As the owner and publisher of The Cordova Times, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Grace Schultz, our incredible advertising manager and operations guru since 2022. Two summers ago, when I took on the responsibility of this now 110-year-old publication, I was navigating the demands of raising a two-year-old and a seven-month-old, all while managing several other scaling businesses. Grace came on board at the perfect time with a great attitude and played a pivotal role.
Grace truly owned the transition period of taking on the newspaper, helping me to build up the team, and establishing the processes that were essential for our success. Her dedication and expertise allowed me to focus on the many hats that I was wearing day to day, knowing that The Cordova Times was in capable hands. Her contributions have been invaluable, and I am deeply thankful for her unwavering support and hard work. And last but certainly not least, her sense of humor.
As someone raised in Cordova, taking on the newspaper was a profoundly personal decision. Preserving this vital news source for our community was important to me, but as it turned out, the timing of the transition was a challenge that summer. Grace’s arrival to my team, however, was right on time. She managed the daily operations creatively and efficiently, ensuring we could continue delivering quality journalism to the Prince William Sound region. Without her, The Cordova Times wouldn’t be where it is today.
Grace’s life’s passion, however, lies in teaching young people, and last week she moved on from the paper to complete her graduate studies in education. She will soon become a teacher, a role I know she will excel in given her dedication to young people. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited for her future and the impact she will undoubtedly make in the world of education.
And who knows? One day we may try to recruit her to teach in Cordova! But for now, we wish her all the best in her studies and future endeavors. Grace, you have been a critical part of The Cordova Times’ 108th through 110th years, and for that, we are very grateful.
I am also thrilled to share that Savannah Eike, a lifelong Cordovan, is now stepping into Grace’s role. We are so glad to have her and look forward to the new energy and ideas she will bring to the team.
Thank you, Grace, for everything. Your legacy at The Cordova Times will always be remembered. Here’s to your bright future and the many young minds you will inspire as a teacher.
Rachel Kallander, raised in Cordova and a CHS graduate, is a lawyer, chief strategist at Kallander & Associates, founder and CEO of Arctic Encounter, and owner and publisher of The Cordova Times. Additionally, Rachel serves as the Honorary Consul of Iceland to Alaska. Rachel lives with her husband and energetic toddlers in Anchorage, and frequently visits Cordova, where their family maintains a commercial fishing operation.
