Zachary Richner is a third-generation local newspaper owner at Richner Communications, which today is one of the largest local media organizations in the U.S. In 2024, Zack founded the Empire State Local News Coalition, an advocacy group comprising over 200 local newspapers in New York, which passed the first tax credit in the nation for local media. Previously, Zack served in the Obama administration in the Office of the Chief of Staff as well as on the White House Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force. He also managed the largest state budget in presidential campaign history as the Ohio Budget Director for the Obama-Biden 2012 presidential campaign. After his time in the Obama administration, Zack led the infrastructure rebuilding on Long Island for the State of New York after Hurricane Sandy. He sits on the board of America’s Newspapers, spearheading the trade association’s legislative work, and also serves on the young professionals board of 92NY. Zack graduated from Harvard College and received an MBA and MSDI from Northwestern University.