Three Wilkes-Barre Ad Execs Receive Promotion

By: E&P Staff Three advertising executives at Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company have received promotions, according to various reports.

Michelle Lester has been named vice president of advertising for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. The papers are a part of MaineToday Media Inc., which is owned by Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company CEO Richard L. Connor. Connor also serves as editor and publisher of the Times Leader of Wilkes-Barre.

Lester will retain her old position of vice president/classified advertising at the Times Leader, to which she was promoted in February 2008. Prior to that, she had served as regional classified advertising director since March 2007.

"Michelle Lester is a national leader in newspaper advertising sales," Connor said in a statement. "She brings great credibility and strength in the area of classified advertising, an area under great pressure in our industry."

"I think this is a wonderful opportunity," Lester told the Press Herald. "The people in Portland have welcomed new approaches and seem very eager to learn new ways of doing things. I see tremendous opportunity. I think this will be a win-win all-around, for the advertisers and the community."

In addition to Lester's promotion, Kim Dudick has been named Wilkes-Barre's vice president/advertising. She had served as the company's vice president/retail and national advertising since February 2008.

Tom Bubul has been named classified advertising director. Bubul has worked for the Wilkes-Barre Publishing Company since 1990. His most recent position was special sections manager and sales trainer.

"Tom Bubul has been a stalwart at The Times Leader and other properties we own for many years,? Connor told the Wilkes-Barre paper. "He is a top performer, an advertising expert, and a skilled leader and manager ... We are a standout in our industry nationally because of talented people such as these."