IVP publisher takes job with Texas newspaper
EL CENTRO — Imperial Valley Press Publisher Belinda Mills will be leaving the paper at the end of the week to be closer to her family in Texas and to take a position with the Amarillo Globe News.
She will be the Globe News’ director of operations and advertising. That paper, along with the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, were purchased by GateHouse Media earlier this year from Morris Communications.
Mills arrived at IVP as publisher in April 2016 and still describes the position as her “dream job.”
However, she said an executive recruiter approached her unexpectedly about the opportunity in Amarillo, which is less than 100 miles from her hometown of Muleshoe, Texas, where her mother still resides.
“The opportunity for me to return to my native Texas Panhandle presented itself and after much consideration we decided that it would be a good move for us and our family,” Mills explained.
“I’m thrilled that I have the opportunity to work for the big regional newspaper that was a household name during my youth and to live so near my family.”
Yuma Sun Publisher Lisa Reilly will act as interim publisher of Imperial Valley Press until a replacement for Mills is hired.
“It is bittersweet,” Mills said. “I have very much enjoyed my time getting to know the communities and the people here in the Valley and will cherish the experience. There are a lot of good people here.”
She continued: “I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to serve on various committees and boards and to get to work alongside amazing folks for common goals. I have gotten to know each community here in the Valley and have learned much about the individual identities of the communities as well as the folks that make them each so very special.”