She was teaching English at DMACC in Boone and working part-time at the Boone Today and Shopping News. I had recently launched an automotive photo magazine out of the Shopping News building in Boone and was looking for someone to help me implement new processes with distribution software. She seemed to me like someone who could learn to do anything, and she proved she could. That was 31 years ago.
Just this week, Tammy Pearson handed me her resignation, stating she is ready to retire. I still don’t fully believe her, but I know she is not one to make hasty decisions.
You may not know Tammy personally, but you do know her work, as she compiles and edits the Daily Umbrella. She also manages the editorial processes of our 14 Iowa Living magazines and has her inky fingers on the news pages of our other publications, too.
After the stint with our auto magazine in the 1990s, I hired Tammy at the Tri-County Times in Slater, a newspaper our company had just purchased. She helped implement many new processes there in editorial, accounting and circulation.
Tammy’s true love, though, was news, and I was able to move her to our Dallas County News operation I managed in Adel. There, she served as our editor and helped with the launch of Grimes Today and Waukee Today newspapers, as well as the acquisition of the Northeast Dallas County Record.
I eventually made my way to Nebraska City, Nebraska, and I found myself in need of an editor for our daily newspaper and two weeklies. Convincing anyone to move to Nebraska is no easy task, but I somehow talked Tammy into moving with her kids to this great little town. I bought them all Husker gear to make it official. When we sold those publications, I moved back to central Iowa. Tammy stayed in Nebraska City but later made a move to Greenfield to serve as the editor and publisher of that community newspaper. She was hired by Doug Burns, whose family owned the paper then. Doug had reached out to me to see if I could recommend anyone, and I thought of Tammy immediately. A few years later, those papers sold to an out-of-state company, and Tammy wanted to move on. She decided to remain in Greenfield, though, and it continues to be home for her today.
At that time, nearly eight years ago, Tammy reached out to see if I had a fit for her. The timing was good, and I was able to bring her on board to manage our Iowa Living magazines. She made the commute from Greenfield to Johnston most every day.
If you are doing the math, I hired Tammy five times. I don’t hesitate to attempt to rehire good employees, but five is a record for me — and for Tammy, too. Her last day will be March 31, although I am hoping she will continue in a part-time role in some capacity. And, who knows, she may eventually be hire No. 6?
Tammy will be difficult to replace, but I need to try. As such, I am looking to hire a full-time editor with proven copy-editing skills and experience in managing freelance writers who can work out of our Johnston office. If you know someone who seems like a good fit, let me know. And please join me in thanking Tammy for three decades of outstanding contributions.
Have a wonderful Wednesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
