Susanne Hill – Co-Owner/ Director of Sales & Marketing

A Montana State University graduate, Susanne specialized in health marketing and program management. She has owned several businesses and enjoys packaging her management experience with her marketing background to provide businesses, organizations and individuals with creative and effective promotional strategies. While her career has taken her across the country and back again, Susanne is a fifth-generation Madison County native. She has a genuine passion for the area and the success of local businesses. She works hard to mold The Madisonian and its products into the most progressive and efficient means to reach the Madison County market. Susanne and her husband, Matt, are the proud parents of a golden retriever and more horses than they should admit to owning. Together they all enjoy frequent, random adventures in this beautiful area they are lucky enough to call home.

Erin Leonard – Co-Owner/Art Director

Erin Leonard’s family planted their roots as stamp mill operators in Alder Gulch before the first issue of The Madisonian came off the press in 1873 and have been around ever since. In addition to a long and relevant pedigree, Erin’s love for the visual arts makes her a great addition to The Madisonian team. While her first job as being a mom to her two awesome kids is rewarding, her role as Graphic Designer at The Madisonian has become a fulfilling part of her life as well. A graduate of Sheridan High School, Erin studied Business-Marketing at the University of Montana – Western in Dillon and Montana State University in Bozeman. When she isn’t obsessing about the paper, Erin enjoys music, traveling, skiing and her 1967 Aristocrat camper.

Sara Racine – Circulation Manager/Sales Assistant

Sara comes to us from another place; the East coast more specifically: Vermont. She was originally born in Louisiana and loves the Red Sox (even this year) and snowboarding deep, deep powder in the backcountry….but only on bluebird days when there is no wind and the avalanche danger is non-existent. This means she only gets out about one and a half times a year. She comes to The Madisonian for a new challenge (a quarter-life crisis, if you will) where she hopes to learn how to channel her inner-Sus and always be closing. She plans to retire with the newspaper and then be a nutty old gam-gam who hides under the stairs and grabs poor innocent childrens’ ankles through the stairs while trick or treating at her house! Let that marinate and send concerns to editor@madisoniannews.com.

Alyse Backus–News Manager/Reporter

Alyse Backus is a recent graduate of the University of Montana, where she earned her degree in journalism. Originally from Dillon, Alyse follows in her father’s footsteps of pursuing journalism in Montana. She enjoys telling the stories of small town Montana and giving the news a human face. Before moving to Ennis, Alyse worked for the University of Montana in the University Relations and Athletics departments, and she is ready for a change of scenery and to get back to her small town roots. When she takes a break from working, she enjoys Montana’s wonderful outdoor scene and staying active. She is also a bit of a sports fanatic. Weekends during the fall are dedicated to football — college ball on Saturdays and NFL on Sundays. Then it’s all about St. Louis Cardinals baseball starting in the spring.

Owners: Chris & Erin Leonard and Matt & Susanne Hill

News Manager/Reporter: Alyse Backus • news@madisoniannews.com • (406) 539-4123
Director of Sales & Marketing: Susanne Hill • s.hill@madisoniannews.com • (406) 596-0661
Circulation Manager/Sales Assistant: Sara Racine • sara@madisoniannews.com • (406)660-2017
Art Director: Erin Leonard • ads@madisoniannews.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 365 • Ennis, Montana 59729
Physical address: 65 N. MT Hwy 287
tel. (406) 682-7755 • fax (406) 682-5013