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. His son, Wayne, recently passed the Bar exam and is working in Washington, DC. His daughter, Molly, lives in NYC where she is working for DMAinfo.com, a start-up local digital news and information service. An avid reader and amateur historian, Bush also has two Siberian Huskies, Klondike and Monchie. Molly's one-eyed Pomerainian, Ferdie, is now boarding with the huskies.

Gary Lawrence joined Heartland Publications, LLC in May 2005 as Chief Operating Officer of the Southern Division. The Southern Division is made up of newspapers in Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and Southern Kentucky.

A 33 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 like 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 25 years, Ellen. They have three children, Kevin, Joel and Lindsay and six grandchildren, Reid, Elijah, Macie, Kalistah, Jacob and Katie.

Jim Kreps has served as Chief Financial Officer of Heartland Publications LLC since June 2006.

Jim has over 20 years of financial accounting experience. He has served in various financial management positions in both public and private companies in such media sectors as entertainment - Paramount Communications Inc, broadcasting- U.S. Broadcast Group LLC and outdoor advertising - PNE Media LLC

Kreps is a native of Rockville, MD and a graduate of Bucknell University where he received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Accounting. He is married to his wife of 21 years, Laura, who is a marketing executive. They have two children Sarah and Jennifer.