Darel LaPrade at Camden Yards (Baltimore, MD) on Father’s DayName: Darel La Prade
Newspaper: Corporate Operations
Position: Vice President – Corporate Operations
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: I have been in and out of the newspaper business for more than 30 years. My first job out of college was as a district manager for the Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. I managed 35 paper boys and girls, who were responsible for delivering more than 5,000 newspapers. I still remember those early mornings, hitting those lonely streets at 4 a.m., fueled by coffee, and enjoying the weird sense of power that goes with being young and awake at that hour. Later, I became a regular contributor to the Pilot’s Sunday book review section, and after two stints in graduate school, I landed on my feet as a reporter and then as editor of a weekly newspaper in Caroline County, Va. The office address was 10 Courthouse Lane, and that said more about that little weekly than almost anything – it was a small county seat newspaper, and we made coverage of the court house the centerpiece of our work. I will never forget my first story assignment was to cover a murder trial. My editor told me that all the drama of life took place in that court house, and he was absolutely right. I eventually ended up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina running a group of newspapers, which included everything from a fishing monthly – the “Fish Wrapper” – to a little slick tourism magazine, called “Surfside News.” Eventually, after five years, I shifted directions and spent a couple of years working in elective politics. Politics, though, was not my cup of tea, and I found a job managing a group of community weeklies in Virginia. There were six papers in the group, and like my first assignment, five out of the six papers had addresses that included the words “Court House.” My next job was in Ocean City, Md., where I managed a group of resort papers along the Maryland-Delaware coast. These papers were eventually sold to Thomson and then to Gannett. When the sale took place, I knew I was going to be out of work; I remember calling my wife to bemoan my bad luck. But as it often does, bad luck turned into really good luck because I soon was offered a job with INI. That was 11 years ago, and I have always appreciated the irony that the consolidation in the newspaper business – something INI stands against – led me here.
Job description: My hope is that all of our business systems will operate and interact seamlessly, providing companywide efficiencies and cost-savings, so that we can remain competitive in the marketplace. I want our employees to use these systems to increase their personal productivity, and our systems and network will help everyone to become a true “knowledge-worker.” If the services provided by corporate operations can offer a solid, yet flexible platform to allow our company to grow physically and virtually, I’d be happy. My goal is that we will be lean and agile. Work and reports should be on time, accurate and useful to our managers and employees. My goal is that corporate operations should set a companywide example for pursuing service above self, and that everyone on my team will uphold and practice our shared values. I am passionate about our newspapers, web sites and printing operations, and I am completely committed to free speech and our particular brand of community journalism.
What I like best (about my job): The aspect of my job that I like the most is figuring out how to solve problems. I tell myself it would be great to have a week when there are no problems, but if that ever happened, I wonder what I would do. Solving problems well requires one to listen well, because most problems, at least those that tend to create pressure or conflicts, usually originate from somebody knowing something that someone else doesn’t know but needs to know. Listening empathetically and asking leading questions is a kind of art that one may learn best by being a reporter, and I thank my lucky stars almost everyday for having had the good fortune of working in a newsroom early in my career. People need to know you are willing to take responsibility for a mistake or an error, even if you didn’t commit it. Knowing this promotes unfettered communication. I try to let everyone in my operation know that I will support them as long as they work hard, tell the truth and treat others with respect. As a result, people who report to me are usually open, honest and willing to cooperate whenever things go south.
Most memorable moment with INI: Like most of us, I have had a few memorable moments. I suppose the most memorable one occurred several years ago, when I was the Delmarva ad director. I had been in New York City all day long making calls on various ad agencies – literally beating the pavement. Stupidly, I had worn a new pair of shoes, and during the day, I had rubbed blisters on my heels. My feet hurt! And I had one more call to make, which required that I walk another five blocks. I just couldn’t stand it, so I stopped at a drug store to buy bandages. After purchasing them, I sat on the floor right next to the cashier and took off my cruel shoes and socks to assuage my burning blisters. I limped the final three blocks to my appointment, but instead of walking the 10 blocks back to my hotel, I waved down a cab!
Hobbies/Interests: I have lots of interests outside of work, including woodworking, gardening, reading, old movies and listening to music. But my favorite two pastimes are baseball and cooking. I am a rabid NY Yankees fan. I grew up in Richmond, Va., where the Yankees once had their Triple-A farm team. I started playing organized baseball when I was 6, and I still play today. For the last five years, I have been playing competitive slow-pitch softball, and I take great pride in the fact that I am the oldest guy in the league who’ll still slide head first into third base. Cooking, though, is my means of daily relaxation. I like to take lots of chances when I cook, and I rely on my southern heritage as a foundation – I grew up knowing how to cook with buttermilk – and I love the fact that I now live on the Delmarva Peninsula where all sorts of Hispanic and Caribbean influences and ingredients are so evident and available. I consider myself an amateur pioneer in creating a truly new American cuisine.
Fun fact (about myself): I am a tie-dyed Dead Head. Almost five years ago, I spent my 50th birthday at a reunion concert of the band, sans Jerry Garcia. I have attended more than 50 concerts over the years; my first was in Watkins Glen, N.Y., when I was a sophomore in college; Garcia was still alive then! (The best was at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., when Dylan was touring with the Dead.) At any rate, I got hooked and have been a fan of improvisational rock ever since.
