Shauna Belyeu, publisher of the Eufaula Indian Journal and McIntosh County Democrat, took office as president of the Oklahoma Press Association on July 1.

She was elected by OPA members during the annual business meeting at the June 7-8 OPA Convention in Oklahoma City. Belyeu succeeds Sheila Gay as president and will serve a one-year term.

“I am so proud of our extremely proactive association and that I have the privilege to serve alongside such a great board and staff,” she said.

Belyeu graduated from Northeastern State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice pre-law with an associate degree in journalism and business administration.

She began her newspaper career at the McIntosh County Democrat and Eufaula Indian Journal in 1999.

She was promoted to advertising manager of the two publications in 2002 and to general manager in 2006.

In 2009, Jack and Jeff Mayo purchased the two McIntosh County newspapers. Today the Mayos publish nine newspapers in southeast Oklahoma under the company name Cookson Hills Publishers, Inc.

At the two newspapers, Belyeu is responsible for day-to-day operations, sales, promotions and filling in as needed.

Belyeu was elected to the OPA board in 2018. Since then she has chaired multiple committees including Strategic Planning; Government Relations; Revenue and Promotion; and Education.

She is also a board representative for the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation.

“During my time on the board, I have had the opportunity to meet so many great publishers from across the state and learn from some wonderful mentors,” said Belyeu.

Belyeu is also active in her community. She has served as secretary on the board of the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce for four years; as a member of the Eufaula Economic Development Planning Committee; and is currently serving on the Eufaula Area Museum board.

Belyeu is a third-generation small business owner in Eufaula. Her daughter, Lauren, is also a small business owner in Tulsa.

Other officers elected for one-year terms at the business meeting were Suzie Campbell, publisher of the Countywide & Sun, as vice president, and Brian Blansett, publisher of the Lincoln County News, as treasurer.

Gay will serve a one-year term as immediate past president.

The membership renewed a three-year board term for Shaun Witt, audience development director at Oklahoma Watch, and Dee Ann Patterson, editor of The Lawton Constitution, was elected to a three-year term as a new board member.

Also on the board are Erin Dyer Thompson, El Reno Tribune; Ed Choate, Muskogee Phoenix; Brett Wesner, Wesner Publications; and Connor Choate, Marietta Monitor.