Shelby Publishing Co. President and Publisher C. Ronald “Ron” Johnston will close out his highly successful career at the Gainesville, Georgia-based company on Jan. 31, 2020.
Johnston will have spent a total of 38 years with Shelby when he retires.
He joined Shelby Publishing in 1977 as editor. Though he eventually moved to the advertising sales side of the business, his journalism degree from the University of Georgia always came in handy. He has been able to cultivate both news and sales for the company over the span of four decades in positions that also included business manager, EVP and associate publisher. He came to the helm as president and publisher in October 2003 following company founder Gary Shelby’s unexpected death.
He remained in those roles after the company was purchased in May 2005 by Dathan and Athaleen Mitchell.
The Mitchells said in 2017, upon the company celebrating its 50th anniversary, “We are blessed to have Ron Johnston as our president and publisher. Ron has more than 40 years of experience in this business and has been the leader of our expansion into the West, Midwest and Northeast. We thank Ron for all his hard work and long hours and devotion to making Shelby the leader it has become. Ron is a workhorse of unmatched proportions. Without Ron’s achievements we would not be where we are today.”
Johnston spent many years traveling across the South after he became part of the sales force, visiting retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers when it was their area’s Market Profile month in The Shelby Report. Then he took on double duty, covering the Southwest alternately each month. When the decision was made by the Mitchells to grow the Shelby brand into a national footprint, he blanketed the West, Midwest and Northeast regions. As of May 2016, Ron had introduced the Shelby banner to 47 of the 48 contiguous states. He made a trip with Midwest VP Geoff Welch to North Dakota in 2019 to complete that part of his journey.
He had a knack for bringing back stories others may have missed, presenting “Another Side” to consider. He interviewed a variety of industry executives, unique to their market, region or cause, like Jack Brown (Stater Bros.), Ralph Ketner (Food Lion), Orville Roth (Roth’s Markets), Dean Werries (Fleming Foods), Louis Fox (AWG), Jack Evans (Tom Thumb), Hillar Moore (Associated Grocers) and Harvey Mabry (H-E-B), as well as one-store operators and small manufacturers looking to get their foot in the food store door. He traveled to numerous trade shows, including FMI, NGA and NFBA (the National Food Brokers Association, back in the day) events as well as ROFDA’s two yearly conferences. Ron spearheaded The Shelby Report’s “ROFDA Report,” which historically has been part of each December issue. For his support of ROFDA over the years, he was presented with a special award at ROFDA’s joint meeting with NGA in Florida in November.
In The Shelby Report’s 50th anniversary issue in June 2017, Ron wrote a piece called “The Other Side of 50.” He said that while he doesn’t know what the next 50 years will look like at Shelby Publishing Co., “I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, that this side of 50 has been a great ride, with wonderful, talented people…It’s a humbling experience when one has been part of the journey in growing a brand. For those who did not make it this far, we miss you and are thankful for your contributions. For those who arrived a little later, I am privileged to work alongside you, an enviable perspective when you see gifted people employ their God-given talents day in and day out.”
The new guard
While Johnston will be sorely missed, businesses must move forward, and two people have been chosen to split his roles of president and publisher.
Paul Hynson, who joined Shelby Publishing Co. in January 2019 as EVP, will become president and chief operating officer (COO) on Jan. 1, 2020. He brings with him a 40-year career primarily in the printing/publications industry. Prior to joining Shelby he served as president of Walton Press in Monroe, Georgia.
Paul is a strong relationship builder and during his first year already has been to numerous trade shows and met industry leaders in every region of the country. He will continue to bring his outside-the-box ideas to Shelby Publishing to make sure the company continues to evolve to better serve our readers and the industry at large.
Lorrie Griffith, a 30-year company veteran, will add the title of publisher to the editor-in-chief title that she has held since 2017. She will leverage her industry insights and expertise to guide content for the company’s print and digital products in addition to continuing to lead the editorial department. She will be more visible at industry trade shows and make more visits to grocers, wholesalers and manufacturers.
“With 41 years management experience in the printing and publications sector, plus recent digital projects, Paul Hynson is well equipped to assume the president/COO title,” said Johnston, “and naming Lorrie Griffith publisher is most deserving of a highly respected writer and editor-in-chief who has ensured Shelby’s content and editorial integrity are second to none. No surprise, really, as owners Dathan and Athaleen Mitchell consistently have provided the resources and talent necessary to grow Shelby into the media brand it is today.”
