Central Washington University alumnus Chris Blaser is an experienced newspaper sales and audience development executive who began his career in the mail room at the Tri-City Herald in 1980. He spent 18 years at the daily publication, ultimately rising to the position of operations director. In this capacity, Chris Blaser oversaw all aspects of production, press, transportation and distribution, and circulation. Upon leaving the paper, he spent 5 years as vice president of circulation at The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina.

From there, Chris Blaser joined Hearst Newspapers and began working as circulation director for the San Francisco Chronicle. Later, as the vice president of circulation, he improved the paper's operating margin by $50 million per year, and helped it create $10 million in savings via various cost-reduction measures. He left the company in 2012 after serving 2 years as senior vice president of consumer sales for the Chronicle and Hearst Texas Newspapers.

Mr. Blaser subsequently served 4 years as chief audience development officer at Advance Publications, and is now the vice president of audience and circulation at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He has worked at the Las Vegas publication since 2016, launching its paywall and other digital initiatives and improving customer service performance by 75 percent. Outside of his professional pursuits, he is an avid runner who has completed 26 marathons and close to 70 half marathons.