Forward Janesville - TheReport - First Quarter 2021

Living in the South, you get used to a high level of hospitality. When we moved back to the Midwest, we felt like a bit of that was missing. Then we moved here. Everyone has been so helpful and engaged, connecting with us and making recommendations. It was a breath of fresh air. It made us feel right at home. I played tennis competitively and coached more than 40 years. Then a friend introduced me to Pickleball and suddenly I was immersed in this whole new world. Now I play that competitively. It doesn’t aggravate my tennis injuries nearly as much, which is a plus. There’s an outdoor court by Riverside Park and Premier Tennis worked with us to convert an indoor court as well. I highly recommend it. HOW DID I GET HERE? s u c c e s s • c h a l l e n g e s • l i f e l e s s o n s • e d u c a t i o n • c a r e e r • f a m i l y • i n s p i r a t i o n s If yo u p u t the right people in the right jobs, yo u can move mo u ntains. Everyone is not s u ited for every job, and that’s okay. Find the best fit. Then yo u can j u st get o u t of the way and let them accomplish great things. 1 2 3 My wife and son and I lost our jobs to COVID restructuring in 2020. It was definitely rough but ultimately transformed into an opportunity. Adams had been on my radar for quite some time. Since joining the team in August, it has been the best of challenges: integrating five companies and 17 titles, navigating the pandemic to find the best path forward, and developing new ways to serve. It sparked so much creativity and problem-solving. We have a great team, and we all do the best we can to provide a good product. We are so much more than ink on paper. My wife and I rescue dogs. We had an 80- pound yellow lab mix, a 65-pound Bernese mountain dog/lab mix, and an 18- pound rat terrier—kind of the three stooges, all boys. We lost the yellow lab recently, so now it’s just two, but they keep us busy. The middle dog we won in an auction at a black tie event. It was very entertaining shopping at Walmart for puppy supplies in a gown and tuxedo with a puppy. Whenever I am new to a market, I look for key organizations influencing the direction of the community so I can get involved and do what I can to help. After joining APG, Forward Janesville came up right away. Wherever you are, I believe it’s important to involve yourself in the community and make it better. • { LIFE LESSONS } Although I’ve moved around and lived many places over the years, my wife Donna and I haven’t been able to travel as much as we would like. I’ve promised we’ll plan Paris and Hawaii, and perhaps Costa Rica and Napa. Until then, we’ve definitely elevated binging Netflix to an artform thanks to COVID. I’ve also had a chance to read more spy novels and get creative in the kitchen—French, Cuban, you name it. Everything except Italian. My wife is Italian, so that is her domain, and I don’t even attempt it. ORESTES BAEZ REGIONAL PRESIDENT, SOUTHERN WISCONSIN ADAMS PUBLISHING GROUP (APG) Hire people smarter than yo u . Then remove any obstacles in their path. Empowerment is everything. Yo u know the old “give ‘em eno u gh rope” saying? Give that rope to someone capable and yo u will never get that rope back! And that will work wonders for yo u r team and b u siness. Ask q u estions and really listen to the answer. A reporter does this to get to the facts. B u t we also need to listen for what’s below the s u rface. If yo u really pay attention, yo u can identify gaps that yo u may be able to help bridge. • • { EDUCATION } 1983-1985 MS, Industrial Management, Business Clemson University - College of Business Clemson, SC 1978-1983 BS, Administrative Management, Management/Strategy/Marketing Clemson University - College of Business Clemson, SC { WORK EXPERIENCE } 2020-PRESENT Regional President - Southern Wisconsin Adams Publishing Group, LLC Janesville, WI 2018-2020 Regional Vice President/Group Publisher Gannett | USA Today Network Holland, MI 2016-2018 President and Owner Red Door Pine, LLC Greenville, SC 2014-2016 Regional Vice President Gannett | USA Today Network Greenville, SC, and Ashville, NC 10 • W W W . F O R W A R D J A N E S V I L L E . C O M