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Since 1992, Lisa Hayes-Minney has been an often behind-the-scenes
developer in many of the region's print and promotional publications.
Although most readers know her as the reporter for The Calhoun Chronicle,
few know of her prior experiences in the media field. However, it is the
culmination of twelve years of experience in journalism, public relations,
marketing and tourism development that has led Minney to form Stumptown
Publishing LLC.
As a student at Glenville State College, she served as editor for the
college newspaper, The Mercury. Later, as a member of GSC's public relations
staff, she helped launch and publish the first issues of the college's
alumni magazine, Today's Pioneer, and designed the college's first
award-winning billboard ad.
As the desktop publisher for a magic and novelty wholesale company in
Wirt County, Minney designed and created the company's catalogs, fliers,
magazine ads, and product packaging. She wrote two magic how-to books for
the company, which have since sold 10,000 copies each, worldwide.
She managed the publication of the 2002 Gilmer Review, a newsprint
tabloid promoting recreation, hunting and fishing in Gilmer County. She
designed Gilmer County's virtual tour at www.gilmerwv.com, and created the
only road map of Gilmer County that includes all recreation, fishing, and
gas station locations.
For the last four years, Minney has served as reporter for Calhoun
County's weekly newspaper. As a columnist, she received three awards from
the West Virginia Press Association including first place, best columnist in
Division 5. In 2006, she managed the development of a tourism publication
for Calhoun County entitled "Encounter Calhoun," a project which led her to
be nominated and accepted into The State Journal's inaugural class of
"Generation Next."
This year, Minney has had two articles published in Wonderful West
Virginia, the premier magazine about the Mountain State published by West
Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Minney's other online projects
include a web site with job interviewing tips, contributions to
AssociatedContent.com, and an online store (twolaneshoppin.com) of custom
designed t-shirts and hats. "Oh," she said smiling, "those I just do for
fun."
For fifteen years, Minney has created, managed and designed quality
promotional and news pieces for the region, in all venues of media. After
learning and training under some of the most knowledgeable in the field,
she's now launching out on her own. "This is where my education and
experience in Central West Virginia has led me," she said. "In the
publishing business, you go from one project to the next. This seems like
the next logical step."
Minney's plans include publishing a regional entertainment and
healthy living guide, entitled Two-Lane Livin', which will be launched in
September. "Regional readers are going to love Two-Lane Livin'," she said.
"Local readers are practical. They want to learn, and they want to
laugh." Minney said. "Two-Lane Livin' is going to be empowering, and
informative -- and it's going to be fun."
Even so, Minney says this regional entertainment and living guide has
been designed with very serious goals in mind. "This region needs a stronger
cross-county communication outlet, and positive presentation outside the
area for development," she said. "The magazine content has been chosen to
foster community development by empowering, entertaining and informing
individual readers, but it's more than just that. Presentation, distribution
and content will foster economic development through promotion of the
region's attractions, businesses, quality of life, and present our cultural
character to the masses outside our region."
"Two-Lane Livin' is specifically designed to celebrate life in
Central West Virginia. No publication has ever before served this purpose,"
she said. "Personally, I believe the time has come to celebrate the entire
region as a sound tourism destination, and a wonderful place to live."
Minney will be leaving her post as the Chronicle's reporter in late
June, but hopes to remain affiliated with the newspaper. "The Calhoun
Chronicle staff feels like family," she said, "and our readers are some of
the best folks around. I can't imagine letting go of those relationships,
and I don't intend to."
Minney has already launched her online store, twolaneshoppin.com, in
preparation for the September launch of her tabloid magazine. In addition,
she has basic information about the publication -- including a photography
contest and a free downloadable booklet on marketing - online at
twolanelivin.com.
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