Ray Eckenrode is new Breeze publisher

Ray Eckenrode

Ray Eckenrode has assumed the role of publisher for the Breeze Newspapers (Cape Coral, Fla.)

Eckenrode, who brings decades of experience in the newspaper industry, replaces former publisher Scott Blonde, who now serves as publisher for two Ogden Newspaper owned daily publications in Utah.

Eckenrode received a journalism degree from Penn State and began his career in the newsroom. He comes to the Breeze Newspapers from the Ogden-owned Altoona Mirror in Altoona, Penn., where he worked for 27 years, 15 as general manager.

He began full-time in his new position in Cape Coral on Sept. 3 and will oversee all Breeze Newspapers publications, including the Cape Coral Breeze, North Fort Myers Neighbor, Pine Island Eagle, Fort Myers Beach Observer and Bulletin, the Sanibel Island Reporter and Sanibel Captiva Islander and Lehigh Acres Citizen, as well as all special publications. Eckenrode also will oversee operations for the Breeze Newspapers commercial printing plant on Jetport Loop in Fort Myers, the largest such operation between Tampa and Miami.

"I'm thrilled to be in Southwest Florida as part of the Breeze Newspapers operation," Eckenrode said. "It's a great media market for hyperlocal print products and there's a ton of opportunity to build other media-related businesses with The Breeze brands and how recognizable and valued they are in their communities."

His future vision for Breeze Newspapers does not include major changes, but improving on what the company does so well – and that's delivering community news.

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