PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Daily Times is happy to announce recent staff changes and new employees.
Nikki Blankenship was hired as a Customer Service Representative for the Portsmouth Daily Times on March 16.
As a customer service representative, Blankenship is responsible for resolving customer concerns and placing classified advertising.
Blankenship graduated from Minford High School in 2001.
After high school, Blankenship obtained her degree in English from Shawnee State University in 2006.
She also went back and obtained a second bachelor’s degree in History, graduating in 2009.
She obtained her Master’s degree in Psychology from Walden University in 2013.
She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration, also through Walden.
Prior to her working at the Daily Times, Blankenship worked as a journalist for the Scioto Voice for the past nine years.
In addition to her work at the Voice, she also taught English, History, Psychology, Communications and Strategies for Success at Daymar Business College from 2009 until 2013.
Outside of work, Blankenship is the mother to three teenage daughters and a son.
She also enjoys performing as the general manager and shadow-cast member of the Tri-State Transylvanians, (formerly DownHome Decadence), based out of Ironton.
A shadow cast performs in front of the screen, while the film is being played in the background, projecting the facial expressions, and mannerisms of the characters, as well as interacting with the audience, typically focusing on the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but other films can be shadow-cast as well.
“I am very excited to be part of a newspaper that has been such a staple in the community for so long. I grew up in the area and have read the Daily Times since I was a child. It is through the PDT that I first fell in love with journalism,” said Blankenship.
The Daily Times is confident that Blankenship will be a great asset to the team.
Nikki Blankenship can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1924 or via email at [email protected]
In addition, to Blankenship’s employment, Ciara (Williams) Conley accepted a new role within the Daily Times.
Conley was hired in May of 2015 as a Customer Service Representative, and will now be a Staff Reporter.
Conley graduated from Minford High School in 2014, she also attended Shawnee State University as a Post-Secondary Student, putting her ahead in her academic career.
She is currently pursuing a degree in English at Shawnee State and will graduate next Spring, with plans to attend Kent State University’s Master of Information Sciences program.
She is a newly-wed and enjoys spending time with her husband Ryan and their two rescue mutts, Marcy and Jazzy.
She also enjoys traveling, antiquing and blogging.
“The staff in our Customer Service department is truly incredible, I will miss working closely with them daily, but I am eager to use my passion for writing to supplement our Newsroom staff. People tend to think the worst when it comes to Portsmouth, and I hope to use my writing to showcase the positive and the talent that surrounds our community,” said Conley.
Ciara Conley can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932 or via Twitter @PDT_Ciara
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