Daily Herald honors its own ‘unsung heroes’
Daily Herald Media Group Chairman, CEO and Publisher Doug Ray hailed the five company employees who won 2024 excellence awards Wednesday as “unsung heroes” who “represent all of us.”
The winners are:
• Community News Editor Kim Becker, who was praised for her work ethic and willingness to pitch in wherever needed. An integral part of the Daily Herald’s editorial department since 1993, Becker oversees the pagination and design of the Neighbor sections, paginates Health & Fitness and helps oversee pagination of the company’s Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group newspapers, while also serving as a backup editor on the night news desk.
• Sales and Marketing Classified Manager Kevin Thomson, who was described as a “solutions-based leader” who readily volunteers to assist his colleagues. He was recognized for his steady leadership during a complicated and difficult transition to a new classified system.
• Prepress/Quality Manager Mary Zumbrock, who leads a production team that “touches almost all other departments in the company.” An essential member of the group responsible for implementing the new classified system, Zumbrock provides behind-the-scenes support to ensure a quality product.
• Town Square Publications Sales Support Specialist Tiffany Hogan, a Daily Herald Media Group employee since 2014. She oversees the advertising services department that processes thousands of ads all over the country and has taken on additional duties supporting the company’s top customers. She was described as “calm and cool under pressure,” with a “glass half-full energy that is appreciated by all those around her.”
• Susan McGrath, editor and operations manager of the company’s Pana Group. A devoted journalist fiercely committed to customer service, McGrath handles reporting, editing and design for five downstate publications and even delivers a weekly paper route.
The five winners were chosen from among 120 nominations companywide. In addition to the excellence award, each will receive $1,500.