Today we’d like to introduce you to Hans Appen.
Hi Hans, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
After graduating from the University of Georgia with a B.B.A. in Economics from the Terry College of Business, I joined Appen Media Group (AMG), a family-owned multimedia company, in May of 2011. I was promoted to General Manager overseeing all operations in August 2013 and in 2019 was promoted to Publisher.
In 2013, I also founded the Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce and ran the organization until 2017.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We have our ups and downs just like any small business, but we love what we do, which makes it easier to power through the hard times. The media landscape is ever-changing, so it can be a challenge to keep up with changes in the industry and deliver news and marketing products to a very diverse north metro Atlanta community.
We are always looking for new ways to diversify what and how we do business and deliver the news – which can be an exciting opportunity and one we welcome. Challenges like supply chain issues, labor shortages, pandemics, and a tight credit market are always unwelcome, but we adjust just like everyone else.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Appen Media Group (AMG) is a family-owned news media company located in the Northern suburbs of Atlanta. The company was founded in 1990 by my parents, Ray and Christina Appen, two veteran newspaper executives formerly with Knight-Ridder/Miami Herald. While they continue to work in the company, it is now led by me and my brother Carl, our Director of Content & Development.
Since its inception, AMG has focused on professionally produced local journalism in the areas of government, education, business, public safety, and lifestyle news and features. That core mission remains the same today and AMG’s credible, unbiased, and timely community journalism is now disseminated across a wide spectrum of print, audio, and digital platforms.
The AMG product portfolio includes six weekly newspapers with a combined home-delivered circulation of 105,000 copies distributed in the most affluent region of Georgia, including the Atlanta suburbs of Alpharetta, Dunwoody, Roswell, Johns Creek, Milton, Sandy Springs, and south Forsyth County. The AMG brand and competitive advantage are anchored in trust and partnership with readers in the communities it serves.
In addition to its weekly print newspapers, AMG assets now include its award-winning news hub, AppenMedia.com, a network of local news-centric podcasts, community guides, community events, event management, newsletters, custom publications, full-service brand development, creative design and production of niche publications.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Focus on surrounding yourself with people who you can trust and depend on. These may be family members, peers in the industry, clients, or friends, but make sure they are the kind of people that you can pick up the phone and call for honest feedback and advice. Also, be that person for other people. Worthwhile relationships are a two-way street.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.appenmedia.com
- Instagram: @appenmedia
- Facebook: @appenmedia
- Linkedin: @appenmediagroup
- Twitter: @appenmedia
- Youtube: @appenmedia
