Wane A. Hailes, President/Publisher, founded the Courier/Eco Latino newspaper in March of 2005. Hailes, with a handful of committed employees from the Hispanic and African-American community. Today they continue to produce a bi-weekly publication, that is the only bi-lingual newspaper in the Tri- City . With a circulation of 15,000 the newspaper is distributed throughout Columbus, Phenix City and Fort Benning.

Their signature annual events include the Community Service Awards recognizing those individuals for providing distinguished service to the African-American, Hispanic and other minority community and the Fifty Most Influential African-American, Hispanic and other Minority Awards program.

With a mission to provide a publication to the minority community that will educate, empower, inspire and entertain, The Courier/Eco Latino newspaper is, as their slogan states, "The voice of the community."

About the Publisher

The Courier/Eco Latino Newspaper

Wane Hailes

A preacher's kid (PK), Hailes was born in Richmond, Virginia and grew up in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and the cities of Clifton Forge and Charlottesville, Virginia.

After graduating from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas in 1978 Wane served fifteen-years as Directors of YMCA's in Missouri, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina and finally Columbus, Georgia as the CEO of the A.J. McClung YMCA from 1990-1995.

Wane has 32 years of cumulative sales, marketing and public relations experience in both radio and newspaper. He worked for the minority-owned Davis Broadcasting, Inc, radio station as an on-air personality and sales consultant followed by the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer newspaper as the Real Estate, Employment and Automotive sales consultant and the minority-owned Columbus Times newspaper as Vice President/Advertising & Sales.

Leaving the Columbus Times in December 2004 Wane became the President / Publisher and owner of The Courier / Eco Latino newspaper in March of 2005. The Courier / Eco Latino, serves the African-American, Hispanic and other minority communities. Publishing bi-weekly in English and Spanish The Courier/Eco Latino is the only bi-lingual newspaper in the Tri-City area.

In May of 2007 Mr. Hailes received the prestigious Georgia Small Business Champion of the Year Award from the Small Business Administration (SBA) as well as the Minority Business Champion for Region IV, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi.

A published author with his book “A View From A Pew” Wane has also served as the host of the weekly televised Urban league on Location as well as the co-host of the local television show “Lo Que Usted Debe Saber” (What you need to know”) with Wane and Cristina Richards”, an informational show focusing on the Hispanic community.