Loyal followers of OCNJDaily.com will soon have even more to like about our website.
When founder and writer Doug Bergen recently left this corner of cyberspace to take over as Public Information Officer for the City of Ocean City, some were wondering about our future.
New owner Ken Wisnefski has made it clear that everything readers love about OCNJDaily will remain, while plans are put into motion for an even better product.
Wisnefski (44) is a full-time Ocean City resident, longtime reader of the website and “major fan of Doug Bergen’s work and ideas for the Daily.”
“To a large extent I want to continue on what Doug has worked so hard to build,” said Wisnefski, who is a serial entrepreneur and also the Founder and CEO of WebiMax.com, an International Digital Marketing Firm based on the Camden waterfront that employs more than 100 people. They are the organization that initially worked with Bergen and Aimee Schultz to enhance the Daily’s web presence and build followers.
“Doug had great ideas and a great vision but he is only one person. We plan on putting the resources and people into the product to help bring Doug’s ideas – and mine, into the Daily. The goal is to provide even more of a very good thing.”
For example, Ken plans to “integrate more local folks into writing and creating content.” This will be in addition to the strong stable of solid journalists currently contributing. “In addition to breaking news, which we want to be competitive covering with every other news outlet, we will do more local community-minded stories that people in Ocean City care about: expanded high school and youth sports coverage, news from clubs and organizations, anything and everything of interest to Ocean City residents, visitors, even the family that just comes into town for the day to enjoy the beach and boardwalk. The common thread is all of these folks love Ocean City and are interested in it.”
“OCNJ Daily was a labor of love for me, and I’m confident that Ken has the technical expertise, resources and passion to take it to its full potential,” Bergen said. “I think the Daily will grow more valuable to readers, advertisers and the community at large. And I’m happy to see it remain in local hands. As a lifelong journalist, I’m certainly pulling for the success of all local publications.”
Wisnefski said future plans call for a regular Ocean City dedicated weather report, surf and beach condition reports, expanded coverage of public safety issues and much more. Positive human interest articles and feature stories will be a priority, he said.
He said he also hopes to provide content representing the ideas and opinions of those who don’t live here fulltime but who own homes here. “That is a group whose voice isn’t always heard. We want to provide that opportunity.”
Wisnefski isn’t the only Ocean City resident involved in the new ownership team, Michael DeVlieger, an Ocean City Councilman and Steve Dyjak, another local businessman, also purchased a minority interest in the Daily from Wisnefski.
“I mention this in the spirit of full disclosure,” Wisnefski said. “Mike and Steve are people of integrity that I respect, like myself, they want to invest in the town. They believe the Daily has the potential to be a great source of news, weather, sports and community information. Any successful organization has a strong team of individuals that work together to make it great. I am pleased to have them as partners in this endeavor.”
Wisnefski represents a great American success story. A 1996 graduate of Richard Stockton College of NJ (now Stockton University), he founded his first company in 2001, and has founded several other successful ventures since then. His businesses have been recognized as some of the Fastest Growing Companies in the United States by Inc. and Forbes Magazines. Wisnefski is also a frequent guest on Bloomberg TV, FoxNews, MSNBC and other media outlets.
Wisnefski and his wife, Allison, reside in the Gardens section of Ocean City. The couple has three children: Alec, 10; Anna, 7; and Anderson, 3. Ken bought a house in Ocean City in 2008 and the family moved here permanently a short time later. In addition to Ken’s role with the Daily, the former Stockton baseball player gives back to Ocean City with active involvement in the Ocean City Youth Athletic Association’s baseball program.
“The first time I came to Ocean City was back in the early 1990’s with Brian Hopely, who is now Sergeant Brian Hopely on the OCPD, to visit his parents. I recognized what a special place it was then and I hope I can do my part to help it continue to live up to it’s well due distinction as America’s Greatest Family Resort”
DeVlieger is a long time Recruiting Executive who focuses on the Interactive Experience & Mobile space, as it relates to multiple industries. He is also the First Ward City Councilman in town. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children: Flynn, 12; and Reagan, 10. When Mike is not working, he enjoys coaching youth sports and taking-in everything that Ocean City has to offer.
When asked about the venture, DeVlieger said “This is an excellent opportunity to build on a well-respected brand. Doug did a fantastic job keeping it local and interesting. The digital space today is simply amazing. Very soon, we will be able to interact with our readers like never before. Our advertisers will have access to analytics that can help drive their businesses…This is going to be fun”.
Steve Dyjak works in the financial services industry with Pashley Financial, specializing in Business and Estate Planning. He is a long time resident of Ocean City and along with his wife Beth have a son Ethan, age 11. When not working, he can be seen helping at swim meets for the Ocean City C Serpents and enjoying our wonderful beaches and the many wonderful attractions our community has to offer.
Dyjak remarked “Growing up in Collingswood NJ, I knew the only place I ever wanted to live was Ocean City. We would come here for our annual vacations. Still today as I drive over the bridge into Ocean City, I think to myself how lucky I am”
“I have been a regular reader of the Daily since Doug began publication. I look forward to contributing to the Daily and Ocean City. This is a very exciting opportunity as we continually transition further into the digital age that impacts the facets of our lives.”
