Peter Vandevanter

722 Krameria St., Denver, CO. 80220

303.253.5334 (H) 303.253.5334 (O) 303.253.5334 (C)

globaliste@yahoo.com

Summary

A profit-oriented, digital and print executive with a 27-year track record of success leading editorial, sales and marketing organizations, especially targeted publications. Proven leadership skills, with the versatility to work across disciplines to accomplish complex projects and strategic initiatives. Adept at launching multi-media products that include bundled rates for the advertiser and multi-platform utility for the user. Recognized as a strong developer of people and teams and products.

Experience

Individuated News Conference, Leipzig, Germany, Denver, Washington D.C. 2006 to present

Founder

The annual conference focuses on personalization of news and advertising -- on any platform. The opportunity for reader/user choice empowered by the internet is a dynamic that is constantly evolving across new media platforms and digital products.

• First held in 2007 in Leipzig, Germany, to discuss the Kodak Versamark digital press, the first inkjet copier designed to accommodate newspaper print runs. About 20 attendees.
• In 2008, held in Denver, 45 attendees discussed the application of variable data printers (usually used for credit card bills) to newspaper printing including presses built by OCE, MAN, HP and Screen. Also much discussion of online personalization.
• In 2009, in Washington, D.C., four personalized print products were presented: Time INC's "Mine" magazine, The Washington Times personalized national edition, the Swiss Posts's mix and match newspaper, and MediaNews Group's home printed newspaper. 85 attendees.
• In 2010, the conference turned to monetizing content, in print and online and on mobile. 50 attendees.
• The conference has been sponsored by MediaNews Group (national media company), News and Tech (trade magazine), Accrisoft (website developer), PPI Media (software vendor), IPhase3 (micropayment vendor), ImpactEngine (advertising platform), OCE (press manufacturer) and Hewlett-Packard (digital service company).
• The conference consistently attracts leaders in the news industry including The New York Times, The Associated Press, MediaNews Group, the Washington Post, News and Tech Magazine and the Seybold Report. Visit IndividuatedNews.



MediaNews Group, Denver, CO, 2006 to 2010

Vice President, Targeted Products

Directed the $37 million product portfolio of niche magazines and special sections for MediaNews Group, with special focus on developing and launching new products.


• Created national/local special sections around Live Green and Live to Share themes; centralized design, national sales and local sales lead lists. Generated $500,000 in local sales with the two sections run in over 40 markets.
• Set up a centralized digital repository for niche content available to all 52 markets, to reduce local costs involved in creating special sections.
• Built an interactive tool to help publishers choose which new product would be best suited to launch in the local market. The so-called Wizard included product-specific p&ls and best practice examples from markets throughout the country, as well as details on all the costs involved with niche publications. A niche products "Quicken" for local publishers.
• Canvassed all MNG newspapers' niche products and evaluated the categories that were strong and weak across the board, with the goal in mind to chart a roadmap of new products.
• Established a "language of launch", that divides each local market into 25 underserved audiences (parents, pet owners, homebuyers, travelers, etc.) and assigns a scale of opportunity to each, so, local publishers could choose the pat of growth.
• Identified one magazine -- SPACES -- as a potential national brand and wrote a business plan to take this magazine to key MNG markets as well as other top 20 markets and eventually approach national advertisers, as well as create a social-networking website that extends the brand online.
• Organized MNG into seven regions and identified Targeted Product directors in each region to carry the message and the mandate to all newspapers.
• Put together three group meetings attended by about 20 executives each to spread the message.
• Spoke to many industry groups on the opportunity afforded by niche products including the American Press Institute (Reston, Va., 2007), the International Newspaper Financial Executives (Chicago, 2007), the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (Hershey, Pa., 2007), the International Newspaper Group (Tampa, 2008), Newspaper Association of America MediaXChange (March, 2009), the World Association of Newspapers conference (Barcelona, Spain, May, 2009)



The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC 1999-2006

Vice President, New Ventures

Helped direct the $180 million operation of The Charlotte Observer, with special focus on new products. New Ventures division grew at a 30 percent revenue clip with targeted magazine and online products. Nominated for a Knight Ridder Excellence Award for Innovation in 2002.


• Launched more than a dozen niche magazines, growing revenue from $2 million to $7 million a year in categories such as luxury living, interior design, edge city, auto, newcomer, recruitment and real estate
• Created MortgageTrak, a national mortgage rate newspaper feature service, that was installed at 22 newspapers nationwide and generates more than $6 million revenue a year
• Developed and launched the Charlotte Magazine Network, enabling advertisers city-wide to buy demographic as well as geographic distribution across free publications
• Helped develop the Observer's strategy of convergence: bundling online, magazine and newspapers for the benefit of advertisers as well as readers
• Installed a Customer Relationship Management program, using Relationals software, for the 28 salespeople in the New Ventures division
• Helped restructure the automotive category with the launch of Cars.com The Magazine, bundled with online and the newspaper, growing more than $1 million a year
• Helped restructure the real estate category with the launch of ObserverHomes, which bundled online, a magazine and newspaper, growing over $500,000 a year
• Proposed and acquired two key magazines: First Impressions, for newcomers; and Carolina Bride, for couples planning weddings
• Created NewsArtStore.com that sold online posters created by newsroom designers
• Beta tested MyDailyOnline.com, a website that paginates RSS feeds into an online newspaper-looking page, the so-called "personal newspaper" in development

Community Newspaper Company, Needham, MA 1996/1999

Vice President of Specialty Publications

Assigned critical role on the senior management team of this group of 110 community weekly newspapers. Charged with a company turnaround, partnered with the President on marketing initiatives to maximize profitability company-wide.


• Member of senior management team that succeeded in engineering a $17M turnaround, which significantly increased the company's value and marketability.
• Launched the most successful CNC niche publication ever: Boston Homes, which currently bills a about $3 million a year.
• Acquired South Shore Parent and Baby Journal, and launched three other zones: North Shore, West and Downtown -- generating about $300,000 annually
• Launched a series of eight, zoned Newcomer Guides, generating $300,000 annually each
• Created a mortgage rate grid in all 110 newspapers that generated $2 million a year.
• Helped create Townonline.com, templated web site for all 110 newspapers



The Washington Times., Washington, D.C. 1991-1996

Editor, Specialty Publications

Recruited to launch a real estate publication for Washington, which became The Friday Home Guide, and generated nearly $775,000 the first year. The publication aimed at the new home market became The Washington Times' most successful revenue section, and currently bills $3 million a year.


• Grew incremental revenues from $0 in 1984 to $3M in 1991 from specialty publications.
• Started a real estate cable show on NewsChannel 7 and hosted the show for three years
• Co-hosted a weekly radio show "Real Estate Practically Speaking" for four years
• Created a fax-on-demand service for the Times that generated revenue through print sponsors
• Starred in TV marketing campaign that presented the real estate section as a multi-platform product: inpaper, online, fax-on-demand, on radio, on television
• Created Fashion, Cars and Recruitment special sections



The Journal Newspapers, Washington, D.C. 1984/1991

Editor, Specialty Publications

Recruited to launch a new feature section that became TEMPO. Later moved over to launch a real estate publication, that became The Friday Home Report, generating more than $500,000 its first year. The Home Report became the most successful niche product for the chain.

• Created Jobs, Travel and Fashion special sections.
• Ran a 10-person feature department responsible for food, entertainment and lilfestyle sections for three five-day daily newspapers The Montgomery Journal, The Prince George's Journal and the Fairfax Journal.



Network News, Washington, D.C. 1981-1984

Managing Editor

Recruited by Harper's Magazine to run a startup alternative news syndicate, utilizing the new technology that allowed story transmission by modem to newspaper computers. Managed 12 writers, as well as managed the weekly news report, culled form original reporting as well as the purchase of second rights to magazine articles. Clients included The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, The St. Louis Globe-Dispatch, The Chicago Tribune, The Orange County Register and the San Francisco Chronicle.


States News Service, Washington, D.C. 1979-1981

Correspondent

Washington Correspondent for the Harte Hanks Newspaper chain of Texas, including College Station, Corsicana, Laredo and Huntsville. Initiated a series of stories on the drinking binges of a Texas congressman that ended with the representative resigning his post.


United Press International, Baltimore, Md. 1977-1979

Correspondent

Covered the General Assumbly, the Baltimore Colts and other world news out of Baltimore, including the conviction of former Gov. Marvin Mandel for racketeering.




Macon Telegraph, Macon, Ga. 1974-1976

Reporter

Police and courts reporter, covered the drug trials of the Allman Brothers. Also reported that the local sheriff had been indicted on bribery charges, leading to his resignation and plea bargain the next day.


Manassas Journal Messenger, Manassas, Va. 1973-1974

Reporter

General assignment reporter, won regional award for exposing corruption at a local retirement home.

Education

Princeton University, Princeton, N.J. B.A. Art History 1973

References (telephone numbers on request)

Bill Elfers, former CEO, The Community Newspaper Co.

Mike Veich, former President, The Community Newspaper Co.

Kirk Davis, Publisher, The Community Newspaper Co.

David Thompson, Publisher, Daily Oklahoman

Pat Keil, former Executive Vice President, The Charlotte Observer

Peter Ridder, former Publisher, The Charlotte Observer


Ann Caulkins, Publisher, The Charlotte Observer