Corey Friedman is editor of The Wilson Times and executive editor of Restoration NewsMedia, a family-owned company working to restore and preserve community journalism in the digital age.
In addition to his work for the Times, he writes a weekly column for Creators Syndicate that features solutions-based commentary on politics, open government and First Amendment issues.
Through his role overseeing the Times’ opinion page, Friedman has led successful editorial campaigns to save the Brewmasters mural, improve the Wilson County Board of Education’s public comment policy and secure full funding for the new Wilson County Animal Shelter.
Friedman has received numerous state and national honors for editorial writing, commentary, political coverage and news reporting. In 2019, his work earned the News Leaders Association’s Burl Osborne Award for Editorial Leadership. Other honors include a National Headliners Award and a Green Eyeshade Award from the Society of Professional Journalists.
He worked as the Times’ online editor from 2012-14, then served as editor of the Richmond County Daily Journal in Rockingham before returning to Wilson to lead the Times’ newsroom in May 2016. Previously, he worked for Freedom Communications as city editor of The Star in Shelby and a reporter at The Gaston Gazette, Havelock News and Sun Journal in New Bern.
A self-described local news evangelist, Friedman served on the North Carolina Press Association board of directors from 2015-18 and is a state and national SPJ member. He was named to Editor & Publisher magazine’s “25 Under 35” list of up-and-coming newsroom leaders in 2019.
As a reporter, Friedman has flown in a Russian fighter jet, fired sniper rifles under the watchful eye of police weapons instructors, covered an NFL game and felt the heat of a 1,000-degree inferno in full turnout gear alongside local firefighters. His remaining human guinea pig goals include being shocked with a stun gun and sampling the world’s hottest chili pepper.
Ms. Kimberly Van Dyk serves as the director of the Planning and Community Revitalization Department for the City of Wilson, North Carolina. Her department is charged with long-range planning, center city revitalization, historic preservation, community development, and downtown development. In conjunction, she serves as the in-kind executive director for Wilson Downtown Development Corporation, which, along with the City of Wilson, works on land use, parking management, property redevelopment, creative placemaking, business recruitment and retention, public and private infrastructure improvement, historic preservation, marketing, and special events for Historic Downtown Wilson. Ms. Van Dyk has over twenty-five years of experience in downtown development, neighborhood business district development, community development, and planning. Recently, one of her major projects, the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park, was completed. This nationally acclaimed project has leveraged tens of millions in investment in Historic Downtown Wilson and has helped lead the community down an exciting new innovation path in arts and technology. Ms. Van Dyk holds a Master of Public Administration, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and Government Leadership and Administration, and undergraduate degrees, all from Western Michigan University.
Gospel Glitter represents the light of the Gospel and how such tiny appearing sparkles have the potential of shining brighter together and providing hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak. Emotional turmoil related to hardships of life, trauma, or suffering may leave you feeling hopeless, but allowing God’s Word to be illuminated leaves His Word having the final say.
In a world of darkness, let the Gospel of Jesus Christ be the shining evidence of His restoration and redemption power. Knowing the Word of God can shed light on the darkest nights of our lives. Also, it allows us to know the heart of our Creator, a loving God, whose plans are greater than anything we could ever plan on our own. My prayer is that the light of the Gospel will reveal a strategy to you and combat the emotional consequences of hardship in life.
Lindsay Stone Corbett is a wife, mother, and registered nurse who discovered the greatest calling in life is the Great Commission. Through a personal encounter with God, Lindsay was birther with a vision that would only be brought to fruition through obedience into unknown territory. Lindsay desires to have a global impact by sharing the light of God’s Word, and her story reveals her heart in ministry. She is drawn to parents and women who have struggled with infertility, infant loss, and specials needs children.
Keven Zepezauer began his career in circulation in 1994 with McClatchy at The News & Observer. In 2001, Keven and family moved east to Greenville, NC to become the VP of Audience Development for the next 15 years. Keven and his family migrated west into Wilson, NC in 2016 when he became General Manager of The Wilson Times with becoming Publisher in July 2017. Keven has facilitated the purchase of 12 newspapers and 1 digital media company since his tenure began in Wilson. Keven created a media services divisional hub handling all pagination and ad production, website division, business office division, consulting firm and management services, which is all headquartered out of the Wilson corporate office. This led to the birth of our parent company, Restoration NewsMedia where Keven now serves as President, CEO and Publisher. Restoration NewsMedia currently has 6 media companies along with an online ticketing company, multiple magazines and websites. Keven served as past President for the Wilson Chamber of Commerce Executive Leadership Team as well as the Mid Atlantic Circulation Managers Association, served on the board for The Salvation Army and Rotary Club of Wilson and is currently serving on the board for Wilson Forward, Eastern North Carolina Press Association and North Carolina Press Association.
Keven has been married to his beautiful wife Laurie for 27 years and has two boys. Tyler, 23, serves in the USAF in Security Forces as a Staff Sargent and Alex, 21, is our Website Developer for Restoration NewsMedia and outside media companies.
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