Jon Wile
Current Title: Vice President: Design
Organization: American City Business Journals
Country: United States
SND Vision
It’s time for SND to get a reboot. The media world has changed rapidly in the past decade, especially in the U.S. The Society needs to adapt to this changing reality before it gets left behind. Or, even worse, it becomes extinct. Issues that I would address as your president include:
- Explore how the annual workshop and training events can happen in partnership with other industry trade events. Having a tract of design training at non-design industry events limits SND’s financial liability, increases design awareness, and reduces the staffing power required to pull off a large-scale event like the annual workshop. It allows SND to move to different parts of the country and the world, making it easier for folks to attend in-person training.
- Continue the streamlining of the annual design competitions and look how the print and digital competitions can become one.
- Create content on a consistent basis for the web site and develop a more regular cadence for SND on social channels.
- Continue the great work being done by the current Board and Executive Director to grow the Society’s membership. There are a lot of opportunities — especially outside the U.S. — in this area. I’ve been around SND for more than 20 in a variety of capacities — member, volunteer, annual workshop chair, competition coordinator and regional director.
The Society has:
• Helped me meet amazing mentors that shaped my career;
• Taught me so many elements of how to be a visual journalist and news designer;
• Given me professional recognition through the competition, workshop and other training events;
• Helped me grow my professional network;
• Instilled in me the confidence to be a leader and executive at my company My colleagues would tell you that I am a natural collaborator and not afraid to make hard decisions. I enjoy enterprise-level projects and rebuilding teams and processes.
I am the right person to be your next president. I love SND and don’t want to see it go away.
Bio
Jon Wile is VP/Design at American City Business Journals in Charlotte, N.C. Jon oversees design for 40 business journals across editorial, advertising, events, marketing, product, and UX. He created and manages the News Design Desk and Business Design Desk, a pair of centralized design teams that have more than 50 designers across the U.S. Previously at ACBJ, Jon served as VP/Content as well as Creative Director, a role in which he redesigned all 40 papers and web sites. Before joining ACBJ in 2012, Jon worked in a variety of design and leadership roles at The Washington Post for seven years. He’s also worked at The Plain Dealer and Detroit Free Press. He’s a graduate of Kent State University, with a degree in newspaper journalism. Jon resides in Charlotte with his wife, Kristen, and their sons, J.J. and Teddy. He enjoys drinking/collecting bourbon, playing golf, watching Ohio State football and cooking.