Zepezauer hired as general manager in Wilson, N.C.

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Throughout Keven Zepezauer's 22-year career, he has witnessed many shifts within the newspaper industry, so it is fitting the seasoned executive joined The Wilson (N.C.) Times staff on Monday.

In his post as general manager, he'll oversee daily operations, including recent survey-based alterations to the newspaper's content.

"The time has come for me to get some fresh, new ideas and Keven was the right person to bring in at the right time," said Times President and Publisher Morgan Dickerman.

The longevity in Zepezauer's career reflects his commitment to the industry. After graduating from N.C. State University in 1994, he took a job as a district manager for the News & Observer before heading east to Cooke Communications in 2001. He most recently served as the director of circulation and audience development for Cooke, which prints the Times in Greenville.

"This was a good opportunity to work with some great people in a smaller community hoping to make a change," Zepezauer said of joining the Times.

While newspaper ink isn't in Zepezauer's blood, he joined the industry after prompting from friends in the business.

"Every day is rewarding. It truly is," he said. "There are no two days that are the same and I enjoy that. It doesn't matter what position you're in, with newspapers you are doing something different every day."

With the community-centric approach at the Times, he said he looks forward to wearing many hats for the newspaper.

"When you look at radio, TV and other sources online, they just can't match our indepth coverage, and I think people recognize that," he said. "If you look at some radio stations, they'll cite newspapers and that is because we do news better than others."

His general goals for the newspaper are to increase revenues and decrease expenses by maximizing efficiencies while making the newspaper even better for the community.

"If it is good for the community, then it is good for us and everyone wins," he said.

With a 16-year-old son, Zepezauer doesn't plan to relocate immediately, but he said he is looking forward to getting involved in the Wilson community through organizations such as the Rotary Club.

As the president of the Mid-Atlantic Circulation Managers Association, he said he hopes to bring some best practices from the group's three-state membership to the Times.

"Circulation has declined over the past five or six years for all newspapers, and there has been a shift from reading the print version versus reading online," he said. "I've seen that shift and feel we are moving in the right direction to accommodate the changing needs of our readers."

In addition to his son in high school, he and his wife Laurie have an 18-year-old son, who'll be joining the Air Force at the end of September. He said spending time with his family is second-to-none with an annual beach trip being a longstanding tradition.

"We just spend a week down there and try not to do anything but hang out with each other," he said. "We try to get away from civilization as much as possible and really just spend time with each other and enjoy life."

Wilson, Zepezauer, Dickerman
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