The board of Oregon Writers Colony has voted to name Holly Franko as its Executive Director. Franko had been serving in an interim capacity. Franko brings a strong writing and management background to the position. In her twenty-year career in journalism, she spent five years as Copy Desk Chief at The Oregonian after stints at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Idaho Statesman in Boise. She led workshops at American Copy Editors Society conferences and high school journalism classes. Since 2009, she has run her own copyediting business, working with writers in Oregon and elsewhere. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a bachelor’s degree in American Culture from the University of Michigan.

“We are delighted to welcome Holly to this position,” said Sarah Gilbert, OWC Board President.” She has been a member and volunteer in OWC for several years. Her experience, passion, and knowledge of the Oregon writing and publishing community are the ideal fit for OWC as we transition to a new era of growth and opportunity.”