Joseph Edward Soldwedel – President and CEO, Western News&Info, Inc.®

President, CEO and co-owner of Western News&Info, Inc. (WNI). WNI is a family owned and operated multi-media company with 15 offices in Arizona and California. WNI consists of weekly and daily newspapers, shopper publications, commercial printing, magazines, a sign company, radio stations, telephone directories, a factoring company and an outdoor advertising company. All offices except one are located in Arizona.

Born: Tucson, Arizona

Lived: Yuma 1953-1970; 1977 – present; 1970 -1977 also Kingman, Lake Havasu City, San Diego, Tucson

High School: Kofa- Graduate 1970

College: United States Internal University, San Diego Campus- 1970-1971

University of Arizona 1971-1974
Graduated with B.S.B.A.- Marketing 5/74 ‘with distinction’

Work History: Except for part-time work at odd jobs during high school and college, Joe has worked his entire career – starting as a news carrier for the Yuma (Az.) Daily Sun in 1963- in the media field. His full-time work in the publishing business began in 1974 at the Kingman (Az.) Daily Miner as Circulation Manager and Advertising Account Executive.

In 1975, at the age of 23, Joe became the Publisher of Lake Havasu City (Az.) Herald.

In 1977, he moved to Yuma as the Daily Sun’s Business Manager. Until the family sold its interest in the Daily Sun in 1984, Joe moved up to General Manager of the Daily Sun and was Vice President of Western News&Info, Inc.® (WNI). WNI owned 7 other Arizona newspapers at the time.

From 1984 to 1987, Joe was CEO of the Daily Sun and worked for the new owners, Cox Enterprises. He continued as Vice President for WNI.

In 1987, Joe moved over to WNI’s main office in Yuma as President and has run the company as President and CEO since that time.

Involvement in community affairs and organizations

1974-1981– Member- Kiwanis- Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Yuma

1977-1986 – Yuma Babe Ruth Baseball Board of Directors

1982- Present – Arizona Newspapers Association (ANA) – numerous positions on Board of Directors and Committees.

1982-1996 – Member- Caballeros de Yuma – Baseball Chairman, Secretary

1984-1987 – Yuma County Chamber of Commerce – Board of Directors

1984-1988 – Yuma Salvation Army Advisory Board

1987 – President Arizona Newspapers Association

1988-1994 – Arizona Chamber of Commerce- Board of Directors

1989-1990 – Soccer Coach

1990-2001 – Fiscal Accountability and Reform Efforts Committee (F.A.R.E.)

1992-1994 – Little League Coach

1994-1999 – Private Enterprise Review Board (appointed by State Senate)

1997-2001 – Arizona Chamber of Commerce- Board of Directors

2001 – Arizona Newspapers Association Freedom of Information Award

2000 – 2011 – Board member- 1st Bank Yuma

2003 – 2015 – President- Yuma Tennis Association