The Butler Eagle has begun the new year with several leadership changes in its newsroom.

The retirement of managing editor Donna Sybert after a 43-year career at the Eagle has led Tracy Leturgey to be named interim managing editor in addition to her position as assignment editor until Sybert’s permanent replacement is hired.

Additionally, Joe Genco has been promoted from copy desk chief to production editor, and Steve Cukovich has been promoted from Butler County Business Matters reporter to associate editor.

Publisher Tammy Schuey said Leturgey has earned her new assignment and is ready for the challenge, which involves overseeing all of the Eagle’s publications, including the Butler Eagle, Cranberry Eagle and Butler County Business Matters.

“Tracy started full time as our digital editor and has continued to impress us year after year. She’s not afraid to look at things in a different way so we can continue to move forward,” Schuey said.

She said Leturgey led the Eagle’s digital transformation and ongoing efforts to obtain philanthropic funding to support community journalism while leading the newsroom and its staff.

Schuey said Leturgey learned a lot about news judgment and running a news organization while working under Sybert.

“I have no doubt she will continue to impress us with her work ethic,” Schuey said.

Before joining the Eagle, Leturgey worked for Richland Source of Mansfield, Ohio, as a business and economic development reporter. She later became the lead reporter for Ashland Source. Both online news organizations are owned by the same company.

“We’ve been doing great journalism over the last several years,” Leturgey said. “I want to continue the work we’ve been doing while looking ahead to what we can tackle next. I’m grateful for this opportunity to lead such a strong team.”

Leturgey got her foot in the door of the Eagle when she worked as an intern, hired by former managing editor Mark Mann. She returned full time in 2021 as digital content editor for two years, until she was named assignment editor, a role in which she oversees the newsroom’s daily coverage and publication of many of the Eagle’s special sections and projects.

She is overseeing the Butler Eagle’s newsroom that consists of six full-time news reporters, a three-person sports department, two photographers, a team of full and part-time editors, the copy desk and numerous freelancers. She will work with Cukovich on the publication of Butler County Business Matters and oversee the Cranberry Eagle’s weekly publication.

She also will oversee the news organization’s digital presence and be responsible for seeking potential grant funding for the newsroom.

In addition to managing daily news coverage, Leturgey said she and her staff will continue work on the Eagle’s series “Civics & Civility,” which aims to explain government processes and highlight civil conversations between people of differing opinions or backgrounds. Leturgey and the Eagle’s staff also will launch a reporting project focused on the challenges that emergency medical service providers are facing.

Civics & Civility plans include interviews with Republican and Democratic leaders from the county discussing their philosophies for governing, and a Community Conversations program in which the Eagle will meet with readers to assess news coverage and host speakers who will talk on government processes or elections.

“We’re well positioned to continue providing community journalism that matters to Butler County,” Leturgey said.

Leturgey lives in Jefferson Township with her family. Formerly Tracy Geibel, she grew up in nearby Summit Township.

“Tracy has a passion for the news and talent for writing and editing,” Sybert said. “We’ve faced some challenging news events and tackled some impactful projects together. She will do a great job of keeping Eagle readers informed.”

Genco will now oversee all print publications, including the Butler Eagle, Cranberry Eagle, Marketplace, Soar, America250 and special sections.

“We want everything to be as good as it can be and consistent across all of our publications,” Genco said. “There are a million little details you have to pay attention to, and I’ve always had an eye for little details.”

He will be the person behind the design of the Butler Eagle’s front page and work with a team of copy editors to design the inside of the newspaper. He also is responsible for the design of the Cranberry Eagle and Butler County Business Matters.

“The front cover of the daily paper is very important. I enjoy leading a team that works hard to make the best front cover possible,” Genco said.

When he goes grocery shopping, he said he enjoys comparing the front page of the Eagle to the front pages of other newspapers displayed next to each other.

Genco worked as a reporter from 2014 to 2018 for the Butler Eagle and briefly for the Cranberry Eagle before relocating to West Virginia, where he worked for two newspapers. Sybert recruited him to return in 2021.

In his new role, he supervises two full-time and a handful of part-time copy editors.

“Joe has amazing news judgment and works well under deadline pressure,” Sybert said. “He will do a great job maintaining the quality of the Eagle’s various products.”

Schuey said Genco has demonstrated significant growth in designing pages and news judgment since he returned to the Eagle and is ready to take on additional duties in the newsroom.

“I’m looking forward to Joe taking over the responsibility of managing the production staff at night,” Schuey said. “We were anxious for him to continue to grow in this leadership role.”

Cukovich’s career at the Eagle began in 2017 with an internship in the sports department under former sports editor John Enrietto after graduating from Slippery Rock University. He then worked as a freelancer in the news department before landing a full-time job about four years ago.

“Bringing Steve on to cover business news was such a good fit,” Sybert said. “Steve has a great rapport with people and is expanding his knowledge and contact with leaders in industry, nonprofit and education.”

His title recently changed from reporter to associate editor, but he’s been filling that role in a de facto manner since last summer.

He develops story ideas, assigns freelancers to write some articles and organizes columns written by experts for the monthly publication.

Readers will see some changes in Business Matters, including columns written by community leaders, small business profiles and stories that focus on history.

“I’m excited to continue serving the community I grew up in. I’m from Renfrew. I grew up here, but I enjoy learning what I didn’t know,” Cukovich said.

Schuey said Cukovich successfully transitioned from working in sports as an intern to covering business. She said he is always prepared to take on new assignments.

“He embraced it. We feel he’s ready to take on new responsibilities. I look forward to his approach for Butler County Business Matters,” she said.