Excelsior Printing Names New CEO

09:37AM / Tuesday, September 20, 2011Print Story | Email Story

Brendan Burns

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Excelsior Printing Co. has hired Brendan M. Burns of Richmond as its new chief executive officer, effective this month.

Burns, 45, has a successful history leading the strategic growth of businesses in competitive industries and has been working with Excelsior on its long-term prospects.

"For the past 18 months, I have enjoyed the privilege of working with David Crane and the team at Excelsior as the company developed its growth strategy in a difficult economic climate, culminating in the acquisition of Oatmeal Studios in January," said Burns. "During this time, I have become increasingly excited about the growth prospects for the company and the opportunities within our industry of commercial printing and specialty publishing. Excelsior has terrific people, the ability to create beautiful products, and an enduring commitment to excellence. Indeed, Excelsior lives up to its name and I am excited to become a part of it."

Burns founded Stepping Stone Capital Partners LLC, of which he was managing director. He previously held leadership positions in several companies in the information technology, e-commerce, targeted marketing and publishing fields. He is a pioneer in online publishing and advertising as the founder of AdOne Classified Network, which later became PowerOne Media. As CEO there, Burns built the largest network of local media and advertising websites in North America, attracting investors such as Hearst Corp., Newhouse/Advance, Venrock Associates and the Pritzer family.

Excelsior has been steadily building its menu of capabilities in addition to print and mail, and Burns will help in creating and executing strategies for continued growth.

"Brendan is a great addition to our team. His real world experience running businesses, combined with his academic and consulting knowledge, gives him a unique ability to deliver creative and innovative solutions to help our customers," said board Chairman David Crane. "I'm confident he will play a key leadership role as Excelsior continues to evolve and grow."

Burns earned his master of business administration in corporate finance and entrepreneurship from Columbia University and his bachelor's from Fordham University. Since 2004, he has been an adjunct professor in the Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at Columbia's Graduate Business School and serves on the advisory board of the Lang Fund, which invests in promising student-originated startups. A native of upstate New York, Burns now lives in Richmond with his wife of 16 years and three children.

Founded in 1892 and "reborn" in 2005, Excelsior on Roberts Drive is dedicated to providing its customers with creative, cost-effective printing, digital communications, mail and distribution programs that provide a competitive edge. For more information: www.excelsiorprinting.com or Julianne Fruscio at jwfruscio@excelsiorprinting.com.

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Letter: Virginia Riehl Would Bring a Thoughtful Voice to City Council

Letter to the Editor05:00PM / Monday, November 02, 2026

To the Wditor:

As the North Adams City Council considers who will fill the vacancy left by Alexa MacDonald's departure, I'd like to express my support for Virginia Riehl.

North Adams is a community I care deeply about, and I try to contribute where I can. For the past three years, I've volunteered at the North Adams Farmers Market through various farms. I also volunteer my photography to support local charities and causes, and make an effort to stay engaged with the issues facing our city.

It's through this involvement that I've come to know Virginia. I frequently see her at farmers markets, community events, and gatherings focused on issues like affordable housing. I've come to appreciate not only her commitment to North Adams, but the thoughtful and collaborative way she approaches the challenges facing our community.

Recently, I attended a NACHO meeting that Virginia organized, and I was struck by her approach to the conversation. Rather than focusing on sweeping changes or searching for a single solution, Virginia emphasized listening, encouraging thoughtful discussion, and making space for ideas of all sizes. She seemed to recognize that even small, modest efforts can grow into something meaningful.

The conversation also touched on NACHO's (North Adams Community Housing Organization) future direction and how it could best serve the community. I appreciated Virginia's willingness to examine the organization's priorities rather than assume the existing approach was necessarily the best. To me, that reflected an important quality in civic leadership: a commitment to the purpose of the work, rather than to any particular structure or way of doing things.

Larger economic, social, and political forces shape the trajectory of a city like North Adams, and many are beyond our immediate control. But there's tremendous value in creating opportunities for people to connect, share ideas, and help one another. Sometimes meaningful change begins not with a grand proposal or formal policy initiative, but with a conversation that encourages someone to act on an idea.

Much of what makes a community strong happens through small, often unremarkable acts of participation. I believe Virginia understands that creating spaces for people to exchange ideas and encouraging others to get involved are themselves important forms of civic leadership.

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