AWNA Staff

The AWNA Central Office staff serves member publications, advertisers and the public at large.

Dennis Merrell

Executive Director

Dennis joined AWNA in June, 1982 as Assistant Director and became Executive Director in May of 1983. He has a background in advertising, public relations and newspaper reporting/editing.

Under his leadership, the Alberta association has become one of the strongest in the country. It developed geographical information software (GIS), a service which helps advertisers/agencies select target markets for optimal buys. This system is now used by community newspaper associations across Canada. AWNA was also the first Canadian newspaper association to operate a computer bulletin board system for its membership.

Dennis is a past-president of the Edmonton chapter of the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and served on the national board for three years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Newspaper Association Managers Inc. (NAM), a worldwide organization of newspaper association executives headquartered in Salem, Massachusetts. He has been a Certified Association Executive (CAE) since 1989.

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Chrissie Hamblin

Controller

We're pleased to announce that Chrissie Hamblin joined our staff in March 2006 as Controller. Her responsibilities include Payroll, A/P, A/R, GST, and preparation of Financial Statements.

Prior to joining AWNA, Chrissie spent five years at Ticketmaster as an Accounting Administrator. She has successfully completed her Accounting and Strategic Measurement Diploma at Grant MacEwan College, April 2005.

Chrissie enjoys reading, exercising, home improvement projects and spending time with her family.

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Maurizia Hinse

Professional Development and Communication Coordinator

Maurizia joined the AWNA in 1989 as Secretary Receptionist. since 1993, she has been actively involved with AWNA members providing Member Services through coordination and management of AWNA events and meeting from computer seminars to the newspaper symposium and annual meetings. She is also involved in attending and recording Minutes at the Board and Annual General Meetings and is responsible for updating the bylaws through Corporate Registries.

Her duties include coordination of the Better Newspapers Competition awards, ATCO Photographic awards, the Write on Contest and the Direct Energy Volunteer Citizen of the Year award. AWNA is comprised of many committees, most of which she is involved in. In addition she acts as coordinator of AWNA-sponsored bursaries, awards and program. Maurizia also contributes to Keeping-Up-To-Date, AWNA's internal Members newsletter.

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Andrea Carreau

Blanket Classified Advertising Coordinator

Andrea became part of the AWNA in September, 1988 as Blanket Classified Coordinator for Alberta and Canada-Wide Classified Ads. Prior to joining AWNA, Andrea had three years community newspaper experience working for Grande Prairie This Week.

Andrea enjoys golfing, fishing and spends most weekends at the cabin with her husband Ken.

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Melody Hayes

One System Tearsheet Coordinator

Melody joined the AWNA in February 2005. Prior to this, she worked as an Administration Assistant in the Leduc, Alberta area. Her main responsibility with AWNA is collecting tearsheets mailed in by Member newspapers or retrieving them from the AWSOM Archive system. Once collected, these tearsheets are used to invoice advertisers. Melody also covers vacation relief in the Blanket Classified department, and various other functions within the association.

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Julie Anne McRae

AWNA/AWSOM Data Support

Starting in August 2006, Julie Anne is working on a variety of projects including the AWSOM Archive, online surveys, AWNA.com, support of the ONE system plus daily client support as required for Members.

Prior to coming to the AWNA, Julie Anne has worked in the Community Newspaper business since 1990 both with Bowes Publishers Ltd. and Mirus Publishing in production, editorial, sales and tech support. She has also served on the AWNA technology and symposium committees.

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Jeff Beardsworth

AdWest Advertising Director

Jeff assumed the full-time role of Advertising Director for AdWest, the Sales and Marketing Bureau for community newspapers associations in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in July 2006.

The primary goal of AdWest is to ensure that clients of each of the three regional associations are able to quickly and efficiently gather information that will assist them in the planning of community newspapers. With the investments made by the community newspapers industry in planning tools such as the Market Analyzer and ComBase, one of Jeff’s priorities is to ensure that AdWest’s focus is to provide advertising agencies and clients with credible research and market data on the 270+ markets of the network.

Jeff began his newspaper career in 1988 as a Sales Representative for the North Battleford Telegraph/Advertiser Post. Upon his return to Alberta he continued his career with Gazette Press Ltd. (now Great West Newspapers) as the Sales/Marketing Director for Edmonton’s Urban Weekly SEE Magazine.

He joined the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association in March of 2000 as its Sales and Marketing Representative and served in that role until December of 2005, at which time he took on the added responsibility of Sales Director for AdWest. During his time with the community newspapers industry, Jeff has played a vital role in the development of the ComBase readership study, the Market Analyzer and Community Media Canada.

During the summer months Jeff is an avid golfer and spends most of his weekends with his family at his cottage at Turtle Lake. He occupies the winter months renovating the century-old home he shares with his wife Kris and daughter Kaitlyn.

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Krystina Yanishewski

One System Coordinator

Krystina has recently moved into the position of One System Coordinator with AWNA's display department from her previous position as Front Desk and Press Release Coordinator.

Krystina currently lives in Leduc, Alberta after her recent move from the Grande Prairie area. Krystina enjoys being outdoors, swimming and reading. She loves working with the elderly as well as children. One of her biggest passions is cooking and baking.

Krystina is very excited and is looking forward to working with AWNA and its members.

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