Jenni Fasselin, who will take the helm as publisher of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress July 1, is no stranger to business. She has been in the farming and ranching business her whole life.
She is not a stranger to the Carbon-Emery community or its newspapers, either. Fasselin has worked for both papers in advertising sales for 20 years, 16 of which were as ad department manager.
That introduction is far too brief to summarize more than three decades of experience that convinced the top management of Brehm Communications, Inc. to appoint her to her new job. Here are a few more details.
The love of the land is in her blood. “I was raised on the Emery County farm my husband Bill and I own and operate,” she says. They have a cattle and sheep operation they built from the ground up.
“Being a farmer or rancher is something you do because you love it. It’s lots of hard work with little compensation. But it teaches respect for the land and animals, and how to be a good steward,” she explains. “It has enabled me to raise my best crop ever: three hard-working kids and the best bumper crop ever, my grandson.”
Fasselin has been named publisher and will replace Richard Shaw, who is retiring. The transition is effective July 1.
“Rick is one of the finest people I have ever worked with,” said Brehm Communications, Inc. President William Brehm, Jr. in announcing the decision Tuesday. “Both he and Jenni are people that care about the community.”
Shaw has worked 15 years at the Sun Advocate, five years as reporter and community editor and 10 years as publisher. He has won numerous awards in Utah journalism for news and opinion writing and photography. Under his leadership, the Sun Advocate won back-to-back Utah Press Association awards for General Excellence for 2012 and 2013.
Fasselin is a 20-year veteran of the paper, having served 15 years as advertising manager. She has also led her staff to award-winning efforts in advertising ideas and campaigns. She will become the first female publisher of the Sun Advocate and the first Emery County native to run both papers.
John Serfustini has come out of retirement to become editor and assist with the transition.
Jenni Fasselin new publisher of EC Progress
"New publisher Jenni Fasselin is flanked by Brehm Communications Vice President Tom Kirk, left, and President William Brehm, Jr. "