Digital Connections 2026

Fran Wills joined the Local Media Consortium in July 2018, where she develops technology and partnership strategies to drive revenue and audience growth for members. A veteran marketing and digital executive, she has held senior roles at Cox Media Group, The Dallas Morning News, and The Denver Post, leading digital innovation and partnerships with companies including Google and Yahoo. She lives on the Georgia coast with her husband and three children and enjoys cooking, gardening, and bee research on Sapelo Island.

Carolynn Buser is CEO of OnMilwaukee, where she leads the organization’s vision, strategy, operations, and financial performance. She has spent more than 15 years at OnMilwaukee, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Content Officer, and Editorial Director. Throughout her tenure, she has overseen content strategy, social media, partnerships, and digital initiatives designed to grow audience engagement and revenue. A Milwaukee native and outspoken advocate for her city, Buser brings an energetic, opinionated, and deeply local perspective to covering culture, food, and community across the region.

Eric Olson is Digital Media Operations Manager at Forum Communications Co., a role he has held since March 2022. He previously served as National/Major’s Account Manager at Forum Communications and held advertising operations leadership roles at Rivertown Multimedia and the Duluth News Tribune. Over more than 17 years at the Duluth News Tribune, Olson worked across advertising operations, multimedia consulting, and customer services. Earlier in his career, he also served as a Broadcast Technician with Quarnstrom Radio Group. His experience spans digital media operations, advertising, and broadcast environments.

Michael Martoccia is Chief Digital Officer at Adams MultiMedia, where he leads digital revenue and the development of strategic marketing solutions across more than 100 markets in 18 states. He brings more than 30 years of experience in advertising and digital marketing leadership and has overseen sustained digital growth at Adams MultiMedia for the past five years. Martoccia has previously held senior digital and advertising leadership roles at McClatchy, BH Media, and CNHI. He is an active industry speaker and facilitator and is deeply involved in community service and volunteer leadership.

Shawn Riegsecker is CEO and Founder of Basis Technologies, which he founded in 2001 to build a comprehensive, automated, and intelligent software platform for the digital media industry. Under his leadership, Basis Technologies has earned numerous accolades, including recognition on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500, the Inc. 500, and Crain’s Chicago Business Best Places to Work, where it ranked No. 1 for three consecutive years. Riegsecker is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization and a founding director and co-chairman of Unite America. He also serves on multiple boards and is an active angel investor through Firestarter Fund.

Ben Bouslog is Vice President of Business Development at AdCellerant, a technology and sales enablement company delivering digital advertising solutions to local businesses. With experience across broadcasting, print, agencies, and technology companies, he brings a strong background in operations, marketing, and sales. At AdCellerant, Bouslog has helped drive growth, strengthen support infrastructure, and train hundreds of media companies in digital media strategies. His work has contributed to AdCellerant earning a place on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list for six consecutive years.

Elizabeth Bernberg is a digital marketing leader with more than 17 years of experience developing and growing digital revenue strategies across media organizations. Her background spans leadership roles in print, television, and radio, including positions with The Denver Post, the Colorado Press Association, CBS Television Network, and Audacy. Elizabeth specializes in accelerating digital revenue growth while supporting impactful marketing strategies for small and mid-sized businesses. Known for her energetic leadership style and deep industry knowledge, she helps media organizations build sustainable digital growth.

Eric Myers is Co-Founder of CPM Ventures and Principal of EJ Consultants, where he advises media companies and agencies on scaling revenue through ad tech, martech, and innovative go-to-market strategies. He previously led P&L performance as President of Medium Giant/Dallas Morning News and held senior roles at Cox Media Group, working with brands like The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Austin American-Statesman, and The Palm Beach Post, while also helping scale Idea Bar. With over 20 years of experience in omni-channel revenue strategy, he operates at the intersection of local media, digital transformation, and performance marketing, and is a frequent speaker at industry forums such as AdExchanger and MediaPost. He began his career at a startup agency in Telluride, Colorado, aiming to spend 100 days a year on the slopes.

Michael Martoccia is Chief Digital Officer at Adams MultiMedia, where he leads digital revenue and the development of strategic marketing solutions across more than 100 markets in 18 states. He brings more than 30 years of experience in advertising and digital marketing leadership and has overseen sustained digital growth at Adams MultiMedia for the past five years. Martoccia has previously held senior digital and advertising leadership roles at McClatchy, BH Media, and CNHI. He is an active industry speaker and facilitator and is deeply involved in community service and volunteer leadership.

Fran Wills joined the Local Media Consortium in July 2018, where she develops technology and partnership strategies to drive revenue and audience growth for members. A veteran marketing and digital executive, she has held senior roles at Cox Media Group, The Dallas Morning News, and The Denver Post, leading digital innovation and partnerships with companies including Google and Yahoo. She lives on the Georgia coast with her husband and three children and enjoys cooking, gardening, and bee research on Sapelo Island.

Sara Kehaulani Goo is President of The Washington Post’s Creator Network, where she leads the development of a new media business focused on collaborating with independent creators, expanding audience engagement, and innovating commercial strategies, including the use of AI in content creation and distribution. She previously served as Editor in Chief and Executive Editor at Axios, overseeing significant newsroom growth and expansion into new products such as podcasts, video, events, and local news. Earlier in her career, Goo held senior leadership roles at NPR, where she led newsroom operations and digital strategy.

CJ is a product and technology executive with more than 20 years of experience leading teams across product, engineering, and data. She specializes in building high-performing teams and transforming organizations into product-led, data-informed businesses that drive sustainable growth. CJ is known for applying lean startup principles, fostering people-first leadership, and helping organizations scale efficiently while unlocking new business value. Her work focuses on delivering innovative digital products, improving development efficiency, and aligning teams around clear strategy and measurable results.

Mark Carlson is the founder of SimpleFeed, a content syndication technology company he launched in 2004 and grew into a leading platform in the industry. Prior to SimpleFeed, he founded both an intellectual property protection company and an internet privacy company, each of which was later acquired by large public companies. Mark lives in the Bay Area with his wife and three daughters.

Spencer McClung is a strategic partnerships and go-to-market leader focused on scaling companies through AI-enabled workflows, partnerships, and revenue growth. He currently leads RightsSync, a rights-cleared news content and data delivery platform backed by BMI and New Mountain Capital that supports AI and LLM grounding. McClung brings extensive experience building high-value partnerships, developing growth strategies, and leading cross-functional teams across media, commerce, and technology. His work centers on driving scalable platforms, accelerating revenue growth, and building high-performing teams that execute with focus and speed.

Chris Patheiger is a product and innovation leader who helps legacy media and subscription-based businesses modernize and grow with operational discipline. Most recently, he served as Chief Product and Innovation Officer at DallasNews Corporation, where he led product, engineering, data, and innovation initiatives to drive audience and revenue growth and support the company’s acquisition by Hearst. With experience spanning major media organizations and startups, Patheiger brings an entrepreneurial, data-driven approach to scaling products, leveraging AI, and building high-performing teams.

Dwight Wilhelm is a digital revenue and product leader focused on continuously improving digital platforms such as dallasnews.com and the digital edition. He works across teams to develop innovative ways to connect engaged audiences with advertisers, driving meaningful results for both clients and the newsroom. Through cross-functional collaboration with web development, SEO, analytics, campaign management, sales, and executive leadership, Dwight has helped grow digital revenue to more than four times its pre-pandemic 2019 levels while supporting the long-term sustainability of local journalism in Dallas.

Michael Newman is the Director of Transformation at Graham Media Group, where he leads innovative strategies to drive growth through digital media and data-driven solutions. With over a decade of experience in local news, he specializes in building scalable products and revenue models while leading cross-functional teams. Michael is currently focused on integrating AI into newsrooms to enhance community service, and has successfully expanded audience, distribution, and revenue through advanced video workflows, including 24/7 news channels, AI-generated content, and video archiving systems.

Paul is a Strategic Partnerships leader at Google, supporting media and entertainment partners through growth-focused initiatives and collaboration. He is a results-driven partner manager with a proven track record of building strong relationships, driving revenue growth, and executing strategic initiatives within the technology sector.

Brian Connolly is Chief Innovation Officer at the National Trust for Local News, where he leads news innovation, audience revenue, product development, and strategic communications. He is a creative problem-solver focused on moving quickly from ideas to execution, developing new models that expand the reach and impact of local journalism. Connolly specializes in business development, integrated marketing, and storytelling, building strategies that seize emerging opportunities. Passionate about building strong teams and scalable products, he advances sustainable growth and long-term innovation in local news organizations.

Liz Hayes is Program Manager for Digital On-Demand Services (DODS), where she leads the Local Media Consortium's strategic initiative, connecting publishers with tools, resources, and expertise to grow their digital businesses. Her background spans broadcast journalism, sales, content strategy, and product development, including roles in radio, television, and branded content. She has worked as a reporter, anchor, executive producer, and director of strategy, and previously helped launch and scale a cross-market branded TV program. With experience across journalism, business, and philanthropy, Hayes brings a well-rounded, newsroom-informed approach to supporting local media organizations.

Paris M. Brown is Publisher of The Baltimore Times, where she provides executive leadership across all business operations, driving growth across print and digital platforms. She brings more than 20 years of experience in business development and marketing, and previously served as Associate Publisher, leading a digital-first strategy that increased revenue through targeted campaigns and innovative models. Brown leverages emerging technologies, including AI, VR, and AR, to deepen audience engagement. She strengthens partnerships and expands community initiatives, including Creatively Black Baltimore, while advancing the publication’s mission of storytelling.

Randy Picht is Executive Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism, where he provides executive leadership across programs focused on media innovation and technology. He brings more than 20 years of management experience and over a decade of P&L responsibility spanning media, marketing, and technology oversight. Picht has led the development of new products, proactively identifying and resolving challenges before they arise. He is recognized for strong communication skills, innovative problem-solving, and collaborative leadership that advances sustainable journalism initiatives.

Dave Rivera oversees Channel Partnerships at Vistar, working with teams ranging from local media sales groups to multi-national marketing service providers.

Jay has more than 18 years of experience in digital media and marketing and is known for developing innovative solutions for publishers and advertisers using technology, data, and analytics. As President of WEHCO Digital Media, he oversees operations for 11 digital media brands and a digital marketing agency across six states in the South and Midwest, leading teams that deliver high-quality products, services, and revenue growth. He also runs Digital Who, LLC, and previously served on the Local Media Consortium board.

Jon Accarino is the founder of Ordo Digital and an AI strategist helping media organizations move beyond “AI tourism” into real, revenue-driving implementation. With a background in innovation at NBCUniversal and KSL, and AI Strategy training from MIT, he bridges the gap between complex AI capabilities and practical business outcomes. Jon works with forward-thinking teams to build AI-driven infrastructure, develop custom workflows, protect and monetize content, and train workforces — grounded in the belief that the future leaders in media won’t just use AI, they’ll be built around it.

Michael Newman is the Director of Transformation at Graham Media Group, where he leads innovative strategies to drive growth through digital media and data-driven solutions. With over a decade of experience in local news, he specializes in building scalable products and revenue models while leading cross-functional teams. Michael is currently focused on integrating AI into newsrooms to enhance community service, and has successfully expanded audience, distribution, and revenue through advanced video workflows, including 24/7 news channels, AI-generated content, and video archiving systems.

Traci Bauer leads the content division for Adams Multimedia, a company that includes more than 150 news titles. For the past couple of years she has worked with editors in regions across the U.S. to implement ai tools for workflow efficiency. She is currently working with platform experiments around digital storytelling and marketplace agreements. Before joining Adams, Bauer worked for several years in digital strategy and newsroom leadership for Gannett. 

Tracy Maher is the Director of TV Digital Operations at Hubbard Broadcasting, overseeing digital content and daily operations across six television news sites in multiple markets. She works closely with newsroom and development teams to optimize sites, enhance user experience, and drive performance through data and analytics. Tracy leads efforts across web, mobile, and connected TV platforms to deliver engaging, video-forward news experiences, with expertise in SEO, content strategy, project management, and digital audience growth.

Christian Hendricks is a Founder and Publisher of an independent local news organization focused on sustainable digital publishing and strong community engagement. He also works with the Local Media Consortium to develop strategic partnerships that drive value for its members. A highly respected media executive, he brings over 25 years of experience from leadership roles at McClatchy. Hendricks has served on numerous industry boards, including Cars.com and the News Media Alliance, and continues to advise and lead across media and venture initiatives. His work centers on building innovative, community-driven models for the future of local journalism.

Doug Rogers is a Digital Technology and Operations Manager at PowerPlay, where he oversees ad operations for Lilly Broadcasting’s digital sales initiatives. He focuses on optimizing campaign workflows, improving performance, and increasing revenue through programmatic partnerships and ad tech platforms like Google Ad Manager.

With over 12 years at Lilly Broadcasting, Doug leads digital strategy across TV, radio, and news brands, driving innovation through AI, streaming, and new platform integrations. He has spearheaded initiatives including SSAI implementation, OTT app launches, and FAST channel distribution. Doug also brings strong technical expertise, building custom solutions and enhancing digital experiences to support growth and engagement.

Girard Hardy is the Head of Integrated Marketing at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), where he leads creative, high-impact campaigns that bring the brand to life, including the AJC Headline House initiative.

An award-winning marketing leader, he has driven brand growth and revenue for global brands like Nike and Bevel (now part of Procter & Gamble). Girard combines data and creativity to deliver full-funnel campaigns that engage audiences and drive results, while inspiring teams to perform at their best

Tim Ikeman is Head of Strategic Partnerships and New Ventures at the Star Tribune, where he leads mission-aligned partnerships and develops new revenue opportunities across the organization. He brings more than two decades of media experience, guiding partnership, event, brand, and marketing initiatives that strengthen community and corporate relationships. Ikeman also serves as Executive Producer of the North Star Summit, overseeing event strategy and execution. Known for collaborative leadership, he champions sustainable growth and the essential role of local journalism in Minnesota communities statewide.

Justin Mitchell is Managing Editor of Audience at NOLA.com, where he leads digital audience strategy focused on growth, engagement, and retention. An experienced digital audience editor, Mitchell specializes in headline writing, SEO optimization, social media, newsletters, and content coaching. He has held senior audience and editing roles at Sun Herald, McClatchy, and The Clarion-Ledger, managing and supporting newsroom teams across multiple states. His work spans content strategy, digital publishing, audience distribution, and coaching journalists to better reach and serve their communities.

Matt Boggie is a media and entertainment leader with more than 25 years of experience solving challenges in content management, distribution, and market positioning. He is known for combining creative leadership with technical expertise, working seamlessly between high-level strategy and detailed execution. Bohhie focuses on developing innovative solutions that improve content delivery, strengthen market presence, and drive business growth across evolving media environments.

Tracey Kennedy is Senior Director of Client Strategy at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, where she leads a team delivering marketing and strategic services designed to drive advertising revenue and measurable results for clients. She brings a strong background in marketing and advertising strategy, with expertise spanning client service management, brand positioning, creative development, research, media planning, and ROI measurement. In her role, Kennedy serves as a marketing consultant to advertising clients, developing custom, data-informed campaigns across print, digital, and television platforms. She also leads B2B marketing efforts and partners closely with sales teams to support new business growth and digital revenue expansion.

Alan Fisco is President and CEO of The Seattle Times, where he provides executive leadership across all business operations, including affiliate newspapers the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and the Yakima Herald-Republic, as well as the company’s Kent printing facility. He joined The Seattle Times in 1992 and has held multiple senior leadership roles spanning circulation, marketing, finance, and operations. Fisco previously served as President of America’s Newspapers Association and currently chairs the America’s Newspapers Foundation and Legislative Committee. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Washington.

Emma Discher is Senior Audience and Engagement Editor at NOLA, with a focus on audience growth and community engagement. She specializes in crafting compelling headlines and developing promotion strategies that connect journalism with local audiences. Working across four daily newspapers in Louisiana, Discher manages a team of six and coaches more than 100 journalists, overseeing push notifications, social media, newsletters, and homepage strategy. She also supports a local opera nonprofit, where she builds social and email programs that have driven sold-out performances.

Jay has more than 18 years of experience in digital media and marketing and is known for developing innovative solutions for publishers and advertisers using technology, data, and analytics. As President of WEHCO Digital Media, he oversees operations for 11 digital media brands and a digital marketing agency across six states in the South and Midwest, leading teams that deliver high-quality products, services, and revenue growth. He also runs Digital Who, LLC, and previously served on the Local Media Consortium board.

Fran Wills joined the Local Media Consortium in July 2018, where she develops technology and partnership strategies to drive revenue and audience growth for members. A veteran marketing and digital executive, she has held senior roles at Cox Media Group, The Dallas Morning News, and The Denver Post, leading digital innovation and partnerships with companies including Google and Yahoo. She lives on the Georgia coast with her husband and three children and enjoys cooking, gardening, and bee research on Sapelo Island.