Twenty-nine years ago, I walked into the Bay Guardian’s Mission district office to apply for a part-time position in the circulation department. I was hired on the spot. And so began my career in San Francisco’s local newspaper industry.

At that time, the Guardian was a struggling weekly and I was willing to do just about anything to help it succeed. The owners appreciated my enthusiasm and before I knew it, my part-time job had become more than full time. And my responsibilities extended beyond the circulation department. As the years went by, my on-the-job training at the Guardian in journalism and business, I’m sure, was the equivalent of earning a Ph.D. in both disciplines.
   

Another 15 years were spent at the SF Independent, San Francisco Examiner and consulting for newspapers in Hawaii, New York, Connecticut, and Australia.
   

Last May, Susan Reynolds, the owner-publisher of Northside San Francisco and the Marina Times, brought me in as a part-time consultant to help her meet the challenges of running two community newspapers. Within a short time, I found myself doing just about anything to help the papers succeed. Susan appreciated my expertise and the progress I was making and before I knew it, my part-time job had become more than full time. And now I’ve taken on the responsibilities of publisher.
   

Susan will carry on as editor-in-chief and food and wine editor, doing what she knows best and loves to do: writing and editing. Her column “Jasmine Blue’s Tails of the Dog Park” will continue as a monthly feature in our papers. I so appreciate the faith Susan has in me and my abilities to manage and guide her company.
   

The Marina Times and Northside San Francisco wouldn’t be as good as they are or have the loyal readership that they have without our award-winning editor, writer and columnist, Bruce Bellingham. I wouldn’t have signed on to this publisher job without knowing that Bruce is here to stay.
   

I’d like to thank Matt McFetridge, Sara Brownell, Richard Carron, Cindy Beckman, Lynette Majer, and Juan Ordonez for welcoming me to the company and helping to make my transition to publisher as comfortable as it has been.
   

Many thanks to our crew of writers and photographers including GraceAnn Walden, Michael Murphy, Melissa Culross, Marilyn Damon Diamond, Fred McMillin, Bill Knutson, Jeannine Sano, Marcia Gagliardi, Patty Burness, J. T. Toves, Donna Gillespie, Jane Richey, Lori Cheung, Elizabeth Armstrong, Jim Maxwell, Keith Turner, Julie Mitchell, Leslie Drapkin, Charlotte Kissling, Hank Basayne, Fred Gehrung, and Jason Alderman.
   

A special thank you to our many advertisers who have been so supportive of the Marina Times and Northside San Francisco through the years. And we are grateful for all of you, our readers, and the feedback you give us.
   

2008 looks like it will be an exceptional year for Northside Publications. The look of the papers will change a bit, including the addition of four-color printing to the pages of the Marina Times. The content will also expand, with more coverage of local businesses, community organizations and activities, and political topics, as well as a sharper focus on the arts. I’m very excited about the changes. I think that you’ll like them, too.

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