AIM Media Midwest, LLC announced today the appointment of Marie Thomas-Baird as editor of the Sentinel-Tribune newspaper.
In addition, Karmen Concannon is stepping down as publisher.
Thomas-Baird began at the Sentinel-Tribune as a general assignment reporter in August 1991 and she was named education editor in 1998.
She brings extensive leadership experience to her new position having served as Ohio president and national vice president of United State Junior Chamber (Jaycees). She was chapter president of the Bowling Green Jaycees from 1998-1999.
A graduate of Otsego High School and the University of Toledo, she worked for nearly two years as a reporter in Malone, New York, prior to moving back to Ohio.
Thomas-Baird has won first and second place Associated Press awards for best explanatory writer and, in December 2019, her story about how a local community college president wanted to end the stigma of two-year colleges was published in U.S. News & World Report and in numerous other newspapers across the country.
She is a graduate of Leadership BG and past president of the Altrusa Club of Findlay.
“I understand the importance for our readers to be able to access local news in the Sentinel-Tribune and I plan to continue providing timely and relevant stories,” Thomas-Baird said.
“Both AIM Media Midwest and the entire Bowling Green community and surrounding Wood County are incredibly fortunate to have someone of Marie’s deep experience, professionalism, dedication and leadership available to step into this important role,” said Rick Starks, president and chief operating officer at AIM Media Management.
“We are all very excited for her and for the opportunity this represents,” he added.
Thomas-Baird succeeds Debbie Rogers who had served as editor since June 2018 and whose last day was Aug. 24.
Effective Sept. 1, Concannon steps down as publisher and assumes her new role as Director of Development within University Advancement at Bowling Green State University.
Concannon has worked at the Sentinel-Tribune for over 20 years and she has served as publisher since June 2012. AIM acquired the newspaper from the Haswell family in 2018.
In addition, she has served on numerous industry boards and committees during her newspaper career including Ohio News Media Association and Ohio League of Home Dailies as well as a variety of civic boards and committees including Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, ACT BG, Business Council Project Team, Inaugural Chamber BG Expo, Bowling Green Rotary, BGSU Alumni Board, American Cancer Society Daffodils Committee, Project Homeless Connect, and Zonta. She is a graduate of 2012 Leadership BG.
She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a degree in communications and marketing.
“It has been our distinct pleasure to work with Karmen over these past five years and especially so since she represented the fourth generation of family ownership and/or leadership of the Sentinel-Tribune,” said Jeremy L. Halbreich, chairman and chief executive officer at AIM Media Management. “We are all very proud and happy for her, we know she is excited to begin this new phase of her professional career, and she will continue to serve the Bowling Green community and BGSU extremely well in her new role.”
AIM Media Midwest, LLC owns and operates 20 newspaper publications, affiliated web sites and a variety of related specialty publications in Ohio along with the DigitalAIM digital marketing agency.
