Heartland Communications Group, Inc. Executive Staff

Joseph W. Peed, Chairman
Joseph W. Peed serves the role of Chairman of Heartland Communications Group, Inc. Joe graduated from St. Edmond High School in 1965 and attended Iowa Central Community College before enlisting in the army in 1966. Following training he was assigned to the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam. After a year in Vietnam Joe was stationed in Baltimore and Washington D.C. where he worked in Army Public Relations. He returned to Fort Dodge in 1969 where he began working at Hotline and attended Iowa Central Community College.

In 1976, Joe took over as Chairman of the Board of Hotline. The company changed its name to Heartland Communications Group, Inc. in 1987 and moved into the Carver Building.

In 1996 Joe stepped out of the day-to-day operations of the company to spend more time on his interest of real estate. The real estate division started by Joe, HLI Properties, currently owns several properties in the city of Fort Dodge, including the historical Sears Building and Warden Plaza.

Mr. Gale W. McKinney II, CPA, President and CEO
Gale W. McKinney II, CPA is President and CEO of Heartland Communications Group, Inc. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri.

Gale is a Certified Public Accountant and began his career with McGladery & Pullen, the nations 7th largest accounting firm. With McGladery & Pullen he assumed responsibilities in accounting, auditing, tax and general consultation services with a variety of clients.

In 1991 he was Senior Audit Manager with Schnurr & Company Certified Public Accountants. His duties included the general over-site of his firm's audit clients in high level accounting and business consultation issues. Gale joined Friendship Haven, Inc., Iowa's largest continuing care retirement community, as its Chief Financial Officer in 1993. His duties included the day-to-day management of the organizations operations.

Gale joined HLI Properties, Inc., an affiliate company of Heartland Communications, in 1996 as the Vice President of Finance. His duties included the overall management of this real estate company's operations. In 1997 Gale accepted the position of Heartland Communications Group, Inc.'s Chief Financial Officer. In January 2003, Gale accepted the position as the company's President and CEO.

Gale is a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.



Patrick Van Arnam, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Patrick Van Arnam, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Patrick Van Arnam has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing in the print and paint sampling industries, 25 of those as President and COO of major graphic firms. Through this experience he will bring with him an understanding of the International marketing opportunities for Heartland’s products as well as brand extension through alternative media. Mr. Van Arnam and his wife Molly live in Ankeny and have 6 older children.

Mr. Van Arnam began his duties February 1, 2006 and will have offices in Fort Dodge and Urbandale. Heartland Communications Group, Inc. is a publisher of magazines, e-zines, television and other electronic media products within numerous business industries and consumer lifestyles. Heartland’s corporate offices are located in Fort Dodge, Iowa and also have offices in Urbandale Iowa, Lincoln, Ne., Kansas City, Mo., Menasha, Ws. and Phoenix, Az.



Mary Gonnerman, Vice President of Operations and Ancillary Services
Mary Gonnerman is Vice President of Operations and Ancillary Services for Heartland Communications Group, Inc. She is a graduate of Briar Cliff College, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications.

Since 1987, Mary has served in several areas of the company including operations, publishing, industry trade shows and most recently as the Vice President of the real estate affiliate, HLI Properties. Mary handled the overall management of the company, both the leasing and operational duties as well as the day-to-day financial operations of the company.

In February 2003 Mary accepted the position of Vice President of Operations and Ancillary Services for Heartland Communications Group, Inc. Her duties include the oversight of the Real Estate division. She became the Publisher of Elite Fleet in 2007.