After 20 years, how do you say goodbye ...

For the past 20 years, I have called the Havre Daily News my home, so nearly half of my life has been dedicated to putting out the best community newspaper possible, but while I celebrate this anniversary I am also announcing that, as of today, I have moved on to another pursuit.

Though I am excited about the opportunities that await me in the future, it is with sadness that I say goodbye. My time here has been marked by both challenges and triumphs, and each has made me feel more invested in the success of the paper, its people and the community.

I started at the Havre Daily as a graphics designer straight out of college in 2000, and moved up to director of advertising in 2005. For the past 9.5 years, I have served as the publisher, while still guiding the graphic vision of the newspaper and its many publications.

Among the awards the paper and its staff have earned in my time here, I directly contributed to the newspaper winning numerous awards for its design, including Best Page Layout and Design, Best Front Page, Best Special Section, Best Niche Publication, Best Sports Page Layout and Design and sweeping categories in Best Sponsor Page, Best Ad to Sell or Promote Merchandise.

I will always be grateful for the opportunity I had to work with so many great people, and I will cherish the many friendships I have made along the way. I have all the confidence in the world that this newspaper will continue to thrive with Havre Daily News' Sports Editor George Ferguson serving also at the publisher's helm.

It has been my extreme pleasure to work with the wonderful community, where I was born and raised. Havre has always been my home, graduating from the Havre school system and then graduating from Montana State University-Northern with a degree in graphic design in 2000.

Over the years, I have been very active in the Havre community, volunteering and serving on a variety of boards including the MSU-Northern Alumni Foundation, Havre Area Chamber of Commerce, Montana Newspaper Association, Rotary Club, Relay for Life, Havre Wrestling Club, Golfing for a Cure Committee and many other programs, and I will continue to be part of this community and volunteer where I can.

It is my hope that my path will cross again in the future with the people I have had the pleasure to interact with in my time at the Havre Daily News.