Albany Herald editor leaving to head Cartersville Chamber

<p>Kay Read, editor of The Albany Herald newspaper for 14 years, has resigned to become president of the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber of Commerce.</p><p>Read will assume her new duties on April 9. Her final day at The Herald is March 23.</p><p>In Cartersville, north of Atlanta, Read will direct a five-person staff and a chamber that has about 1,400 members. She was chosen from a field of 39 applicants.</p><p>"I am truly excited about the opportunity to be a part of the team in Cartersville and Bartow county," Read said. She said her background as a newsroom leader and longtime volunteer with state and local chamber of commerce boards give her "a unique perspective of how to move the Cartersville-Bartow County Chamber to a new level."</p><p>Cartersville's primary industries include carpet-maker Shaw Industries and brewer Anheuser Busch.</p><p>"Kay brings a strong background of leadership, vision and business acumen to the chamber," the Cartersville-Bartow chamber chairman Gene Lee said.</p><p>During her tenure as the Albany newspaper's top editor, Read worked on community improvement, journalism excellence and First Amendment rights.</p><p>Read was named one of Georgia Trend magazine's 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2004. She is president of the Georgia Associated Press Association Council and a board member of the Georgia First Amendment Foundation.</p><p>"I'm saddened to see Kay leave; however, I certainly understand her desire to undertake this exciting new challenge," said Mike Gebhart, publisher of The Herald and a vice president of its parent company, Triple Crown Media.</p><p>Herald Executive Editor Jim Hendricks will assume responsibility for the Albany newspaper's editorial page.</p><p>___</p><p>Information from:</p><p>HASH(0x1cdbf60)</p><p>HASH(0x1cdc008)</p>