In 45 years at The (Ashland) Daily Independent, Mark Maynard’s writing and editing won many awards, and he mentored many interns and reporters who became editors and publishers all over Kentucky and beyond. As managing editor, he was instrumental in establishing a Frankfort bureau for the paper’s owner, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc., filling a growing gap in state-capital news coverage and analysis. A native of Ashland and a graduate of Morehead State University, he is known for his even-tempered, pragmatic management style and his values of fairness, equality and accountability. He has written seven books and is managing editor of Kentucky Today, the digital newspaper of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. A devout Christian, he is a community leader in Ashland and founded a nonprofit mission for children in Uganda.