Estevan Mercury Publications is pleased to announce the appointment of Deanna Tarnes to the position of adverting and promotions manager, and David Willberg to the position of managing editor, for the Estevan Mercury and Southeast Lifestyles.
David Willberg
David’s appointment took effect on Feb. 20. He brings more than 16 years of local reporting experience to the role as the managing editor. David was hired as a reporter with Estevan Lifestyles Publications (now Southeast Lifestyles) in September 2000, and was promoted to the role of editor in February 2008.
During his time with Lifestyles, he was often the only full-time reporter on staff, which allowed him to meet a variety of people, cover everything happening in the community, and develop strong working relationships with sources, both locally and provincially.
In May 2015, David joined the Estevan Mercury’s editorial team after a merger of the Mercury and Lifestyles staff. He remained the editor for Lifestyles while handling reporter duties for the Mercury. During the past two years, much of his time has been dedicated to covering city hall, law enforcement and cultural beats for the Mercury, while seeking human interest stories for Lifestyles.
He is looking forward to serving as the editor for two papers in one of Saskatchewan’s most dynamic communities.
David is a member of the Rotary Club of Estevan and the United Way Estevan, and chaired the local Athlete of the Year Awards committee from 2008 to 2013, and in 2015 and 2016.
Deanna Tarnes
Deanna’s appointment takes effect March 1. A graduate of the Estevan Comprehensive School, Deanna, who was born and raised in Estevan, began her professional career at the Mercury as a receptionist and office administration assistant. She later accepted a position with the Regina Leader-Post in their classified advertising department for a couple of years, before returning to Estevan where she joined Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers to assist with their sales and accounting sector.
Deanna returned to the Mercury in 2006 as a member of an active and experienced advertising and promotion sales team and just recently accepted the position as advertising manager following the retirement of former manager Cindy Beaulieu.
Deanna is actively engaged in several community ventures including the Hillcrest School Community Council for the past six years, as well as the Estevan Mermaids where she has taken on the duties as chairwoman of their fundraising committee and the Golden Eels swim team where she was elected president last year.
Deanna and her husband Chris are parents to two girls, Emily, 11, and Jordyn, 9.
She said she has enjoyed the challenges that the sales and marketing arm of the newspaper business provides since it involves helping local and regional clients and businesses promote themselves through traditional print, online and digital marketing strategies.
