A Fond Farewell

Pubnotes-3097150a

Twelve years ago, I was offered an exciting opportunity to lead Augusta Magazine. I accepted and moved fromThe Augusta Chronicle around the corner to the offices on 7th Street.  I had always been a fan of the magazine, but I wasn’t sure of all the things I would need to learn to be successful.

Fortunately, there were some very talented staff members already in place who willingly helped me understand the magazine business.  I’ve always had an awesome team—many have gone on to other opportunities over the years—and I am thankful to each of them. The people listed on the masthead, including our freelance writers and photographers, are the team that bring you this quality publication each issue.

In the meantime, I also had the opportunity to work more closely with so many of our advertising customers and ad agencies, getting to know them better. Because we are a local magazine, our customers are in the Augusta area and I can personally attest that we have a great number of outstanding businesses in our area, committed to the local community and to making their businesses prosper. Thank you to all of our customers for the investment you have made in the magazine and your continued confidence in us. 

During my time at the magazine we’ve grown, delivering a greater number of quality products to niche audiences. It’s been fun and rewarding to add two issues of Augusta Magazine, launch Augusta Family Magazine, skirt! magazine and Aiken Homes and Lifestyles Magazine for readers and advertisers, and to watch them grow in popularity.

I’ve lived in Augusta and been with the company for almost 30 years, held a wide variety of positions including reporter, marketing director and display advertising manager. I married my husband in Augusta, we had a child, made lots of dear friends and created many memories, so this is a bittersweet departing. We will be moving the first of June to eastern North Carolina as I take the position of director of a United Methodist Camp and Retreat Center. 

The new publisher will be Ashlee Griggs Duren. She grew up in Augusta, graduated from the University of Georgia and has been with Morris Communications for more than 15 years. She is very excited about her new position and will add her own special touch to Augusta Magazine.

I have loved being the publisher of Augusta Magazine and living in Augusta. It has been a wonderful place to call home, with great people, a charming ambience, a vital business community and an awesome quality of life. The summer heat and humidity? Maybe I won’t miss that too much. 

 To all our readers and advertisers, my team and the company, I thank you for your support and wish you all the very best.

This article appears in the May 2015 issue of Augusta Magazine. 

RSS Augusta Magazine’s Front Porch

  • Episode 11: Jay Jefferies
    Jay Jefferies stops by to deliver the weather and much more!
  • Episode 10 - Nesia Wright
    We had the pleasure of sitting down with Nesia Wright, owner and CEO of the Georgia Soul Basketball Team. Ashlee and Nesia discuss life as the owner of a basketball team, retirement and more.
  • Episode 9: Venus Morris Griffin
    Venus Morris Griffin, one of the top real estate agents in the Augusta area, stops by our front porch to talk about her success and her upcoming book. This episode is sure to set a fire in you to go for your dreams!
  • Episode 8: Michael Romano
    Michael Romano, self-proclaimed carbohydrate king and executive pastry chef for Edgar's Hospitality Group stopped by our front porch to chat with Ashlee.

E-Newsletter

Previous Issues

Related Articles

Publisher’s Notes

Publisher’s Notes

In 2015, I had the pleasure of meeting 10 individuals who were chosen by a committee of leaders in our community to be the Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. These young people were emerging as the next group of leaders that would ascend to new heights in...

Editor’s Notes: May 2022

Editor’s Notes: May 2022

After the Masters ends, there arrives the month of May to bridge the gap between spring and summer. May is the time of year for graduation parties and college kids returning home for summer jobs. May 4 is National Renewal Day, or a day to recharge in subtle or big...

Editor’s Notes: February/March 2022

We began receiving wedding photos for our Celebrations and Venues issue of Augusta magazine in late November. With each new group of photos, I noticed the beauty of the natural flora among the images. White magnolias, French blue hydrangeas, crimson zinnias and...