Kelly to retire after nearly 40 years in newspaper advertising

Continued from page 1 generally swept all the major awards in its circulation category in the annual Arkansas Press Association contest.

“I enjoyed so much working with Frank,” Kelly said. “We spent a lot of time seeing who could out-prank the other.”

The two of them had extensive connections in the White Hall and Pine Bluff markets, which led to a successful community publishing experience. They had a staff of five, increased the circulation to around 2,000 and published 16 to 20 pages a week, along with numerous special sections and promotions.

Lightfoot retired and sold the Journal to GateHouse Media, with Kelly accepting the position of publisher. In that role she still handled all advertising sales but added responsibilities on the editorial and business sides of the operation.

“I put in a lot of hours as publisher, but I’ve always worked a lot of hours,” Kelly said.

After about five or six years, she decided it was time for a change in her career and accepted an offer from publisher Tom White as the advertising director at the Advance- Monticellonian.

“Monticello has been great,” she said. “This newspaper is awesome and Tom White is the best. He leads by example, and that is very important.”

Kelly has worked at the newspaper for almost eight years. She made the onehour commute every day for five years and then started working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to health issues she has developed, Kelly was appreciative when White suggested she continue working remotely. It has worked out well due to the extensive connections she has developed in the Monticello community.

“Give me a legal pad, a computer and a phone and I am good to go,” she said.

The Monticellonian runs 20-plus pages each week and publishes a lot of special sections, Kelly said.

During her tenure as advertising manager,

“I am really going to miss all the people on the staff,” she said.

Kelly has strong views on what it takes to be a successful salesperson. “If a salesperson doesn’t have anything to do, they aren’t doing their job,” she said. “I am very goal-oriented and have always worked hard to reach those goals. The idea is to be persistent, but not pushy.

“One reason I always loved the newspaper business was that it is never boring. There is always something to do. Get it done or make it happen. Some people give up too easily, but keep planting a seed and you will have a harvest. “I give all the credit to God because He has always kept me from getting down. And any talent we have, He has given to us.”

Kelly also has been very conscious that she is working for her advertisers. “We want the most success possible for our advertisers. That’s what it’s all about.” the newspaper won the sweepstakes award every year in the APA contest except for this past contest, when it placed second. She credits the outstanding work of graphics designer Kristie Nall as a key to the success of the department.

“Overall, it is the best team I’ve ever worked with,” she said. “From the front door to the back door, everyone is committed to the job.”

The result is a community that loves the newspaper and looks forward to it each Wednesday. “We even give away popcorn when people come in to get their paper,” she said.

She especially appreciates it when an advertiser shares a specific annual budget total and trusts her to help make basic decisions on where to spend that money. “It’s my job to know the business well and then go from there. It makes it a lot easier.”

Kelly used those community connections during several years of involvement with Arkansas Children’s Dreams, an organization that provided exciting trips and events for kids with life-threatening illnesses. She formed a Jefferson County chapter and served as state vice president. The organization sponsored chartered plane trips to places such as Disney World