Fasselin announces retirement from newspapers
Jenni Fasselin, publisher of the Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress recently announced her retirement after working at the newspapers for over 22 years. She will be replaced by former Sun Advocate and Emery County Progress publisher Kevin Ashby.
Fasselin started with the newspapers as an advertising sales rep and moved up to sales manager and onto publisher which she has been doing for the past two years.
“I want to be involved in something that makes me feel that I am achieving something useful,” stated Fasselin. “I think our newspapers are important to our communities and I have always enjoyed being part of that.”
She expressed her love for working for the newspaper based on believing in the importance of newspapers and what they offer the communities they serve. “I love working at the paper and I believe in what we do,” she stated. “We are the community’s news source and we are the record keepers.” Fasselin stated that she applied for the publisher’s position because she didn’t think there was anyone out there who cared as much as she did about the communities in Carbon and Emery County and few argue this statement.
During her two decades in advertising, she has come to know and be known by the business decision makers who keep Carbon and Emery Counties going. She says that the more she and the advertising staff learn about the community’s businesses and industries, the better they can design effective advertising. As advertising manager and later as publisher, Fasselin has encouraged her staff to become involved in community organizations and activities. She is a board member of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce and has worked hard to volunteer much of her time to programs that benefit the counties, including the No Grave Unadorned program that ensures that some 40,000 graves in the two counties have at least one flower displayed on Memorial Day.
If running two newspapers does not consume enough of her time, Fasselin stays busy being involved with her farming and ranching business that shows the love she has for the land and it’s resources.
“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.”
“I have always said it takes a special kind of crazy to be a rancher,” she jokes, “because being a farmer is as much a mentality or lifestyle as it is a profession.”
“I hope that everyone realizes how hard of a decision this was for Jenni,” said new publisher Kevin Ashby. “It is great for me to come back home, but Jenni has left
some big shoes to fill when dealing with her dedication to the citizens and businesses in the area.”
“She has left her mark making a positive impact with thousands of people here who will continue to love her, but will miss her input and never ending energy to make this area a better place to live,” said Ashby. “On behalf of the newspapers, we extend our thanks and appreciation for a job well done and we wish her success as she moves forward,” said Ashby.
Jenni Fasselin to retire from newspapers
Jenni