Once a newspaperman, always a newspaperman.

At least that's how Jim Kwiatkowski, appointed this week as the new publisher and ad director of The Daily Observer, sees his return to the business.

A Valley native, Jim was born and raised in Arnprior, and has spent the better part of the last two decades in publishing, printing and most recently in the digital world as senior regional sales manager with Auto Trader, Auto Mart & Trader.ca.

When the opportunity arose to take on an expanded role as publisher/ad director of The Daily Observer, he jumped at it.

"I am really excited to be back in the newspaper business, a business that is evolving quickly in a multimedia environment," he said.

Jim is also excited about taking the helm at the oldest newspaper/media operation in the Valley. The Daily Observer is marking its 157th continuous year in business this summer, and while it is expanding to meet the needs of a growing digital and multimedia audience, he recognizes that it retains its status as the "newspaper of record" in this part of Renfrew County.

"That is a huge responsibility and one we take very seriously," he said.

Jim and his wife Bonnie still reside in Arnprior. They have two grown children, Amanda, currently teaching in the UK, and Nick, who works in Ottawa.

Jim was previously general manager at the Arnprior and Renfrew News when they were owned by The Daily Observer in the late 1990's, and stayed with them when the Observer sold them to Runge Newspapers. He also spent time earlier in his career at the Evening Daily News in New Glasgow and the Midland Free Press.

Jim invites former clients and business associates to contact him at (613) 732-3691, ext. 223 or via e-mail at:

jim.kwiatkowski@sunmedia.ca.

Peter Lapinskie is managing editor of The Daily Observer