Meet Tracy Hanke.

She calls herself “a recipe whore” and “a spice whore.”

She didn’t mean for that bit to be included in her introduction as the newest member of East Kootenay News Online Weekly’s (e-KNOW’s) team. She was merely joking when relating that she loves recipes, spices and cooking.

She also noted that she has a “great and sick sense of humour,” which she also suggested shouldn’t be included in her introduction.

Seeing as how I appreciate someone with a great and sick sense of humour, because laughter truly is the finest medicine, I wish to formally welcome Tracy to the team and to introduce her to ‘e-KNOW land,’ that great space encompassing the Columbia and Elk Valleys, Kimberley and Cranbrook and area,’ also known as the East Kootenay.

Tracy’s task is to sell e-KNOW and to generate advertising opportunities for businesses. With readership numbers continuing to soar as more and more people discover our free website, we are getting steady queries from people about how they can take part, as advertisers or contributors.

Many Cranbrook/Kimberley area folks will already know Tracy, as she’s a lifelong Kootenays resident and a former ad rep for the Cranbrook Daily Townsman.

“I gained some great experience and a wealth of knowledge. One thing I learned was never be afraid of a challenge,” Tracy said, explaining why she has become e-KNOW’s first ad sales representative.

“When I first discovered the E-KNOW web site, I knew this was where the future of newspapers is going. I loved the clean layout, easy navigation and the great stories and up-to-date news. I knew I wanted to join this great team,” she said, adding she is enjoying meeting and speaking with people about the on-line only newspaper that is based around the concept of a community weekly, but with so much more potential.

Helping people understand the sometimes complex maze that leads to the ever-more, all-encompassing grip of social media, and how it blends with the Internet and the exponential growth of usage of them, is a challenge Tracy is already enjoying.

“I can help utilize an existing website and promote your social networking page which gives you – the client – more control over sales content. We have a growing audience everyday which will attract new customers. We are convenient with readers coming to our site two to three times a day), cost effective and a timely turn around,” she said of the advantages advertisers can enjoy.
“With the large use of Smartphones, computers and Tablets, newspapers have to keep up with the fast pace of the digital world to meet the demands of today’s online users,” she said.

Joining a seasoned team with deep roots and ties to the region is another bonus, Tracy pointed out.

“I am excited to be working with some of the best journalists and photojournalists in the Kootenays, who are a dedicated and passionate people about the future of the news industry,” she said.
The best part of the work, though, she said, is being able to work in a place her family calls home and enjoys to the nth degree.
“I was born and raised in the Kootenays and am proud to call it home. Residents here are so dedicated to their communities and the people in them. It is so wonderful to see residents ban together to help a person in need. It doesn’t get any better than that,” she said.
“I love spending time with family and friends and a little shih-tzu named Oreo, whom we acquired 7 months ago,” said the “huge animal lover. I have been with the love of my life for 25 years and we have a beautiful 23-year-old daughter. We enjoy exploring the backcountry and traveling. I love reading and anything historic,” said the self-admitted humour addict.

“I look forward to helping your business transition into the digital age of newspapers and advertising,” she concluded.

Please welcome Tracy Hanke.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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