The Saline Courier welcomes three new staff members
The Saline Courier is welcoming three new staff members in the new year.
Brianna Keen, Kevin George and Tiffany Hays are the new faces at the Courier.
“We’re continuing to grow and add experienced reporters and advertising staff to our team at The Saline Courier,” said Publisher Rhonda Overbey. “Tiffany brings her passion for news and heartfelt storytelling to editorial;
Brianna thrives on providing excellent customer service to our readers and the public we serve; and Kevin’s decades of experience in Saline County’s business community is an infusion of energy into our advertising department,” Overbey said.
Brianna Keen joined the team Monday as the newspaper’s accounting clerk/receptionist. “This first week starting at The Saline Courier. So far I have enjoyed working at the Courier,” she said. “The staff is really nice and super supportive.
I think it is super interesting to have a newspaper that you can read so you can really understand what’s going on in Saline County.”
Keen grew up in Little Rock but moved to Bryant when her mother remarried. She graduated from Bryant High School in 2021.
“I enjoy living in Bryant because most of my friends live here as well and I am always hanging out with them on the weekends.”
She likes to spend her free time at home watching a movie or eating out with friends.
Kevin George is the
Courier’s new sales representative.
“I have lived in Benton all but a couple years of my life,” George said.
A graduate of Bauxite High School, he is married and has one daughter who is about to graduate high school, and three stepdaughters.
“We attend Harrell
Fellowship Baptist Church in Benton and I love to play golf in my spare time,” George said.
Not long after graduating high school, George began working in the car business, a career which
lasted 35 years.
“So I decided I wanted to do something different,” he said. “I really enjoy going out and talking with friends and people I’ve known most of my life, and also meeting new people.”
George joined the Courier staff the week after Christmas.
“It’s a great experience to work for a company that has been in business for so many years and has such great people working for them,” George said.
Tiffany Hays, a native of Greers Ferry, is the Courier’s new news reporter, joined the staff on Jan. 2.
Hays has experience both in journalism and in education. Her journalism career began with her freelance writing for the Democrat-gazette in college, and took a fulltime job in the advertorial department after
graduation.
“Tiffany brings both journalistic experience and a deep curiosity to her work and she isn’t bashful about calling up sources and asking questions, even uncomfortable questions,” said Randal Seyler, managing editor of The Courier. “We’re really pleased to be able to add someone of Tiffany’s experience and talent to the newsroom.”
“I have always had a deep love and appreciation for the written word. Whether it is in the form of a breathtaking novel or an investigative piece that sheds light on social injustices, words have power,” Hays said. “I parlayed that love with a deep curiosity about other people, and pursued journalism as a career.
“It was an interesting change to go from smalltown life to the bigger city, but I’m so thankful for the journey.”
While at the Democratgazette, Hays worked as the advertorial coordinator, researching and assigning stories to the freelance writers.
“The path was waylaid for a bit while I raised my three amazing kiddos and tried to gain traction after being a full time mom, but I’m finally back and loving it,” she said.
Outside of work, Hays said she is often found singing at the top of my lungs in the car and dancing when no one is watching; drinking coffee at all hours of the day; and watching Gilmore Girls or Friends.
“My bucket list’s No. 1 goal is to travel to Europe. Most importantly, my family — the kids and my husband — is the core of my being and forever will be,” she said.
“I’m fortunate that The Saline Courier attracts local talent like Tiffany,
Kevin and Bri,” Overbey said. “Our readers and the community remind us daily that the work we do is important and impactful in their daily lives. We’ve found the right staff to continue our mission. Please join me in welcoming our new team members to The Saline Courier.”