News

COMMERCIAL HIRES NEW AD DIRECTOR

By Amy Riggin/ OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Saturday, March 28, 2009 11:19 PM CDT

The Pine Bluff Commercial has hired Rob Eilts as its new advertising director.

Eilts most recently worked in Danville, Va., as regional advertising director for Media General.

“Rob is a very personable, experienced sales manager,” said Michael Hengel, publisher. “I'm really happy that he is joining our team. He’s committed to community service as well, so I think he’ll be a welcome addition to the Pine Bluff community.”

Indeed, Eilts, 35, graduated from Illinois State University and said he has been in sales “ever since I got out of college.”

“I’ve been in newspaper sales for the past six years and before that I was in retail,” he said.

With a degree in community public health and gerontology, Eilts said his aspirations were “always to work with the public.”

“I found that my real love for life was in sales so I followed a sales career, which led me from furniture to newspapers,” he said.

Eilts is originally from Kankakee, Ill., but soon ran a furniture store in Lincoln, Ill., with a close friend before becoming the advertising manager of the local paper there in Lincoln.

During his time so far at The Commercial, Eilts said he has come to know many dedicated and knowledgeable staffers.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to get out and learn more about the area through them,” he said.

Eilts and his wife of 13 years, Jennifer, have four children — Caleb, 11, Mason, 8, Alayna, 5, and Lukas, 1 — and another boy due in June, for whom they haven’t settled on a name yet.

He and his family, who will join him in Pine Bluff on Easter weekend, plan to settle here permanently.

Meanwhile, Eilts is staying at Margland Inns Bed & Breakfast, as have many past newcomers to The Commercial.

“I just love it,” Eilts said of his temporary abode, adding that owner Wanda Bateman is “just awesome” with her nurturing nature.

“We’ve really felt welcomed in the community since I’ve been here,” Eilts said. “Everyone has been very approachable and friendly and we look forward to the opportunities that Pine Bluff offers, not only in my new position but for our family.”

Those offerings include everything from the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas to top-notch parks and recreation facilities, he said.

Eilts said he wants to continue to build on the positive changes at The Commercial and in the community.

“I see a lot of negativity that people have toward the community,” he said.

“The advertising department’s goal is to help promote the positive and optimistic areas of the community... We find that there are a lot of people who want to make a positive change in the community and that’s who we want to join with.”

Eilts can be contacted at 534-3400 or reilts@pbcommercial.com.

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