“Jose will be assuming broader responsibilities in the direct operation of the newspapers,” said Tom Byrd, INI Florida vice president. “He will continue to work in hands on fashion providing local editorial coverage and will assume a greater role in representing the newspapers in the tri-county area of Hendry, Palm Beach and Glades.”
“I am excited to accept this new challenge and to build on our ongoing efforts to serve the communities,” Jose said. “I’m fully cognizant of the heightened expectations of our performance here at South Lake.”.
Jose hopes to build a continued spirit of teamwork in South Lake’s editorial and advertising teams, strengthening the ability of staff to work as a single unit. He plans to keep the future success of the three publications in sharp focus.
“The hope is that the strides we have made in our community journalism, including a focus on more meaningful coverage and an aggressive push toward new media, will carry over into successful results and campaigns for area advertising clients.
Jose will be assuming a bit of on-the-job training under the tutelage of Tom Byrd, vice president of Florida operations. He will work collaboratively with Florida advertising and editorial leaders Judy Kasten and Katrina Elsken.
“We know Jose to be a very quick learner with enthusiasm and appetite for success,” said Byrd. “We are confident he will be very successful in serving our communities and thriving as a developing leader. These are challenging, but also exciting times with the opportunities that are before us. I invite everyone to congratulate Jose and work with him for our continued success.”
During his time at INI, Jose has achieved several milestones, starting as a freelancer providing high school football stories at no cost, to part-time office helper, full-time reporter, community editor, and publisher.
He is a father of two: Celeste, 9, and Eva, 6, and is married to his wife of 10 years, Joanne.
Independent Newspapers also publishes the Caloosa Belle, the Okeechobee News, the Immokalee Bulletin in addition to the community websites on Newszap.com including the new online sports networks: Clewiston Sports Network, Western Palm Beach County Sports Network, Glades County Sports Network, Okeechobee Sports Network, Indiantown Sports Network, and Eastern Collier County Sports Network.
