Rick Bean to retire Dec. 31; Jana Thomasson named as successor

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Rick Bean has announced his intention to retire as president of the North Carolina/Georgia/Tennessee division of Paxton Media Group and publisher of the High Point (N.C.) Enterprise at year end. 

Jana Thomasson, publisher of the Mountain Press in Sevierville, Tenn., has been named to succeed Bean as president of the division.  The announcement was made by David Paxton, president and CEO of PMG.

"Rick has been a vital part of the success of our company since joining us in 1994," Paxton said. "Our company has seen tremendous growth since that time, and it would not have been possible without Rick's contributions."

Bean joined PMG as publisher of The Daily Dispatch in Henderson, N.C., almost 25 years ago. Today he serves as president of a division that includes 11 daily newspapers. Seven of those newspapers are in North Carolina, three are in Georgia and one is in Tennessee. The newspapers consistently are recognized for excellence; for many years, winning more than 100 news and advertising awards.

"I'm extremely proud of the fantastic staffs we have in each of our papers, continuing a legacy of excellence in every one of them," Bean said. "It's been an honor and privilege to be part of a growing company of community newspapers. We love what we do and the work is just as vital today as it was 25 years ago."

Thomasson joined Paxton Media Group over 30 years ago at The Paducah Sun in Paducah, Ky.  She served in a number of roles there before moving to Sevierville in 1997 to become the publisher of the Mountain Press. Under Thomasson's leadership, the Press has won numerous awards over the years from the Tennessee Press Association and the Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors' contest.

"Jana brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. We are excited to have this expertise expanded to our other properties in the division," said Jamie Paxton, vice president of PMG. "She has a strong track record of success and understands the value that community newspapers provide to their readers and advertisers."

"It's an exciting time to be in our business and I'm looking forward to working with the talented people in this division," Thomasson said.  "Their commitment to producing top-notch community newspapers for readers and advertisers in print and online is unwavering."

Thomasson will remain publisher of The Mountain Press, and will be based in Sevierville. A new publisher in High Point will be named at a later time.

High Point, Paxton, Sevierville, Bean, Thomasson
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