New publisher named at The Kerrville Daily Times

Villalpando Daugherty relocating to Abilene

Jennifer McCullough
Jennifer McCullough
Posted

Former Kerrville (Texas) Daily Times Advertising Director Jennifer McCullough has been named publisher of The Times, succeeding Carlina Villalpando Daugherty, who announced her resignation early this month. 

McCullough’s first day at the newspaper will be Feb. 28. She and Villalpando Daugherty will briefly work alongside each other as McCullough gets reintroduced to the organization and community. 

Villalpando Daugherty’s last day at the newspaper will be March 3. 

McCullough worked at The Times twice before for a total of 13 years.

“There is no place on earth like the Hill Country. The beauty of the area goes far beyond the views and landscapes,” McCullough said. “The people here make the difference. The spirit of giving, lending a helping hand and caring for those in need are qualities that flow freely. I have truly missed the places and people I grew to love and am thrilled to come back. Third time is the charm for me!”

McCullough has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and communications from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Following graduation, she worked at her hometown newspaper, the Observer-Reporter, in Washington, Pennsylvania, in advertising sales and circulation management.

In search of the “perfect warm place to live,” McCullough worked in Florida at the Gainesville Sun, then found “the perfect place to live” upon moving to Kerrville and The Times as a sales representative.

After a brief move back to Pennsylvania, McCullough returned to The Times and was promoted to advertising director, then publisher of the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram in Northeast Texas, then owned by Southern Newspapers Inc., which owns The Times and other community newspapers.

McCullough said she “decided very quickly to come back” when she learned of the publisher position. 

“This is the absolute best company I have ever worked for. Southern Newspapers Inc. has a supportive, nurturing ownership and management team. I know they will provide all of the tools our highly devoted and talented team needs to continue to serve our communities and readers,” McCullough said.

McCullough has been married for 21 years to Richard A. McCullough. She has two step-children, Beth du Toit and her family of Lincoln, Massachusetts, and Jason McCullough, of Grand Junction, Colorado.

Carlina Villalpando Daugherty

Villalpando Daugherty is leaving the newspaper to relocate to Abilene, where her husband, Dr. Stephen Daugherty, has been recruited by Hendrick Health to launch a podiatry division for the growing Central Texas hospital system. The move also will put Villalpando Daugherty closer to her family in Brownwood. 

"Living and working in the Hill Country has been a great blessing in my life. I met my husband in Kerrville, as well as numerous lifelong friends, and I grew both professionally and personally,” Villalpando Daugherty said. “I’m sad to leave Kerrville, but I’m very grateful and excited for this next season in my newly married life and the opportunity to prioritize family.” 

"Carlina’s leaving is bittersweet in a number of ways,” said Neice Bell, vice president of Southern Newspapers Inc., former publisher of The Kerrville Daily Times and current publisher of the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. “I am very happy for her and Stephen and the new adventure in life they are getting to experience, but I am very sad to see her go. She has done some really remarkable things at The Kerrville Daily Times and has become a close friend. I wish her well. 

“I am also excited to have Jennifer McCullough coming back to Kerrville to lead the team at the newspaper,” Bell said. “Jennifer’s knowledge of the newspaper business and of Kerrville in general will be a big asset to the community.”

Villalpando Daugherty first joined The Times as an intern during the summer of 2004. Over the course of 10 years, she worked as a reporter, features editor and managing editor, before leaving the newspaper in 2014 to join The Tyler Morning Telegraph as managing editor. She returned to Kerrville in late 2018 to assume the publisher position at The Times.

During her time as publisher, Villalpando Daugherty has served on the boards of Christian Women’s Job Corps, the Salvation Army, Families & Literacy and the Hill Country Gala. 

"I will very much miss the community and especially my colleagues at The Kerrville Daily Times and across the entire Southern Newspapers company,” Villalpando Daugherty said. “SNI is one of the most respected and well-operated community newspaper companies across the state and country, and I will very much miss being a part of this passionate, committed and service-minded group of professionals. I can’t think of a better person to pass the baton of leadership and stewardship to than the immensely capable and caring Jennifer McCullough.”

The Kerrville Daily Times is one of 11 newspapers owned by Southern Newspaper Inc., including 10 in Texas and one in Oklahoma.