Profile: Ron Carey

By R.S. Pollack

First Published: December 2007

Personal Data

Date of birth: March 31, 1968.

Grew up in: Richmond, Va.

Personal: Married, Meg; daughters, Olivia, 8, Eleanor, 5, and Kate, 2.

Hobbies/Diversions: Golfing, boating.

Education: 1990, B.S., sports management, University of Virginia, Charlottesville; 1997, completed executive development program at Darden School, University of Virginia.

Career: 1991-2004, sales account manager; personnel and organization manager; senior manager, personnel and organization; Mars Inc., Hackettstown, N.J.; 2004-06, associate director of human resources, director of human resources, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare, division of Wyeth Inc., Richmond, Va., 2006-present, director of human resources, Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch.

Connections: Richmond Times-Dispatch, 300 E. Franklin St., Richmond, Va. 23293, (804) 649-6459, rcarey@timesdispatch.com

Ron Carey is getting used to people asking him what he's doing running a human resources department at, of all places, a publishing company.

"I started in sales, and I've spent almost as much time in sales as I have in human resources," says Carey, 39, who began his career as an account executive for Mars Inc., which makes Mars bars and M&Ms.

While some may not see the connection between managing large accounts for a candy company and running an 11-person human resources department, Carey sees a natural link.

The common denominator, he says, is ensuring customers get what they need in a changing environment. In fact, what attracted Carey to the newspaper industry is the opportunity to lead an organization through significant change.

Blending his sales background with strategic planning experience, Carey is taking a leadership role as the Times-Dispatch makes sure it provides information in ways relevant to consumers well into the future.

"Ron is the vital decoder ring we need to help the workforce understand the opportunities and excitement that come with change," says President and Publisher Tom Silvestri.

Since taking the helm of the human resources department in 2006, Carey has helped communicate a strategic plan to the workforce through a series of town meetings.

Carey may be having his greatest impact, however, as a coach and partner. When it comes to restructuring or reshaping to meet changing needs, other departments are now bringing human resources into the process. In recent months, the newsroom and the advertising departments turned to Carey and his team for their expertise.

Although he is new to newspapers, Carey says he's already hooked on the industry.

"This is one of those businesses that get in your blood," he says.

Five Questions
 

1. What's the most challenging aspect of your job?

The constant change within the industry and the resulting impact on the workforce.

2. What's the most rewarding part of your job?

Being a part of the business transformation.

3. In what ways do you think your current position will change over the next five years?

The position will continue to evolve and play a bigger role in long-term strategic planning for the business.

4. What's the best career advice anyone ever gave you?

Have mentors. Learn from every experience, whether positive or negative and be prepared to explore unconventional projects or experiences; they may provide some of your best learning experiences.

5. What three things would you change about the newspaper industry?

• The use of business analytics to know the customer better than any other industry.
• Provide more customization to give consumers what they want, when they want, where they want it.
• Be the absolute best at connecting content, goods and services to the consumer. At times, the consumer and the retailer believe there is a better way to conduct business than the newspaper. We must be so attuned to their needs and manner of communicating that we can anticipate what they need and how they need it done before we enter into a business relationship.