Michael Bush Email & Phone Number

 Founded this company to assist businesses in applying technology and efficiency of scale to reduce costs and increase profitability while also developing new business opportunities for investors.

Davidson, Nc

 Designed and implemented a common companywide platform with graphics, pagination and business office consolidation that improved content and control systems, reduced expenses by 20% and personnel by 25%.  Created new headquarters and Human Resources departments to implement common circulation, advertising, Internet and editorial systems.  Re-organized leadership structure in the field which improved management capabilities at a reduced cost.  Introduced a large variety of new media and universal calendar promotions that resulted in double digit increases in non-traditional revenue categories in 2014.

Old Saybrook/Guilford, Ct

 Increased the size of the company in terms of revenue 2.5 times within three years through acquisitions and organic growth, and increased operating profit on a same store basis by 8% in 2007, 14.5% in 2006 and 10% in 2005.  Conducted sales training and contest programs.  Recruited and hired all senior executives.  Designed and implemented new publisher, department manager, and sales representative compensation plans.  Decreased total location expenses while investing in Internet and directory projects with operating funds.  Served as liaison with banks and lenders and lead two successful refinancing efforts that tripled corporate operating profits within three years.

New Haven, Ct

Publicly traded newspaper and Internet company. Directed the profit and loss initiatives for New England newspapers with approximately $140,000,000 in revenue. Replaced local leadership and engaged new programs in moving all properties to a positive profit basis.

Las Cruces, New Mexico Area

 Provided professional expertise and services to the State of New Mexico, universities, local and regional governmental agencies, and private business and investment entities in researching and creating a business plan to promote cultural tourism.

Denver, Co

 Served as Publisher for Las Cruces Sun-News and President of Southwestern Newspapers/Radio Stations.  Exceeded revenue expectations during fiscal year 2002, and operating profits all previous years by improving the editorial product and increasing circulation in seven out of eight properties. Best performing division of MediaNews. Served as Corporate Officer responsible for New England Newspaper Group with a $37,427,000 annual revenue, New Mexico Newspapers with a $20,444,000 revenue, Eastern Massachusetts Newspapers with a $39,578,000 annual revenue, Southwest Iowa Newspaper Group with a $12,261,000 annual revenue, and Graham, Texas group of weeklies and radio stations with a $2,085,000 annual revenue. Directed company acquisitions and internet strategies by identifying potential acquisitions, directing successful negotiations and closing.  Re-engineered the Farmington (NM) Daily Times, a money-losing operation, into a $2,122,000 profit within the first year, and the Southwest Iowa Newspaper Group from $1,200,000 profit in 1997 to over $4,000,000 in 2000. Coordinated sale of group for a gain of $26,000,000.

Savannah, Georgia Area

 Directed the revenue, efficiency and promotions of the Circulation and Advertising Departments.  Identified and implemented new revenue opportunities including online services, stand-alone publications, and instant sign businesses. Designed and implemented a company-wide advertising training program that included an advertisement accountability system and sales contest. The contest produced $381,000 in revenue which was 52.4% higher than initial goal, and represented a 34% increase in local advertising revenue over the 45 day promotion period. Total cost of the promotion was $2,000 and an estimated 85% of this was new revenue.

Ithaca, Ny

Profit and Loss Responsibility. Complete line responsibilities including budgeting, hiring and firing, editorial policies, promotional schedule, manning and strategic planning. Only region not visited by the Vice President – Operations.All newspapers in region showed increase in 1994 over 1993 profit. Region increased 1994 profits by 56.7% or $1,007,943, leading the newspaper division. First nine months of 1995 profits over 1994 for region increased an additional $368,596, which was 18.9%, compared to the division’s 6.7%. Profit increase was accomplished while editorial quality improved at each property. Named “Best of the Best” in November 1995 for company-wide new profit generation competition.Purchasing – Reducing Expenses. Instituted unitary price survey studies (and re-studies) of various items purchased at each newspaper. Negotiated group discounts, made product recommendations, espoused sound purchasing control procedures and strategies.Special Achievement: Reduced expenses for these recurring items over benchmark figures by over $2,240,000.Reduced budgeted feature expense by 25%, allowing for savings to be re-invested in stronger local news coverage.Accountability and Revenue Standards. Helped develop a system of quantifiable sales activities by creating performance standards and tracking/evaluation reports.Chairman, Newspaper Emerging Technologies Task Force. Led company group studying potential changes in the industry. Reviewed emerging technologies and engaged in wide-ranging reading and discussion. Recommendations accepted include implementation of seven audiotext systems and first Park online newspaper in Sun Valley, ID.Crisis Management. Sent by company to newspaper locations experiencing extreme circumstances. Worked with general managers deemed to be failing, evaluated GM’s performance, created specific objectives for GM’s and newspaper. Ran newspaper in absence of local leadership.

Master Certificate, Hospitality Management

Certificate, Hotel Real Estate Investments And Asset Management

Ba, English/American History