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Benitolink is celebrating its 15th year with some forward-looking changes. One transition that is currently happening is my stepping down from Executive Director and welcoming an enthusiastic and dynamic leader, Peyton Sheets. I am excited to say that I will be sticking around to help her as much as I can as a BenitoLink board member. I’ve really enjoyed and appreciated my time on the BenitoLink board, and I’m looking forward to rejoining it. We have a lot of exciting work ahead of us!
Peyton Sheets has spent time here with her family and cares about San Benito County. She has a love for journalism and has had a solid career in the nonprofit sector. I am looking forward to introducing Peyton to many BenitoLink supporters and community organizations over the next few months.
As Executive Director for the last 13 years, since 2014, I have had the opportunity to see our reporting go from one story a month, to one story a week and now to several stories published daily. I’ve had the great pleasure of watching our team grow from the early days of just one person doing everything- (thank you Julie Morris, Bob Reid and Adam Breen!!) to a core team of four full-timers, several talented freelancers and a pack of productive, paid interns year-round.
I have had the pleasure of working with the fantastic team of individuals, all of whom I am very fond of and I look forward to helping this very dedicated and well-meaning organization continue to grow.
We have moved from a tiny little room (a closet actually) to an office in the Epicenter, which we outgrew, to the offices we use now at 615 San Benito Street– right in the middle of Hollister. None of this would be possible without our wonderful, dedicated community of supporters, who got us to where we are today. Fifteen years, and we have a lot more to do! The door has always been open and Peyton has the same vision of a community run, community supported nonpartisan newsroom that welcomes residents to stop by and share ideas and observations. There are stairs in the front and an elevator in the back. Remember, this is your news organization.
We also want to share that we have hired Gary Byrne as a consultant to help us through this transition. Gary was CEO of the Community Foundation for San Benito County during the time that local newspapers were failing and the concept of creating our own community news was imagined. He will be working with Peyton, introducing her around the county and the BenitoLink board of directors in refining our strategic plan and helping us build a fund that will ensure San Benito County residents will have nonpartisan local news and information for generations to come.
We hope you will join us for Peyton’s and my Farewell, Welcome and Thank You event on October 25 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm at the Historical Park in Tres Pinos.
Thank you all for supporting my efforts all these years. None of this happens automatically. Please treasure this blessing and continue to keep your local news strong.
Leslie
We need your help. Support local, nonprofit news! BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website covering San Benito County. Our team is committed to this community and to providing essential, accurate information to our fellow residents. Producing local news is expensive, and community support keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s public service nonprofit news.
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