Our Staff

Layne Bruce | Executive Director

Layne joined MPA in 2006 as director of marketing and was named executive director in 2007. A native of West Point, he began his career in the production department of his hometown newspaper, the Daily Times Leader. He later served as a reporter for the Starkville Daily News, publisher of The Star-Herald in Kosciusko and as editor and general manager of the Glasgow (KY) Daily Times. He oversees management of MPA, Mississippi Press Services, the MPA Education Foundation, and Newspaper Association Managers (NAM) through its contract with MPS.

Monica Gilmer | Member Services Director

Monica joined Mississippi Press Services in August 2005 as an advertising coordinator. She now is member services director for MPA, planning the annual convention, MPAEF Celebrity Roast, coordinating the annual advertising and editorial contests, and administering the MPA public notice website. She also serves in the same position for Newspaper Association Managers (NAM) through its management contract with MPS.

 

Sue Hicks | Business Development Manager

After serving as network advertising coordinator and later senior marketing representative from 2001-2007, Sue rejoined MPA-MPS in early 2014 as Business Development Manager. She is responsible for marketing MPS products and member newspapers as the medium of first choice for advertisers in state and nationwide. She previously served as advertising manager for The Carthaginian and as classified sales manager for The Natchez Democrat. Sue administers the Mississippi Classified Advertising Network (MCAN), Mississippi Display Advertising Network (MDAN), and Quarter Page Network (QPN).

Andrea Ross | Media Director

Andrea joined Mississippi Press Services in 1999 as an advertising coordinator and is now the chief media buyer, handling ad placements for newspapers in-state and nationwide. Andrea provides advertising estimates to clients and is responsible for coordinating insertion orders with member newspapers and other press association advertising departments. She also assists with customer service and marketing of MPS.

 

 

Advisers & Associates

LOBBYING & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Hayes Dent & Steve Browning | Hayes Dent Public Strategies

GENERAL COUNSEL & LIBEL HOTLINE

Donna Brown Jacobs | Butler Snow LLP

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION HOTLINE
Leonard Van Slyke

FINANCIAL ADVISER
Eddie Carlisle | SoundPath Investment Advisors

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT

William C. Ellzey, CPA, & Kelley Thompson | Butchart Ellzey & Associates, CPAs

BUILDING SERVICES
Roland Bradford