Profile: Robin Saul
Robin is publisher of the Landmark Community Newspapers of Maryland. They include the daily Carroll County Times, winner of Newspaper of the Year for Division C in the 2001 MDDC Editorial Contest, and the weekly Community Times. He began his newspaper career at The Virginian Pilot and The Ledger Star in Norfolk, VA, where he worked from 1978 – 1983 and again from 1985 – 1993, before joining the Carroll County Times. He has served on the MDDC Board of Directors since 1995 and is the chair of the MDDC Technology Committee.

PERSONAL:
Born October 13, 1953, in Roanoke, VA. Married to Connie Cline Saul. One son, Bryan, who is 16.

How would you describe yourself? "Personable & outgoing, enjoy a good laugh; honest & straight forward; spend too much time working (or thinking about my work); find community service work rewarding."

Education: BA in Economics with Mathematics, Hampden-Sydney College, 1976 : MBA, University of North Carolina, 1978.

PROFESSIONAL:
Favorite part of your job: "Resolving an issue/conflict for a reader or an advertising customer."

Least favorite thing about your job: "Long & numerous meetings."

List and briefly describe your mentors: "Don Patterson, executive VP of Landmark Communications, who taught me patience and managerial accountability; my parents, George & Marie, who showed me the importance of strong work ethics and family morals."

Biggest challenge: "Recruiting, developing & keeping good employees and having them focus their efforts on achieving high customer service."

Most serious challenge to newsgatherers: "FOI issues; open meetings laws; and maintaining a creative/fresh approach to presenting the daily news reports."

Main benefit you derive from MDDC membership: "Advertising revenue-sharing programs and training."

FUN:
Fantasy job: "VP of Public Relations for the New York Yankees."

Favorite type(s) of music: "Christian contemporary and contemporary light rock (no rap, please)."

Favorite car and the car you drive now: "Favorite is Mercedes 580SL convertible. Currently drive a 1990 Acura Legend."

Last book you read: "The Weather Channel: The Improbable Rise of a Media Phenomenon" by Frank Batten.

Favorite TV show: "Everybody Loves Raymond and Andy Griffith Show reruns."

Hobbies: "Golf, gardening and trout fishing on a Canadian lake or mountain stream."

How you would most like to spend one day: "Sitting in a corporate skybox, at Yankee Stadium, watching the Yankees win a double-header against the Red Sox."

Favorite quotation: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." Yogi Berra

If you could be anyone else, who would you be: "A major league baseball manager or sportscaster."

If you could meet anyone else (any time in history), who would it be: "Mickey Mantle, my childhood hero."

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