RULEY
Spring is always a time of transition, but especially for us here at The St. Ignace News. April 1 marked the change of ownership to Hoffmann Michigan Media Group, and May has beckoned more changes with the announcement of a new publisher Friday, May 5. Kim Ruley, who has served as production manager here for many years, now takes on the lead role as publisher. She continues the storied tradition of our publisher emeritus Wesley Maurer, Jr. and his father before him, Wesley Maurer, Sr.
The announcement was made internally to Hoffmann Michigan Media Group staff May 5. In addition to naming Ms. Ruley as publisher, Stephanie Fortino was named editor, and Joelynn Joseph was named production manager. Anne Vieau of Mackinaw City manages the front office, aided by administrative assistant Annette Durm of Moran Township. Mary Wojcik of St. Ignace is continuing her work in accounting.
“We’re pleased to have promoted Ms. Ruley, Ms. Fortino, and Mrs. Joseph into their respective leadership roles. Their extensive backgrounds in editorial, marketing, printing, and production will bring valuable perspectives to our growing media company in Northern Michigan,” said Hoffmann Media Group CEO J. Pason Gaddis. “These promotions further enhance our existing local team and highlight Hoffmann Media Group’s promise in keeping the tradition of a family run newspaper with local management decisions.”
While he now has the title of publisher emeritus, Mr. Maurer is continuing to offer his help and guidance, as the new management team settles into their roles. He will continue to work in the St. Ignace office, but he is stepping back from the day-to-day operations.
“I know that both Ms. Ruley and Ms. Fortino are capable professionals and will do excellent work on the paper,” Mr. Maurer said. “I have enjoyed working with them all these years and am glad they are able to fulfill their ambitions right here on these newspapers.”
Ms. Ruley has been at The St. Ignace News for a decade, having started as the print shop assistant in June 2013. During her tenure, she has shepherded the job shop through an era of growth and development, and her work graces many local businesses in St. Ignace, Les Cheneaux, Mackinac Island, and beyond.But her time in the newspaper industry has its roots in her youth, as she got her first experiences through the work of her mother, Cheryll Ruley, who worked as a reporter at the Crawford County Avalanche. Ms. Ruley worked at the newspaper while in high school, setting type, waxing pages, sacking and tagging papers for delivery, and writing obituaries.
Prior to working for Maurer Publishing, Ms. Ruley worked in marketing and spent two years in advertising sales at The Cheboygan Daily Tribune. She was graduated from the Devos School of Art and Design at Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in photography with a minor in media studies in 2008.
Her parents Cheryll and Mark and sister Karyn Ruley reside in Grayling, where Ms. Ruley attended and was graduated from high school. She has lived in Cheboygan for more than a decade and has gotten to know many of the region’s local newspapers.
“I see areas we can add efficiency and bring us into the modern era, keeping our current readers engaged and attracting new readers to our publications,” she said. “And, I am excited to see the print shop grow.”
While she is taking on the responsibilities of publisher, Ms. Ruley will continue working in the print shop, where she has formed relationships with many faithful clients. “I want them to know I’m not going anywhere,” she said. “I’ll still lean heavily into the print shop, but I’m also excited for Joelynn to grow. With increasing efficiency and more investment, we’ll be able to better serve our clients and communities.”
Beyond her work in graphic design, Ms. Ruley has been involved in nearly every aspect of the business during her tenure, including IT support, billing, advertising, facilities management, and staff hiring. And, after just over a month with the new ownership group of Hoffmann Michigan Media, Ms. Ruley said she is humbled to have been identified as Mr. Maurer’s successor so quickly.
“Hoffmann Michigan Media Group is making an investment in The St. Ignace News and the Mackinac Island Town Crier, but really, it’s an investment in our region,” she said. “They believe in us and our mission, and they want to see us grow. And, I am humbled by the support and faith Wes has in me.”
JOSEPH
Taking on the role of production manager is Mrs. Joseph of St. Ignace, who previously served as print shop assistant. Mrs. Joseph has lived in St. Ignace since 2015 with her husband, Todd Joseph. Mr. Joseph has worked for the Mackinac Bridge Authority for more than 25 years. Together, they have a blended family of six grown children: sons, Shad, Nathan, and Dustin, and daughters, Ashley, Breaunna, and Jocelyn.
Mrs. Jospeh has worked at The St. Ignace News Print Shop since June 2020, learning many graphic design, printing, and bindery skills along the way. An avid crafter in her spare time, Mrs. Joseph was drawn to career here because of her lifelong interest in art and technology.
“I have always been artistic, since I was little,” Mrs. Joseph said.
Now as production manager, Mrs. Joseph will transition to taking on more responsibility in the print shop and working with the company’s many clients.
“I was excited, shocked, and a little nervous,” when the announcement was made, she said.
And she is looking forward to what lies ahead with Hoffmann Michigan Media under the leadership of Ms. Ruley, who has taught her much during her time at the newspaper.
“Kim is great person and she’ll make a great boss lady,” Mrs. Joseph said. “I think she’s got what it takes. I love working for her.”
And reflecting on the investment brought on by the new ownership, she added, “All I see is greatness happening. It’s going to go far.”
Rick Caldwell of Topinabee will be working with Mrs. Joseph, serving as a delivery person and production assistant.
Changes Come to the Newsroom
FORTINO
More changes have been announced in the newsroom at The St. Ignace News and Mackinac Island Town Crier. Ms. Fortino has been named editor, taking over the role from Mr. Maurer, who served as publisher editor, and longtime editor Ellen Paquin who retired in December and has continued to help the publications as a copy editor. Cindy Snyder of St. Ignace also serves as copy editor, a role she assumed in 2022.
Ms. Fortino has spent her entire journalistic career at The St. Ignace News, having joined the staff in January 2013. She was graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in English and environmental science in 2012. She left the newspaper briefly for a marketing and recruiting position at the University of Michigan Biological Station in Pellston, but she returned to her adoptive hometown of St. Ignace and to Maurer Publishing in September 2017. Most recently, she has served as managing editor of both papers, working with her fellow reporters on assignments and laying out the editorial content each week.
“I am truly grateful and humbled by this promotion to editor,” Ms. Fortino said. “Carrying on this legacy of accurate, fair, and solutions-based community journalism established by the Maurer family is my greatest honor. I will endeavor to faithfully serve our communities, providing interesting, informative, and important stories to our readers.”
The newsroom is also staffed by longtime reporter Erich T. Doerr of St. Ignace who has also worked here since January 2013, covering many stories and beats during his tenure. He is known for thoughtful and detailed stories of St. Ignace’s many summer events. Mr. Doerr has been recognized for work, earning the “Friends of St. Ignace” award in 2018 from the visitors bureau for his “continuous support and interest” in the St. Ignace Car Show. Originally from Bay City, Mr. Doerr earned a Bachelor of Science in journalism with a minor media design from Central Michigan University in 2009. He has worked in the newspaper industry for 16 years.
Reporter Alexis Rankin of Mackinaw City joined the staff year-around in 2022 after completing the internship program with the Mackinac Island Town Crier last summer. She has covered many stories during her year with the publications, many of which continue to be based on Mackinac Island. She was graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in environmental and a minor in English. During college, she served as the managing photography editor at the Michigan Daily student publication, earning awards for her photography work. She is originally from Dearborn.
The Mackinac Island Town Crier internship continues this summer with reporters Sophia Brandt from Michigan State University and McKenna Johnson from the University of Montana. The internship begins in May, coinciding with the seaonal weekly production of the Town Crier.
The newest edition to the editorial staff in St. Ignace is editorial assistant Kaitlyn Wales of St. Ignace.
The newspapers also feature the work of sports freelancers David Latva and Ben Murphy, as well as columns from Robert W. Smith of Les Cheneaux, Linda Livermore of Engadine, Stephen King of Naubinway, and Margaret Doud of Mackinac Island. Contributors to the Mackinac Island Town Crier also include equestrian Candace Dunnigan, naturalist Patricia Martin, and history aficionado Frank Straus. Public health nurse Nancy Hayward of Ann Arbor also contributes columns to both newspapers, including weekly columns during the pandemic.
Reflecting on this time of growth and change at the newspaper, Ms. Ruley said that everyone working here is essential to its continued success.
“I’m excited for everyone here, I really am,” she said. “The staff has been through a lot, and we’ve gotten through it together, while getting the paper out every week and sometimes two a week. Everyone here is important to that.”
This post was originally published on www.stignacenews.com