Sarah Billingsley, an advertising executive whose experience at several alternative weeklies brought her to AWN two years ago as Ad Coordinator, has been named Communications Director for the Alternative Weekly Network .

In addition to becoming an AWN Director where she now coordinates the 95-member advertising cooperative’s national sales efforts, Sarah assumes additional sales responsibilities associated with the long-time position held by John Morrison who left the company in March.

“In eight very short weeks,” said Billingsley, “I’ve been able to see the potential AWN has to offer and now to be able to contribute in a more meaningful way is something I’m proud to be a part of.”

Sarah has worked for more than a decade in the alternative industry with stints at The San Francisco Bay Guardian, Independent Weekly and Sacramento News & Review.    Sarah came to AWN in January 2008, after a five-year run at t

he News & Review (most recently as Advertising Director) and returned to college.   At last year’s end, Sarah graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies from California State University, Sacramento.

“She has advertising, sales and administrative experience that fits well in her new AWN role,” added AWN Executive Director Mark Hanzlik.   “Sarah also has the ability to adjust to change well,” Mark concluded, “our crew has seen a lot in the past few months.” Mark’s company, Hanzlik Media Management which provides the day-to-day base of operations for AWN relocated in March by joining the Sacramento News & Review in their new building.    Hanzlik says there are also plans to unveil a new look for AWN in June which includes a newly configured web site, marketing and digital presence.

Sarah, who has spent a majority of her career in Northern California, hails from Upstate New York.  She currently resides in Carmichael with her husband, Michael who is the Distribution Director for the News & Review.