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Human Resources
BCBS HEALTH BENEFITS, 10 SAFETY TIPS
PARADE, EDITORIAL HONORS, CHRISTMAS
APG Central ANNIVERSARY, RETIREMENT, ASSOCIATE APPRECIATION
RETIREMENT, CHRISTMAS
PAGE 04 PAGE 08 PAGE 11 PAGE 12
WEST DIVISION
Regions: Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming
CENTRAL DIVISION
Regions: Minnesota, Wisconsin
EAST DIVISION
Regions: Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Florida
West Division
Central Division
East Division
We know how hard you work and recognize the importance of providing you with time for rest and relaxation.
View PTO Policies online at: hr.adamspg.com/handbook
Check your Balance on the ADP website: workforcenow.adp.com
Myself > My Time Off
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It just takes a couple minutes to register and you can start shopping for things like:
• 20 percent off at Reebok.com
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Safety-related incidents can affect overall productivity, quality of work, and employee morale. In many cases, workplace accidents are preventable. Here are 10 rules for workplace safety to help keep yourself injury free regardless of your job description or work environment.
1. Preventing workplace incidents is everyone’s job, and your personal safety is your responsibility. Everyone has a role in making sure a workplace is safe, from the administrative assistant who gets the boxes of newly delivered office supplies unpacked promptly to the production director who makes sure every person on the line is adequately trained for their position. When you take charge of your own safety, it creates a safer place for all employees.
2. Dress appropriately, from clothing to footwear. Avoiding dangling jewelry, clothing, or hair around equipment and wearing closed-toe shoes can go a long way in minimizing common workplace injuries and accidents. When and where applicable, always wear personal protective equipment (PPE), and inspect it for damage before and after use, so that it can be repaired or replaced promptly.
3. Keep work areas neat and tidy. At the beginning and end of each shift, clear away trash, pick up cords and cables, and put office supplies away. Gather any materials you’ll need to complete your work. This will avoid losing things as well as having to bend or stretch unnecessarily, trying to reach objects that are misplaced or out of reach.
4. Follow the rules. Don’t cut corners or take unnecessary risks. Workplace safety rules are often developed in response to hazard and risk assessments. They are by nature designed to minimize the chances that an employee will be injured while carrying out assigned tasks.
5. Report workplace accidents or safety incidents. Always report incidents to your supervisor immediately so that the appropriate steps can be taken. These can include taking care of an injured employee, fixing the problem that caused the injury, or ensuring regulatory, state or federal reporting compliance.
6. Know and follow emergency procedures. To manage emergencies safely and effectively, it’s imperative that all employees are trained in and follow emergency procedures. Seeking shelter in a tornado is very different from evacuating due to a fire. Know your facility’s emergency exit routes, shelter areas, and the location of safety equipment such as first aid materials, and fire extinguishers.
7. Lift, bend, and stretch with care to avoid injury.“It was heavier than I thought” is a common statement after suffering a strain injury. Musculoskeletal problems caused by poor technique when picking up boxes or stretching to reach objects are a common cause of workplace injury. Test the weight and balance of the object you are handling if in doubt before lifting or moving items. If you’re not sure how to best lift, bend or stretch at work, ask your supervisor.
8. Don’t operate tools or machinery that you haven’t been trained for. While some tools or equipment may seem intuitive, it’s always best to avoid using items unless you’ve been trained in proper operation. This is for your safety as well as the safety of those around you.
9. Avoid using improvised Items for climbing and use ladders correctly. Never use improvised items to climb with. That box, chair, pallet, or desk might be tempting to use for climbing but don’t do it! 11.7% of workplace fall fatalities occur working at heights of just 6-10 feet. Only use properly inspected and maintained ladders for climbing and don’t overextend. If your belt buckle extends past the side railing of the ladder you are overextending, greatly increasing your risk of falling.
10. Operate Vehicles Responsibly. Chances are that operating a vehicle will be the most dangerous thing you will do today. Regardless of if you are commuting to and from work, covering the story, meeting a client for an advertisement, delivering that downed route, or operating a large truck to deliver that commercial print job. You risk your own health and safety as well as that of the general public around you if you are distracted, driving aggressively, talking on the phone or driving too fast. Don’t forget to wear your safety belt! It’s the law, and the single greatest thing you can do to increase your chances of surviving a crash.
These 10 rules for workplace safety can be applied in every APG workplace. In a safe working environment, the quality and quantity of work can be maintained without the staffing issues caused by unexpected employee absences. When you commit to working safely it benefits everyone, most of all yourself!
HR.ADAMSPG.COM
To help simplify your employment at APG, we have built this Associate portal as a resource for you. Inside, you will find quick links and easy access to: human resources staff, benefits contacts, job openings, newsletters and more…
This is a great place to start when you are searching for HR information. Of course, if you can’t find what you are looking for or need additional help, our HR team is always available to assist you. You can find their contact info at hr.adamspg.com/contact or you can send them a quick message to AskHR@adamspg.com.
CHECK OUT AVAILABLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HR PORTAL.
Have a question, but don’t know whom to ask? The Human Resources staff is listening! You can always send an email to Ask HR if you have questions or concerns. Emails will be kept confidential and, if we print your question in the APG newsletter, we will not use your name.
Questions may be emailed to AskHR@adamspg.com or sent interoffice to your regional HR representative.
KATHARINE GLASS APG Vice President of HR kglass@adamspg.com
865.981.1101
DEB BROOKS
HR Manager - APG West dbrooks@skagitpublishing.com
360.416.2187
GWEN DAVIS HR Manager - East gdavis@apgenc.com
252.366.8139
HEATHER MCCALMONT HR Manager - Southern Wisconsin hmccalmont@adamspg.com
608.755.9442
MICHELE WATERS HR Director - APG Chesapeake/ Ohio/Michigan
mwaters@adamspg.com
410.770.4159
THÉRÉSE ZADNIKKLECKER
HR Manager - APG Central therese.zadnik-klecker@adamspg.com
763.712.3559
Effective January 2, Jim Normandin added Florida to his regional president responsibilities, and two Easton executives will take on additional responsibilities. Betsy Griffin becomes assistant GM of Sales, and Chad Campbell becomes assistant GM of Operations. They will work with Jim in overseeing both regions. Jim will step away from his role as GM of the East to take on this additional responsibility.
Jim has been instrumental rebuilding Florida’s operation after Hurricane Ian, which impacted Port Charlotte, Northport and Venice in September.
“Jim’s leadership along with Glen Nickerson has proven to be a solid leadership team in Florida and he requested the opportunity to assume the regional president role, and we are grateful we can provide this kind of career pathing in APG,” said Mark Adams, President and CEO of APG.
COO Nick Monico added: “Jim has been a solid partner for me in managing Chesapeake and the East Division over the past year. His leadership skills, focus on efficiencies, and employee
management style has already provided great results in Florida.”
Jim will be the Publisher of the Venice Gondolier and Glen Nickerson will continue in his role as Publisher of the Port Charlotte Sun.
Jim and his wife, Jody, have already relocated to Charlotte County.
Normandin applauded the promotions for Griffin and Campbell. “The announcement of Betsy Griffin and Chad Campbell being promoted to assistant general managers is well deserved as it confirms the significant role both have played in successfully growing our cumulative audience, expanding our publishing portfolio, and enhancing our multimedia advertising and marketing services,” Normandin said.
Griffin has played an active role as a community leader since moving to Easton more than 12 years ago from Charlottesville, VA. Betsy serves on the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Talbot County Education Foundation Board. In addition, Betsy is an active member of
Adams Publishing Group’s Revenue Task Force committee. She resides in Easton with her husband, “Griff”. They are the proud parents of August, a veteran and former Medic in the US Army who is now pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Colorado, and Kate, who is pursuing a degree in criminology at Virginia Tech.
Campbell has gained a wide breadth of organizational leadership skills in the publishing industry over the past 15 years, including his previous post as VP of Consumer Marketing for Gannett in New England. Chad is an active community member and serves on several industrywide committees including APG’s RTF committee. He also co-chaired APG Media of Chesapeake’s team in the 2022 Poynter Institute Table Stakes Program. Chad and his wife, Nicki, live in Easton and are proud parents of Zane, a senior at Easton High School, and Rhys, who is a seventh grader at Easton Middle School, and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America Club.
The Greeneville Sun decked the halls on this float in the Greeneville (Tennessee) Christmas Parade in December. The float is pulled by a pickup truck, driven by Paul Mauney, who is Sun publisher and APG TN-NC-VA president. Other participating Sun staffers were Mario Micallef, Spencer Morrell, Kelly Pickering, Jayme Pressley, Amy Rose, Lisa Warren and Hala Watson. Also joining in the fun were Angie Mauney (Paul’s wife) and Talan Pressley (Jayme’s son).
The Greeneville Sun is the most honored newspaper in 2022 Tennessee Press Association digital, advertising and circulation competition. The Sun nabbed 35 total awards in TPA’s annual Ideas Contest, including 23 first-place finishes: 11 in Digital categories, 6 in Advertising and 6 in Circulation. The Sun’s firstplace honors included, in the Digital category: overall website, static display ad; internet subscription promotion, animated display ad, expandable digital ad, self-promotion ad, social media promotion for an advertiser, social media self-promotion, digital contest, multimedia ad campaign, and E-marketing; Advertising category: automotive ad, classified section, use of humor, native advertisement or sponsored content, innovation, and marketing materials; and in the Circulation category: rack card, single copy promotion, carrier recruitment, NIE sponsorship recruitment, reader contest, and subscriber retention program. Winning works were produced by Brian Cutshall, Rebecca Garay-Leon, Tanya Hensley, Dale Long, Paul Mauney, Scott Swift, Hala Watson and Matthew Wolfe, as well as former employees Sandi Blalock and Richard Clark.
On behalf of The Greeneville Sun, Online Director Brian Cutshall accepts one of the Tennessee newspapers two first-place awards at the Tennessee State Press Contest. The presenter is Carrie Castille, senior vice chancellor and senior vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. The Best Single Features winner was a story on blacksmithing, produced by former Sun lifestyles editor Lorelei Goff. The Best Breaking News winner was on a church fire, reported by Writer Ken Little and Editor Scott Jenkins.
Christina Ruotolo has been with The Daily Reflector since 2016 working as a Multimedia Account Executive. She is also the Editor of Her Magazine, Hot Dish writer, is a published author and award-winning poet. She has a BA in English literature, BA in communicationspublic relations and a Masters in creative nonfiction from East Carolina University and is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network. Christina has worked
in the event and hospitality management industry for over twenty-five years and has extensive experience in business event management, social event management, wedding planning, and marketing and promotion. Past positions have included sales & catering manger at The Hilton in Greenville and event coordinator for Eastern AHEC in Nursing education. She is excited to take on her new role as Regional Events Director for APG Media of East Carolina. “We have a lot of wonderful events planned for eastern, North Carolina in the coming year including a fashion show, bridal event, food truck rodeo, health and wellness expos, job fairs to golf tournaments and much more. I am excited to get started with events that will showcase the community and all of the amazing businesses that make their home in the region.”
The Circleville Herald’s staff of six continues to support the needs in their community. Employees again used their profit from in-house pop sales to help a family at Christmas. The family was obtained from the County’s Board of Developmental Disabilities Outreach program. Christina Spenser and Steven Collins completed the grocery shopping for Christmas dinner and added groceries for another week.
TAUNYA BLAZER, THE GREENEVILLE SUN
The Question Was: What city translates to‘River of January’?
The Answer Was: Rio De Janeiro
Presents were wrapped and delivered by Christina Spencer and Lisa Hedrick before the holiday.
The picture is the office tree with some of the items before being loaded into the cars and delivered to the family. Giving can warm your heart and make any holiday special to those you help. Merry Christmas!
Check out Bristol’s newest attraction! We are proud to have worked with Explore Bristol in creating the Explore Bristol Holiday Ornament Photo Station, which made its debut at the Downtown Center on Nov. 21. The Photo Station, which stands 10 feet high, shimmers with Winter Wonderland blue and white holiday lights and is positioned in front of Bristol’s iconic Country Music Mural. This idea started as a sketch on a post-it note and was brought to life with CAD drawings, custom welding and a lot of teamwork. The structure, shaped like an oversized ornament, features a snowman, a Christmas tree, presents for the city, and a bench, making
it the perfect spot for holiday pictures.
The High Road Agency worked to add even more festive cheer to the holiday scene. When visiting, look out for a special Winter Wonderland QR Code! Scan the code before taking photos to make it “snow” virtually using a filter for both Instagram and Facebook!
The Photo Station isn’t just for the holidays; it will be used year-round. The High Road Agency created several other elements that can easily transform into displays featuring other Bristol attractions, including music, racing, and the outdoors.
In Wisconsin the team held an appreciation event for associates with a sundae bar for everyone at the site on 11-21-22.
Kyle Bliss celebrates his work anniversary with a cake at the Janesville print plant.
Tom Kelling, Advertising Director of SoMN had several visits from our Office Elf during this holiday season.
David Thorman celebrated his 25th work anniversary with APG. He decided to retire on 11/25/2022
Donations of time, money and toys helped the nonprofit Skagit Valley Herald Christmas Fund finish a successful 73rd season in 2022, serving 1,974 low-income families that included 5,419 children.
That was more than 2021, when the fund assisted 1,856 families with 5,226 children, according to Christmas Fund Co-administrator Lynn Postler. The fund spent $54,578 on toys for children, while many other toys were provided directly from community members. Individuals and organizations also provide the money each year that keeps this program going. Gifts ranged from a few dollars from donors who had little to share to large gifts and grants from major local organizations. The fund has historically raised most of its money during the holiday season, though funds are accepted all year. Most of the $181,223 raised in 2022 will go toward helping low-income families next Christmas.
The fund aims to give out toys, books and grocery cards to help low-income families celebrate the holidays. This year’, the fund distributed over 5,200 books. Grocery cards worth $40 (bought at an 8% discount) were given to families, and an additional $30 card was given to larger families.
As is typical, volunteers — 169 this past season — contributed over 1,315 hours, taking in toys, preparing them for distribution and helping to hand them out at a drivethrough event at the local fairgrounds.
Postler and co-administrator Paula Becker will now rest for several months before the program gets going again. Learn more at goskagit.com/xmasfund/
IDAHO PRESS
The Idaho Press hosted a retirement celebration for longtime statehouse reporter Betsy Russell, marking an end of an era.
Friends, family, former co-workers and community dignitaries were on-hand to wish Russell well. Her departure from the field marks the end of a career that spanned nearly 40 years.
Russell has headed the Boise bureau for the Idaho Press for the past five years, helping oversee the newspaper’s major expansion into Ada County. Prior to that, she worked as a reporter and editor for The Spokesman-Review for 27 years and, before that, as a reporter and editor for the Idaho Statesman for five years. She also worked for several California newspapers earlier in her career.
Russell’s reporting has won numerous awards. She has also served as the longtime president of the Idaho Press Club, president of the Capitol Correspondents Association, and president and cofounder of Idahoans for Openness in Government, a role she lans to continue after her retirement.
Lake County Examiner General Manager Danielle Jester and Examiner reporter Wade Phelps welcomed their first child, Phoebe Rhiannon Phelps, born Dec. 28, 2022 at 9 p.m., weighing 7 lbs., 5 oz. and measuring 19.75 inches. The three are pictured in the Examiner office in Lakeview, Oregon.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ASSOCIATES WHO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE APG REFERRAL BONUS FOR NEW HIRES!
