Many residents and business owners around the region may have already met him. Trevor Evans, 33, takes a hands-on approach to business, opting to meet with people in person, face to face, whenever he can. He loves to meet new people, talk and share stories.

Evans is community-minded, and he sees newspapers as a vital piece of a community’s ecosystem.

“Newspapers are the backbone to any small community,” he said. “In addition to being the leading source of local news, sports, obituaries, community business and school news, newspapers are a pillar in holding governments accountable.”

The Williamsport, Pennsylvania, native moved to this area from Gloversville, where he was the publisher of the Gloversville Leader-Herald. Now he’s living in Wilmington with his wife Janet, 4-year-old son Rhys and 8-month-old Charlie-Mae.

Evans didn’t always work in newspapers. He worked in construction throughout high school. While studying at Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, pursuing degrees in political science and history, he worked in fast food to pay the bills. He worked his way up from an entry level position to assistant general manager. He started his career in the newspaper industry as a member of a newspaper’s advertising sales staff, was quickly recognized for his leadership qualities and promoted into an advertising manager role, and after four years in advertising he was promoted to a publisher role. Holding many different roles in different industries gives him a wide range of knowledge and has sharpened his problem-solving skills.

“I am happy to bring my expertise working with other small towns here to Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Lake Placid and the surrounding areas,” he said.

Evans has been leading the News and Enterprise since Dec. 27, but his work has just begun. He has some goals for the future of these two historic, award-winning newspapers — and he wants to get more involved in the community, too.

“I am looking to improve the coverage and efficiency of already impressive newspapers and help bring outside insight to local agencies and nonprofits in the area,” he said. “One of my main goals will be to partner with local agencies, such as the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, and work together to improve downtown, whether through beautifying the area or holding community events that will continue to invigorate an already vibrant downtown.”

Evans takes over the publisher role from Cathy Moore, of Saranac Lake, who spent 47 years at the Enterprise and the News, 31 of those years as publisher. Moore’s time at the helm of the Enterprise was tied with the 31-year term of John Ridenour, who owned the paper from 1918 to 1949 and made it a six-day-a-week daily in 1926. It is still the only daily newspaper published inside the Adirondack Park. She retired on Aug. 14, 2020.

This is only the third publisher transition at the Enterprise since 1953.