![](https://i0.wp.com/spokesman-recorder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/TWD-business-headshot.jpg?resize=771%2C883&ssl=1)
Fresh off the heels of prestigious speaking engagements and acknowledgments, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Publisher/CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard has been honored as one of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 10 Most Admired CEOs for 2024.
Launched in 2016, the awards celebrate small business and nonprofit leaders’ professional accomplishments, industry leadership, and community involvement in the Twin Cities. Rounding out this year’s honorees are Todd Archbold, PrairieCare; Tim Baylor, JADT Cos.; Patricia Chinander, Love From USA Group Inc.; Margaret Murphy, Bold Orange Co.; Amy Ronneberg, NMDP; Brian Ryks, Metropolitan Airports Commission; David Saber, Park Financial Group Inc.; Ken Smith, District Energy St. Paul; and Simone Xavier, Sigma Enterprises.
Williams-Dillard was thrilled to be awarded. “It feels good to be honored among my peers—people who understand the struggles of being a CEO, but also the rewards of running an organization as a leader,” she said.
This latest honor comes as the MSR, the oldest Black-owned business and news outlet in Minnesota and one of the nation’s longest-standing family-owned newspapers, counts down to 90th-anniversary celebrations in August. The 90th-anniversary festivities include a Legacy Yacht Cruise in Stillwater and a gala at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot. A highlight of the gala will be the unveiling of a new traveling photo exhibit showcasing MSR’s history and its community impact. After its premiere at the gala, the exhibit will tour various locations to educate the public.
Founded in 1934 by civil rights activist and businessman Cecil E. Newman, Williams-Dillard’s grandfather, the MSR began as two newspapers: the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder. After Cecil E. Newman passed away in 1976, his wife, Launa Q. Newman, inherited the business and enlisted her daughter Norma Jean Williams (Williams-Dillard’s mother) and son Jack Jackman as co-publishers, all the while teaching a young Williams-Dillard about the business.
In 2006, Williams-Dillard took the reins as publisher and CEO and began managing the day-to-day operations and strategic direction. Under her leadership, the MSR has evolved into a multimedia group that offers community and national news across various digital platforms while maintaining its traditional weekly print publication.
In addition to managing the MSR, Williams-Dillard launched Sister Spokesman, a monthly event series offering networking and learning opportunities for African American women. Sister Spokesman has routinely gathered 75-100 women each month for 18 years and counting.
It’s been a busy year for Williams-Dillard, as she recently served as a Humphrey School Policy Fellows panel speaker—alongside MPR Vice President Duchesne Drew and Tim Blotz of Fox 9 News—to discuss the state of news media and the MSR’s unique coverage of pertinent issues in the African American community.
She was also a moderator for the Small Business Summit, which was held in collaboration with the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Hmong Chambers of Commerce, and served as an alumni honoree speaker at the 16th Annual Women Unite Appreciation Luncheon hosted by the National Empowerment Group, Inc.
Beyond the MSR’s 90th anniversary celebrations, Williams-Dillard is hopeful about new developments on the horizon, which include the expansion of podcast shows and other multimedia offerings, hosting community events, and more.
“I am excited about the future of the MSR and all the wonderful plans we have on tap,” said Williams-Dillard. “We’ve worked hard to expand and establish a foundation to flourish for another 90 years!”
The 10 Most Admired CEOs honorees will be celebrated at an awards ceremony on Sept. 25 at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, and be featured in a special publication on Sept. 27.
For more on the MSR 90th Anniversary celebrations, go here.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.