Amy Johnson named GM of the Laurinburg Exchange

LAURINBURG – A new general manager has been named at the Laurinburg Exchange.

Amy Johnson, who has been with the Exchange since 2014, earned the promotion to GM on Tuesday.

Johnson started as the Classified/Legal Advertising Representative up until 2017 when she became the Advertising Account Executive at the Laurinburg Exchange.

“I built up my customers and just kept going,” Johnson said.

And, to keep going, Johnson said she had to make an impact and believes that’s the case for any job.

“In whatever job you do, you need to make yourself irreplaceable, so that’s what I’ve tried to do,” she said.

The staff from the Laurinburg Exchange have recognized her work ethic and effect on the company.

Current Classified/Legal Advertising Representative, Christine Johnson, believes Amy Johnson has several traits that make her a leader.

”Amy works passionately (with) what she does and enjoys working with people. She is very knowledgeable about the area in which she covers. She likes things done in a timely manner and believes that communication between co-workers is the key to success,” Christine Johnson said.

Editor, Cheris Hodges, says that without Amy Johnson, it’d be difficult to keep the doors open at the Laurinburg Exchange.

“You know, without Amy Johnson, the Laurinburg Exchange probably wouldn’t exist, so it’s great that she’s taking this leadership role to help the paper go in a new direction,” Hodges said.

Others that know Amy Johnson have noted her willingness to go above and beyond.

Deon Cranford, who is a community stakeholder that works for Scotland Regional Hospice, describes her as a “go-getter with the patience of a saint.”

Tricia Johnston, the Publisher of the Laurinburg Exchange, said that Amy Johnson has been “a tremendous asset to the Laurinburg Exchange with her deep roots and comprehensive knowledge of Scotland County and its businesses, organizations, and priorities.”

When Amy Johnson first found out that she would be the GM of the Laurinburg Exchange, she was grateful for the opportunity.

“I was excited and honored,” she said.

When asked what she would like to do to innovate the Laurinburg Exchange, she didn’t wait one second to answer.

“Community relationships,” Amy Johnson said. “I want to continue to build those. I feel like there is a sort of nostalgia (with) the Laurinburg Exchange and in newspapers altogether. Especially, holding a newspaper in your hands and reading them. And, I think people like that feeling and want to continue to have that feeling.”