Thursday, January 08, 2009

By BEE STAFF REPORTS

last updated: April 01, 2008 09:01:12 AM

Cheryl Ebright Dell, a Beyer High School graduate and former Modesto Bee advertising director, has been named the new publisher of The Sacramento Bee.

The McClatchy Co., parent company of the Modesto and Sacramento papers, announced Monday that Dell would take over from retiring Publisher Janis Heaphy on April 14.

A longtime Modesto resident, Dell, 48, attended Beyer and later Modesto Junior College. She was the Modesto Bee's advertising director from 1997 to 1999.

From there, she served as the Fresno Bee's vice president of sales and marketing and then as publisher of the Tri-City Herald in Kennewick, Wash. Since 2004, she's been publisher at McClatchy-owned The News Tribune of Tacoma, Wash.

In Tacoma, Dell was on the board of several civic and charitable groups, including the Pierce County Economic Development Board and the Emergency Food Network Board. Her husband, Brad Dell, is director of disaster response for Tacoma's Associated Ministries.

She has spent time in newspaper management in Texas as well as California and Washington.

Dell has a degree in communications from California State University, Sacramento. In 1999, Presstime magazine named Dell one of its "20 under 40" newspaper people to watch nationwide.

Heaphy, The Sacramento Bee's publisher since 1998, is retiring with plans to live with her fiancé in Sun Valley, Idaho.

McClatchy is the nation's third-largest newspaper company, owning 31 daily newspapers nationwide.

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Architect Greg Pires recently was promoted to senior associate at Lionakis Beaumont Design Group in Modesto.

Pires' expanded duties include responsibility for the management of all production, staffing and project-related financial matters for the Modesto office.

In addition to the promotion, Pires recently was elected vice president of the American Institute of Architects, Sierra Valley Chapter, for 2008.

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Lars P. Willerup, an agent for New York Life Insurance Co. in Modesto, has earned membership in the Million Dollar Round Table for 2007.

Membership is attained only by those who have demonstrated superior professional knowledge, experience and client service. The group represents top life insurance and financial service professionals worldwide.

Willerup has been a New York Life agent since 2004. The Modesto resident is associated with New York Life's Stockton office. Willerup is also an Executive Council Award recipient for 2005-2006 and Annuity Champion for 2006-2007.

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John Vargas, owner of Play It Again Sports in Modesto, was recently honored with the Top Performer award at the 2008 Play It Again Sports Winter Conference and Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.

Lorna and Erin Davis, owners of Play It Again Sports in Turlock, also attended the conference.

The annual meeting provided franchisees with information about the industry and helped them take a fresh look at their operations. Workshops focused on improving the customer experience as well as increasing traffic and sales.

Announcements of promotions, awards and other business achievements can be sent by fax to David W. Hill, business editor, 578-2207; by mail to Biz Lines, The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; or by e-mail to dhill@modbee.com. Photographs are encouraged but cannot be returned.

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