Scott LeVander, with more than a decade of newspaper marketing
experience, is the new director of circulation operations and
marketing for South Valley Newspapers, which includes the Morgan
Hill Times, The Gilroy Dispatch and the Hollister Free Lance.
Scott LeVander, with more than a decade of newspaper marketing experience, is the new director of circulation operations and marketing for South Valley Newspapers, which includes the Morgan Hill Times, The Gilroy Dispatch and the Hollister Free Lance.
LeVander, who began his newspaper marketing career with the Silicon Valley Newspaper Group – a collection of community newspapers, said he’s looking forward to the opportunity to return to the local level.
“My style is more hometown, homegrown newspapers,” LeVander said. “I am extremely excited about this incredible opportunity. Increasing the circulation of our newspaper group will benefit the community and advertisers alike.
“We have a unique opportunity to provide local, homegrown content that can’t be found anywhere else. It will be our mission to deliver this news to as many readers as possible in the South Valley.”
South Valley Newspapers Publisher Steve Staloch called LeVander “a seasoned pro with a proven track record at newspapers both large and small.”
“Scott’s resume speaks for itself and confirms our commitment to improve delivery service and aggressively expand the readership of the Hollister Free Lance,” Staloch said. “Candidly, we have not consistently provided the level of service our readers expect and pay for.
“Scott and his team are tasked with making top-quality delivery the rule rather than the exception. Under his leadership, we will implement strategic plans aimed at dramatically expanding readership and bringing new consumers to our advertisers’ places of business.”
LeVander said his top priorities will be instituting an effective “sampling program” to introduce the newspapers to potential subscribers, increasing circulation to improve the response to the newspapers’ advertisers and becoming more involved in the local communities that are being served by the newspapers.
Circulation manager Craig Deal will retain his current duties, LeVander said.
The 42-year-old LeVander graduated from St. Mary’s College of Moraga with a bachelor’s of arts in communications in 1984. After a season of professional baseball in the Oakland A’s organization, LeVander began an extensive career in advertising and marketing, including stints with KARA/KLIV radio, the San Jose Jammers of the CBA and Wolf Marketing in Los Gatos.
LeVander joined the Silicon Valley Newspaper Group (Metro Newspapers) in 1993 as director of advertising and marketing. He left in 1998 to join the Colorado Springs, Colo., Independent, where he served as vice president of sales and marketing. In 2000, he took over as classified manager at the San Francisco Chronicle.
LeVander said he plans to move to Gilroy. He has two children, Brooke, 11, and Jack, 5.
Hollister area residents with delivery questions or problems should call 831-637-8555.
LeVander can be reached
directly at 408-842-6400, ext. 267 or by e-mail at
sl*******@sv**********.com
.
