Heartland Publications, LLC was formed in May 2004 with a single acquisition of 24 publications from the CNHI newspaper group. Currently owning fifty paid publications, we believe in the future of community newspapers and continue to seek to grow in terms of both quality of our products and quantity of our holdings. Our publications epitomize the meaning of community journalism as they are all located in medium and small sized markets where quality local news is the singular important component of our focus. We believe that our mission is to provide the highest quality subscriber and advertiser vehicles available within our local markets. Property locations are in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and Georgia.

Michael Bush has served as Chief Executive Office and President of Heartland Publications, LLC since February 2005.

Bush has worked as Vice President/Operations for Journal Register. Co and MediaNews prior to assuming this position. He also served in corporate advertising management positions for Morris Newspapers, Inc. and Park Communications, as well as publisher and advertising director.

He is a graduate of Hobart College and studied journalism and business administration at graduate schools in Oregon and Arizona. At family owned newspapers, early in his twenty-five year career, he served in a variety of capacities including responsibilities in most newspaper departments.

Active in various leadership capacities in community and industry organizations, a former New Mexico Space Commissioner, Bush is married to Amy Bush, a registered nurse, who is enrolled in a Master's Program in Oncology at the Yale School of Nursing. He is the father of two children, Wayne and Molly. An avid reader and amateur historian, Bush also has two Siberian Huskies, Klondike and Monchie.

Gary Lawrence joined Heartland Publications, LLC in May 2005 as Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Division. He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of Heartland.

A 38 year veteran of the newspaper industry, Lawrence has served as Group Publisher, Corporate Regional Vice President, Publisher and various advertising and circulation management positions with newspaper companies Journal Register, Morris, McClatchy, and Scripps.

A native of Hartselle, Alabama, Lawrence attended the University of Alabama, and graduated with a degree in Business from Roger Williams University. He completed post graduate work with a Para Legal Certification from Roger Williams University and studied Masters level subjects in Mass Communications at Middle Tennessee State University.

Lawrence is married to his wife of 30 years, Ellen. They have three children, Kevin, Joel and Lindsay and seven grandchildren, Reid, Elijah, Macie, Kalistah, Jacob, Katie and Ella.

Bob Bertz joined Heartland Publications, LLC in May 2011 and serves as Heartland’s Chief Financial Officer.

Bertz Is a CPA and has 25 years of experience in finance and accounting. Prior to joining Heartland he was the CFO of a transportation company in San Francisco, CA. He has also served as the Corporate Controller for both public and private companies, including Cost Plus World Market.

Bertz graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, earning his degree in Accounting. After graduating, he began his career in public accounting with Deloitte & Touche. Bertz is an avid gardener and lives in Connecticut with his partner Scott and their three rescue dogs, Daisy, Penny and Betty.