John M. Humenik 

As a forward-thinking executive and consultant with extensive media experience and success, John M. Humenik is known for his leadership, strategic mindset, and innovation. In his role, John’s focus is on strategic alignment and implementation in addition to operational excellence, and program leadership. Humenik joined LMA/LMF in 2024 to lead the AI Community Journalism Lab and then the Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab. Earlier, he served nine years on the board of directors of Local Media Association and its predecessor organization, Suburban Newspapers of America, including two terms as board chair.

John is the founder of Pinwheel Insights with a focus on journalistic and operational excellence, digital content innovation, business transformation, new product development, audience growth, sales and marketing, and team building.

He is a former chief content officer, vice president for news, and group publisher for Lee Enterprises. He also was president and publisher of the Wisconsin State Journal (Madison), president of Madison Newspapers Inc., president and publisher of the Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), editor of the Quad-City Times, founding publisher of On The River, founding editor of the Quad-City Business Journal, presentation and graphics editor of The Cincinnati Enquirer, and assistant managing editor of the Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster). He started his career as a sportswriter in Chicago.

Additionally, John is a co-founder and chair of the board of directors of the Tucson Festival of Books. TFOB is among the largest book festivals in America and Condé Nast Traveler magazine named it as one of the nine best literary festivals in the world.