20 Under 40 - 1999 Profile: James H. Hyatt Jr.

PRESSTIME

By Presstime Magazine

First Published: December 1999

He sounds like a stereotypical Southern gentleman with his leisurely drawl, ready chuckle, love of fishing and golf, and cheerleading approach to motivating workers. But then there's that Sports Car Club of America license in his pocket, allowing him to race cars on regional tracks.

"I like to set goals and make goals," says James H. Hyatt Jr., publisher of the 18,300-circulation Highlands Today in Sebring, Fla., and graduate of two racing schools. He quickly adds, "If I cannot do it with a positive attitude, I will get out of the business."

That view resonates with employees and bosses. "In just 18 months, Jim has presided over a stunning turnaround," reports Reid Ashe, publisher of The Tampa Tribune, who heads the Florida group of Media General Inc. of Richmond, Va.

That group includes Highlands Today, a 3-year-old daily that was losing money when Hyatt arrived. "The paper is solidly in the black and has captured large chunks of market share. The 1999 revenues are running 25 percent ahead of last year, circulation is growing, and the paper has broken numerous major news stories," says Ashe. "Staff morale is at an all-time high behind a leader who promises to 'rock the world' and is doing just that."

Hyatt took up ad sales to bankroll a master's degree, then abandoned his thesis for newspapering. At 25, he set out to snare a publisher's post by age 35—and did.

With long-held faith in interdepartmental cooperation, he expresses as much pride in his fledgling daily's numerous editorial awards as he does in its business growth. Management, Hyatt says, consists largely of getting the right people into jobs that are right for them. Customer-service contests, company cook-outs and regular training help them produce, but so does an enthusiastic boss.

"I like what I do, and it shows."

Education: 1985, B.A., political science and forensic science, and thesis needed to complete master's degree, Jacksonville State University in Alabama.
Career: 1983-85, sales assistant, The Anniston (Ala.) Star; 1985-89, account executive, assistant general manager, The Cherokee Sun, Centre, Ala.; 1989-91, account executive, advertising special-projects manager for co-op advertising, The Gadsden (Ala.) Times; 1991-97, advertising director, The News-Sun, Sebring, Fla.; 1997-present, publisher, Highlands Today, Sebring.
Personal: Age, 36. Born, Anniston, Ala. Married, wife Karen, two daughters.
Diversions: Family activities, fishing, golf, car racing.
Connections: Highlands Today, 231 U.S. Highway 27 N., Sebring, Fla. 33870, (941) 382-1163; fax, (941) 382-1076.