JFP Announces Its New Director of Operations and Finance, Marty Walker
Posting: Monday, November 4, 2024
PRESS RELEASE: JFP hires Marty Walker as its new Director of Operations and Finance
Journalism Funding Partners (JFP) is thrilled to welcome Marty Walker as its new Director of Operations and Finance. Walker brings more than 15 years of expertise in managing and scaling operations across multiple industries such as the fine arts, media and nonprofit sectors. Her commitment to strategic planning, financial oversight and system development will be an important asset for JFP as it continues to uphold its mission to support local journalism in news deserts across the country.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to the incredible momentum at JFP, supporting local journalism at this pivotal time when dependable news is vital to the health of our communities and democracy,” Walker said.
Marty Walker
JFP’s Director of Operations and Finance
In her most recent role as founding operations manager at the Springfield Daily Citizen, Walker designed and implemented operational systems that brought the organization to new heights. She oversaw a $1.5 million budget, managed a team of 14 and led efforts to establish efficient workflows. She also diversified revenue streams and introduced an innovative benefits package for employees, all within the first two years. Through her guidance and collaboration with senior leadership, the Daily Citizen grew into southwest Missouri’s largest independent news provider.
Walker’s hands-on experience in managing diverse funding sources and building meaningful partnerships prepared her well to support JFP’s growing network of fiscally sponsored newsrooms. At the Daily Citizen, she worked closely with development teams to track and optimize funding for impactful programs which included the Enhancing Student Citizenship Through Media project. Her approach to operations balances financial management with a focus on fostering collaborative, mission-driven work. In her new role at JFP, Walker plans to implement data-driven strategies and utilize emerging technologies to further help JFP optimize resource allocation to support impactful journalism nationwide.
Beyond her operational successes, Walker’s entrepreneurial sense is seen throughout her experience in founding and managing ventures within the creative and nonprofit sectors. From Walker’s experience in running a contemporary art gallery to co-founding the nonprofit Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas, she has built organizations from the ground up. Her insights from these experiences bring a valuable perspective to JFP’s mission as she explores innovative solutions to support the sustainability of local news organizations.
After launching multiple businesses in Dallas, she returned to her hometown of Springfield, MO, where she lives with her Boston Terrier, Otis. Walker’s passion for creative problem-solving and her focus on building systems that support new and growing organizations make her an exceptional addition to JFP. Please join JFP in welcoming Marty Walker as we look forward to her many contributions to this organization.
“JFP is thrilled to welcome Marty to our organizations,” said Rusty Coats, Executive Director of JFP. “She blends a hands-on approach to operations with a successful startup track record. I’m eager to see how she’ll take JFP to the next level in serving funders and newsrooms. Onward.”
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Media Contact: Rusty Coats, Executive Director | rusty@jfp-local.org | (813) 277-8959
