Blake Dewitt – Senior Vice President, Western News&Info, Inc.®

Born: Mansfield, Ohio 10/54

Lived: 1956-1967 in various cities throughout Southern California and Arizona before settling in the community of Yuma, Arizona in 1968. 1968-1983 in Yuma, then resided in various cities in Northern Arizona until returning to Yuma in 1990.

High School: Yuma – Graduate 1972

College: Northern Arizona University 1972-1973
Arizona Western College 1973-1974

Work History: Before entering the media business, Blake worked in various jobs in the agricultural industry and the restaurant business.

Blake began his media career selling advertising at the Yuma Daily Sun in 1975. He remained in advertising sales until being promoted to Classified Advertising Manager in 1980. In 1981 he assumed the duties of Assistant Advertising Director; and, in 1982 he was promoted to Advertising Director of the Yuma Daily Sun.

In 1983, Blake transferred to Page, Arizona, as the Publisher of The Lake Powell Chronicle and Navajo-Hopi Observer.

Early in 1984, Blake assumed the duties of Publisher in Cottonwood, Arizona, at the Verde Independent and Camp Verde Bugle. Later that year he was promoted to the Publisher’s position in Prescott, Arizona. He remained at Prescott Newspapers, Inc., owner of the Prescott Daily Courier, until moving to the Western News&Info, Inc.® corporate office in 1990.

In 1991, Blake was promoted to COO of Western News&Info, Inc.® and 2 years later he also assumed the duties of corporate Vice President. In 2003, Blake was promoted to his current position of Senior Vice President.

Involvement in community affairs and organizations

1982 – 1990 – Member-Rotary International -Yuma and Prescott, Arizona

1991 – 1993 – Yuma Salvation Army Advisory Board

1987 – 1990 – Prescott Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

1986 – 1990 – Frontier Rotary Board of Directors

1990 – President Frontier Rotary

1994 – Present – Numerous positions on the Arizona Newspapers Association Board of Directors and committees

1998 – President Arizona Newspapers Association

2008 – Present – 1st Bank Yuma Board of Directors

2008 – Present – Board of Directors for Yuma Friends of Arizona Health Sciences Center – Tucson University Medical Center

2009 – Present – Betteryuma.org Board of Directors