CORRECTION: Vote on MPA’s 2026 officers, directors during the 159th Annual Convention

Bryan Chester

Provided/University of Missouri

Missouri Press Association’s Nominating Committee has made a small change to the finalized slate of MPA officers and directors for 2026, effective Jan. 1. The election of officers and directors is scheduled during the annual MPA business meeting Friday, Sept. 12, at the 159th Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Wildwood Hotel in Wildwood, Mo.

Proposed officers and directors are:

• 2026 President, Bryan Chester, Columbia Missourian;
• First Vice President, Bryan Jones, Morgan County Statesman, Versailles;
• Second Vice President, Mike Scott, NEMO News Media Group, Kahoka;
• Secretary, Allen Edmonds, The North Cass Herald, Belton; and
• Treasurer, Hannah Spaar, The Odessan, Odessa.

Directors for three-year terms are: Donna Bischoff, BridgeTower Media, St. Louis; Jamie Mowers, Webster-Kirkwood Times, St. Louis; and Tim Schmidt, Westplex Media, Montgomery City.

Dawn Suggs, The St. Louis American, is being nominated as the National Newspaper Association state chair. A previously shared slate of MPA officers and directors for 2026 included Hannah Spaar as Missouri’s NNA representative, however, MPA bylaws do not allow for a board member to hold the position for more than three years.

Continuing on the MPA Board in 2026 will be directors: Gary Castor, Jefferson City News Tribune; Kimberly Combs, Better Newspapers Inc., Piedmont; Kenneth L. Garner, Garner Media Holdings, Maryville; Sandy Nelson, Courier Tribune, Liberty; and Ron Schott, Wright County Journal, Mountain Grove.

Peggy Scott, Leader Publications, Jefferson County, will serve as immediate past president in 2026.

The nominating committee was chaired this year by Amos Bridges, Springfield News-Leader.

If you have questions about the nominating process, contact MPA Executive Director Chad Stebbins at (573) 449-4167, ext. 308, or by email at cstebbins@mopress.com.