Orestes Baez

Regional President
Southern Wisconsin

Orestes joined APG from his Regional Vice President – Michigan role in the new company formed from the acquisition of Gannett by Gatehouse Media. He joined Gatehouse in early 2018 to run the then 10 Michigan properties spread from Sault Saint Marie to Monroe. In his 30+ years in media, he has performed in various roles beginning as a sales representative and growing into senior roles across the landscape. 

In his media leadership journey, his roles have included President and owner of his own digital and marketing company, Vice President of Sales, Chief Revenue Officer, President and CEO of the largest privately-held Pennysaver based in Maryland, President of the Tampa Flyer, and Regional Vice President for Harte Hanks Shoppers in California. Throughout his career he has had an emphasis on digital beginning as an early adopter in 1994 with Stanford’s course on Publishing Your Print Product Online held on Apple’s Cupertino campus. This continued with emphasis on digital product sales throughout his time in southern California and followed up by a three-day visit to Google New York for Google Ad Words individual training and certification. He was one of the first to introduce a guaranteed click program to the SMB space in the shopper world and migrated to selling large complex digital solutions across a broad platform of digital marketing services products for local clients in other media properties. His digital teams have been certified under various programs and are known for their digital density.

His teams have won numerous awards and have been acknowledged with their performance, including numerous local Associated Press awards, statewide Press Association newsroom awards, Advertising performance awards, Unit of the Year finalist and President Club status. Orestes was recognized as the 2003 Publisher of the Year by the Association of Free Community Papers.

A servant leader by nature, Orestes has participated in extensive leadership training including programs from the Center for Creative Leadership and numerous Zenger-Miller and ODI courses on quality management skills. He has also mentored internal candidates as part of a growth and development plan for upcoming leaders. He works to give back to the local communities by serving on numerous boards for trade associations, non-profits, and local economic groups. He most recently served on the board of the Economic Development Council of Monroe County and the Michigan Press Association.

He is a huge sports fan playing competitive tennis for many years and playing/coaching tennis at Clemson University while receiving his undergraduate and graduate degree. He now plays competitive pickleball in tournaments across the country.  His other interests include lots of saltwater therapy, cooking, traveling, and reading spy novels.

He is married to Donna and they have a 21 year old son in college.