A little over two years ago, I’m not sure I could’ve pinpointed Valley, Alabama on a map. I’d never been to Chambers County or Troup County.

However, in two years, this area has already become home.

That’s why I’m so excited to be taking on a new role, as I move into the position of publisher and president of The Valley Times-News. It’s a change, one that will bring additional responsibility and new challenges, but I know with the staff we have on hand that we’re in good shape as we move into the future.

Although I’m the publisher, I’ll still be keeping on my editor hat, giving me the opportunity to write and have a hands-on role with the daily design of the newspaper and magazines. Writing is what got me into the newspaper business, and at the end of the day, a well-written, informative story is what I enjoy the most about my job.

As publisher, my goal is to keep this newspaper on the upward climb it’s been on for the last several years. Under our current publisher, Baker Ellis — who will be here until the end of the month — The Valley Times-News has taken great strides.

At the end of the day, our goal is still to provide top-notch news coverage on topics that impact the people of Valley, Lanett, LaFayette and Chambers County.

That doesn’t mean just covering crime stories or items with a “negative” impact. It means telling the stories of real people, the men and women you know that have an interesting past or who can be an inspiration after overcoming a troubling time in life.

To our advertisers, that means working hard to provide you with the best opportunity to reach the most engaged eyeballs. It also means keeping our products up to date, which we do through a combination of print and digital advertising opportunities.

This is a chance to take on a bigger role, learn even more about this community and ensure that this newspaper, which has been around since 1950, continues to do its job as a high-quality news organization. I’m excited and thankful for the opportunity.