Business

Parkersburg News and Sentinel names Lankford circulation director

PARKERSBURG -- Kat Lankford has been named the new director of circulation for The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and The Marietta Times.

"I was surprised, but excited," Lankford said. "I'm happy to be back in circulation. I look forward to communicating with the customers and taking care of any issues they may have, or listen to ideas to better the things we're doing."

Lankford has worked for Ogden Newspapers for more than 20 years. She began working for The Marietta Times in 2000 when her mother, Elizabeth Ferrell, told her about an opening in the mailroom. Ferrell was working in the advertising department at the time.

Lankford transferred to the mailroom at The News and Sentinel in 2002. She worked in the mailroom there until 2005 when she transferred to the circulation department. Lankford was a customer service representative, became a district service manager, and then the customer service manager for the circulation department. She also created a customer service manual and a production manual for the department while there.

In 2013 she transferred back to the mailroom to become the mailroom manager. Now she's back in circulation again to take on the director role.

"I enjoy both departments," Lankford said. "I just enjoy working for the newspaper, and this was a chance for a new adventure in something I was already familiar with."

Lankford graduated from Marietta High School in 1998 and has an 11-year-old daughter who does virtual learning.

Lankford will oversee circulation for both The News and Sentinel and The Times. She said she plans to be customer-oriented.

"I'm looking forward to making sure our customers are happy," Lankford said. "I'd like to rebuild some of our old subscriber base, and hope that old customers will come back and give us another chance to take care of them."

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com