Fred Faour

Newspaper: Houston Chronicle

Background: Journalism career has been exclusively in Houston, off and on starting in 1987. I'm the sports editor at the Chronicle now, but I've also worked in brief spurts in TV, radio, horse racing, gambling and the music industry. (I was a miserable failure at all of them. Some would argue the same thing about journalism).

APSE experience: Member since 1989; Southwest Region chair in 2002-03; chair at judging in 2004, 2005; chair of the APSE regions committee founded in 2004.

Objective: Like our industry in general, APSE faces a lot of challenges in the coming years. We have to make the organization more proactive in finding new members. We have to make it more accessible to papers of all levels. We need to be a growing force that champions good journalism, works for the good of all member papers and stays on the cutting edge of the changes in our industry. I believe all of that starts at the regional level. My objective would be to continue to strengthen all the regions by making the meetings more accessible, more interesting and more affordable to all papers. I would encourage us to use the web more to our advantage to share thoughts and ideas, not just about journalism, but about our lives and how they are impacted by the business. I would encourage APSE to be more supportive and involved in industry-related websites. In the end, it's all about continuing education for all of us, and trying to have fun while we are doing it. The best place for that is at the regional level. We grow there first, and it will trickle upward to the national level.

Quotable: "To me, APSE has always been about relationships. It's been about creating friendships and finding mentors within the industry – people who make us better journalists and hopefully better individuals. Sometimes it's in a session at APSE. Sometimes it's at the bar or the poker table. Wherever we go, we're always sports journalists, and every tidbit we pick up from others can make us better. That's what APSE will always be to me."

Lynn Hoppes

Newspaper: The Orlando Sentinel

Background: Executive sports editor of the Orlando Sentinel. Host of the top-rated daily morning sports radio show in Orlando. Executive producer of the Orlando Sentinel High School Sports Show on television.

APSE experience: Organized the national convention in Orlando in 2005 at Walt Disney World and organized the judging conventions in Kissimmee the past several years. Former Diversity Committee chairman for four years. Former Southeast Region chair and vice chairman. Have judged and chaired APSE contests for more than 10 years. Have enjoyed my unofficial role as APSE social director.

Objective: To give APSE a purpose outside of just contests and awards.

Quotable: I used this quote when I lost 3 years ago, but I still believe what APSE needs is "fresh ideas."

"Fresh ideas in contest judging. Fresh ideas in convention programs. Fresh ideas in newsletters. Fresh ideas in sports sections at all levels. APSE is a great tool for us to exchange ideas and make all of us better. We all should give back to APSE what APSE has given to us."

Garry D. Howard

Newspaper: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Background: Began my career at the Trenton Times in Trenton, N.J., and have worked at papers of varying sizes, including the New Brunswick Home News, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, the St. Petersburg Independent, the St. Petersburg Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Promoted to assistant sports editor; associate sports editor and deputy sports editor at the Inquirer; left the paper in May of 1994 to accept the executive sports editor's position at the Milwaukee Journal. Became senior editor/sports of the newly merged Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in April of 1995 and was promoted to assistant managing editor/sports of the newspaper in 2001. Have served as a sports editor since 1990.

APSE experience: Past chairman of Diversity Committee; current member of Olympic Committee; an APSE member since 1990.

Objective: To bring the world of print journalism into the information age and bring sports editors of all sizes, shapes and colors together to form one strong organization that is prepared for the challenges of our industry.

Quotable: "The true measure of success is the ability to bring everyone together on the same page in search of one common goal. I can do this. Trust me. And thank you in advance for your belief in my abilities to lead as an APSE officer."

Ronnie Ramos

Newspaper: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Background: Former executive editor, Shreveport Times; Nieman Fellow (2002-03); former managing editor, Fort Myers News-Press, former deputy sports editor, Miami Herald; former sports reporter and metro reporter, Miami Herald.

APSE experience: Committee chair on sports sections and the internet; member of futures committee (on APSE web site); organizer of convention session on sports and the internet; past panelist at APSE conventions (most recently on the ethics of writers voting in polls and for awards); Former section and writing judge; former final writing judge.

Objective: APSE neeeds to continue setting the pace and taking the lead on key industry issues.

Quotable: "The sports journalism world is changing rapidly and we need to help each other stay ahead of issues and trends. We also need to be vigilant in protecting our business and raising the quality of our journalism."

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