From Centre Daily Times, July 9

Centre Daily Times appoints Leath as new advertising director

By Jennifer Thomas

After a nationwide search, the Centre Daily Times has named Susan D. Leath as advertising director.

She joined the company on July 5 and succeeds Jim Grahn, who left the paper in April.

"Her high energy and experience is exactly what's needed to improve the workings of the advertising department, improve customer service and partnerships, and reduce the staff turnover that has caused some problems," said Publisher Adrian Pratt.

Leath comes to the Centre Daily Times from Tuscaloosa, Ala., where she had been advertising director for The Tuscaloosa News since May 2003.

She and her husband, Randall, moved to the region at the end of June with their three children, Randi, Taylor and Randall Jr.

"She has a deep, well-rounded experience in newspaper advertising and a passion for the business," Pratt said. "She comes to us from another university market and is aware of all the distinct challenges that that entails."

Leath's career in media advertising began in August 1989, after she graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in advertising and a minor in marketing. Throughout her career, she has worked in classified and display advertising, often garnering the honor of top salesperson.

Leath does admit to one detour into television in the early 1990s, but her love of the newspaper business brought her back after just one year.

"I have a passion about this business," she said. "I have a passion about helping our advertisers find a way to meet their needs."

She stepped into management in September 1992 as a senior retail advertising executive for The Gainesville Sun. She later worked for the St. Petersburg Times in a number of managerial positions before moving to The Tuscaloosa News.

The Centre Daily Times may be comparable to her last position when it comes to circulation size, but it offers new opportunities for Leath.

She said she was drawn here by Pratt's vision for the paper, which she said is exciting. It also expands her job duties, allowing her to work in advertising, marketing and production.

"It's just building on my experience," she said. "It opens up the possibilities."