklahoma site now handling work previously performed at four locations. He also indirectly oversees two additional production sites in the state.
His contributions reach well beyond Norman. Rasor has traveled to retrieve equipment and parts, fabricated components manufacturers no longer supplied and shared resources with sister newspapers. When necessary, he will climb into a truck and deliver newspapers himself. Falzone described someone willing to tackle ambitious consolidation and relocation projects while keeping his own operation running. Rasor said Norman produces upwards of 16 publications within a limited production window. Making that possible requires training, flexibility and employees who understand what the operation is trying to accomplish. “You gotta be really open-minded,” he said.
He also made clear that the recognition belonged to more than one person. Rasor credited Falzone’s partnership, his publisher’s support and the people working alongside him.
“It doesn’t take a huge team to do that, but it takes some good people to do that,” he said. His nomination captures both sides of that leadership: the mechanic who can solve an immediate equipment problem and the manager who helps a small team take on substantially more work.
Small Market runner-up: Danny Shull, lead press operator, The Richmond News
For Danny Shull, the explanation was straightforward. “It’s just … dedication,” he said during his surprise call. “I was always brought up that way.”
Shull produces nearly 16,000 newspapers weekly across six publications: three of the operation’s own titles and three commercial print publications. His nominator, Richmond News General Manager Sharon Donat, described the constant physical attention that work requires.
The press depends on hands-on skill. Shull climbs ladders, adjusts ink and registration, and watches print quality throughout each run. His experience helps him catch problems before they become expensive mistakes.
He also performs preventive maintenance, diagnoses equipment problems and makes repairs that would otherwise require outside service. Weekends and late hours are part of his commitment to keeping production dependable.
That confidence has business consequences. During the interview, Donat explained that commercial printing helps sustain the company’s own newspapers. Satisfied customers and efficient production make that work valuable to the broader operation. “This product is saving our newspapers,” she said. Shull’s recognition puts a face on that connection. His craftsmanship supports customer relationships and revenue while helping community newspapers continue serving readers.
Large Market winner: Venkat “Vinny” Nandhyala, electrical engineer, Houston Chronicle
At the Houston Chronicle, Venkat “Vinny” Nandhyala helped turn a major capital investment into a functioning production operation — and helped colleagues gain the confidence to run it. Nandhyala, surprised live at the conference, was nominated by Joel Meyer, the Chronicle’s vice president of operations.
In just two and a half years, he became a trusted technical resource for coworkers, contractors and equipment manufacturers. Meyer described that pace of development as exceptional within his own 36-year newspaper manufacturing career.
Nandhyala served as the electrical point person for a $12.5 million project involving two new printing presses and supporting production systems. He worked with equipment suppliers and electrical contractors through installation, testing, commissioning and the transition to live production. His contribution extended well beyond troubleshooting.
Experienced operators were moving from highly manual equipment to unfamiliar automated systems. Nandhyala developed hands-on instruction covering reel handling, palletizers, conveyors and stackers, along with instructional videos operators could revisit. Meyer credited that preparation with shortening the learning curve, increasing confidence and reducing startup issues. “While his technical accomplishments are impressive, what truly sets Vinny apart is his dedication to developing the people around him,” Meyer wrote. Nandhyala has since expanded his responsibilities to HVAC and other complex facility systems. His award recognizes engineering expertise multiplied through patient instruction and collaboration.
Large Market runner-up: Beth Ptak, director, manufacturing, USA TODAY Co.
The surprise may have interrupted Beth Ptak’s coffee cleanup, but the recognition reflected a long record of achievement. Nominated by Tom Tate, senior director of regional manufacturing, Ptak brings 27 years of newspaper production experience to USA TODAY Co.’s Des Moines operation. Her responsibilities encompass platemaking, press operations, packaging, facilities management, newsprint procurement, commercial printing, and USA TODAY Store operational efficiencies. The facility produces USA TODAY, The Des Moines Register and six additional regional company publications while serving numerous commercial printing partners. Tate’s nomination emphasized Ptak’s contribution to maintaining and expanding those relationships. Her customer service and production experience help support an operation taking on significant outside work.
Employee development is another priority. Ptak leads the local P.A.R.T.S. program, working to standardize frontline training and promotion opportunities. She collaborates with other leaders to identify employees with potential and build the team’s capabilities. Quarterly town halls, employee engagement activities and safety training reinforce that investment in people.
“Stay calm and keep going” sounds simple. Her record shows the experience, preparation and follow-through behind it.
Across all six honorees, that combination gives the awards their meaning. Readers may never see a press adjustment, a revised route or an operator’s training session, but they depend on the result every time a newspaper reaches them.
Mike Blinder is publisher of Editor & Publisher magazine and the host of “E&P Reports.”
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