Notes from Colleagues
Of all the wonderful things I have gained in my career thus far, I am most grateful for the people I have met, worked with and learned from. Below are letters from past employees, written after they left for other opportunities.
Other references are available upon request.
Sarah Culton
Former Managing Editor,
Leader Publications
Ambrosia,
There’s lots of moments from our time working together that stick with me, but today, the one that is coming to my brain is the morning after I incorrectly announced on the front page of the Dowagiac Daily News that the library millage had passed. I was sitting in your office crying (and later in the bathroom sobbing) over my mistake, but you were so kind. You encouraged me to own up to my error but gave me the grace to do so. You took a chance on me. It was a lesson I needed to learn to be both a better journalist and a better person.
This may seem like a dour memory to focus on, but I know it is just one of many stories that all share the same moral – working with you made me better, and I’m grateful for everything you taught me. I know that I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today if I hadn’t worked with you right out of college. I feel lucky that I got to know you not only as a boss, but also as just a really awesome person.
You are an inspiration to so many — you certainly are to me. Your passion, dedication and work-ethic are something to be admired. I’ve genuinely never met anyone who works harder or puts more of themselves into everything they do. Trust me when I say that everyone around you noticed how hard you worked. Your contributions to everyone who worked under you in the newsroom and in the community did not go unappreciated and will not be forgotten.
I’ve always considered you a mentor, and I think you’ll always hold that place in my brain. You are someone I look up to, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. I know you are destined to do great things, and I can’t wait to see what you do next!
Kelsey Hammon
Former News Reporter,
Leader Publications
To whom it may concern,
When I worked at Leader Publications as a reporter from 2016 to 2019, I always wondered if there was a moment when Ambrosia Neldon wasn't working. Whether it was 7 a.m. Monday, Saturday afternoon or 9 p.m. on any given day, Ambrosia was always in her office. Even when she finally left for the day, went on vacation, or was recovering from surgery, she brought her work with her.
Ambrosia was always thinking of ways to make the paper better, brighter. She was never without a story idea or theme for one of the many magazines. Working around her was a constant source of inspiration and she's the best boss I've ever had. I can tell you any average person who had her job would have quit in a day, given the extreme amount of work and frequent obstacles that the job presented itself with. She dealt with not only day-to-day news matters on a shoestring budget, but also a tiny, revolving door of a staff, a leaking, old building with faulty heat and a printing press that chose to go on the fritz at odd hours.
Ambrosia Neldon, though, is not your average person. Her love for her Berrien County community and her local newspaper are unrivaled. I grieve for that newsroom and the county's residents without her leadership at the paper. If there is a question in your mind whether you will find someone half as talented, half as passionate and half as hard working as Ambrosia, I can save you the trouble in imagining. You won't. The kind of dedication Ambrosia had for Leader is not replaceable.
Clay Sidenbender
Former Intern Reporter,
Leader Publications
Rarely do you find a boss in today’s journalism field who is both committed to their personal work requiring a wide range of skill sets and to the personal growth of their staff. As an intern at Leader Publications, Ambrosia offered as many opportunities as she could to me, so I could get my feet wet in covering all sorts of stories. She also offered and succeeded in helping me understand the angle of each story, complex photo editing, correct AP style, and how I could help the greater goal of each individual community paper.
If you’re a student looking for an internship opportunity or a freelancer looking to work with a local paper, consider working with Ambrosia Neldon because she knows how to integrate new members quickly, but without haste. Although she has an overload of demands like any local newspaper editor/manager working today, she is always willing to help and makes time for any employee. To those interns struggling in the field, she does hand out grace, but she still preaches the importance of meeting deadlines and providing the best service to local readers. To those local businesses looking to work with a newspaper on advertising or PR, Ambrosia is the perfect person to work with. I have never seen anyone in the newspaper business put so much emphasis on helping surrounding local businesses.