At TownNews, we believe success starts with finding the right people. The work we do here is changing the local media industry, and these are the people who are making it happen. Today we shine a light on Joe Hansen, Solutions Support senior team lead.
What is your background?
I was in the newspaper business for over 25 years prior to coming to work at TownNews. I started my career as a graphic artist designing ads, and worked my way up through the production side of the business with Gannett at three different papers, finishing my career with them as a Production/IT Director. I moved over to a small family-owned chain of newspapers called Pioneer Newspapers. While I was there, I had various management and technical roles, ending as the Director of Platform Development for the West Division.
Eventually, I came over to TownNews to explore the other side of the business. I started as a Product Manager responsible for among other things BLOX Total CMS, Ad Tech, Privacy, and the creation and launch of our Data Insights business intelligence tool. In April of 2021 I transitioned over to Solutions Support as the Solutions Support Engineer when that team was launched. Since then I've been given oversight over Solutions Support, Design and Implementation.
What do you love most about your job?
One of the things I've always enjoyed most is solving problems for users. Whether that was an individual customer, or an entire group, finding creative solutions to help solve customer problems has always been very fulfilling. In my new role, this is something that I get to do on a daily basis!
What are you currently working on that you'd like everyone to know more about?
Since taking on the Design and Implementation teams, things have been very busy! After talking with the team, we've begun working on a strategy to provide unique designs for non-media websites, along with revising and updating our store of grids and blocks to make the design process faster and more varied. Stay tuned!
What are you most excited about for the future of TownNews?
I'm excited to see us continue to branch out into other verticals outside of our traditional newspaper customers. This includes expanding our reach into broadcast with new video features, and radio with new podcast/live audio features.
Beyond that, our platform is amazingly powerful and flexible, able to drive virtually any kind of site, from a niche business directory, or a real estate site, to anywhere our imagination can take us. I want to be along for the ride, helping to design the tools and building blocks that help both TownNews and our customers thrive!
What's something people don't know about you?
Well, besides the fact that I'm dedicated 50+ year old alpha-geek PC gamer guy, I've also had the pleasure of living in ten states, several of them repeatedly over my career.
