Louisville’s Business First has hired two new editors.
Jason Thomas has been hired as managing editor and he will be overseeing daily operations in the newsroom. Thomas comes to the position after Shea Van Hoy left the position open when Hoy took over the position of editor-in-chief earlier this summer.
Thomas will be bringing in an experience of twenty-two years to the company. Previously, he has worked at the Indianapolis Star for nine years, where he reported on growth and development. Recently, he served as an assistant editor at the News and Tribune in Jeffersonville and New Albany, where he headed Southern Indiana Business Magazine.
“When I can catch a break from being on daddy duty, I enjoy hopping on my bike and exploring Louisville’s neighborhoods, or strolling through one of the city’s museums or parks,” Thomas said. As for his new role, Thomas added that “Business First is synonymous with success, and I’m humbled to join its team.”
Thomas is a graduate of Ball State University and lives in the Schnitzelburg neighborhood with his fiancé and two sons.
Zak Owens has also joined the team as associate director, a position left open by Brent Schanding. Owens will be overseeing the company’s special publications and other products.
Previously, Owens served as executive producer at WAVE-TV. There, he oversaw the station’s evening news product across its digital and broadcast platforms. Prior to that, Owens also produced the station’s 11 p.m. newscast, winning three Emmys.
“I’ve admired Business First for as long as I can remember; my dad was profiled in 1987, and whenever I visited his office I read over the framed printing plate of the story he had hanging on his wall.” His dad is Dale Owens, formerly general manager of the Louisville Redbirds.
Owens is a lifelong Louisvillian. He graduated from Trinity High School before majoring in journalism at Indiana University Southeast. He lives in the Highlands.
“I hired Jason at the News and Tribune and worked with him for several years. He excels at crafting stories with reporters and will make the journalism we do better,” Van Hoy said. “With Zak, we were able to add someone with several years of management experience who will bring new ideas and fresh ways of presenting content from his TV and multimedia background.
“I can’t wait for both of them to get settled in and to see what we can do in the future.”
