I've known and admired Steve for nearly two decades now. He's a talented and tireless pro, hard-working and good-hearted, which is exactly the combination that SND needs. Besides, he still lives in Detroit, so he deserves at least a sympathy vote."

Tim Harrower
Self-unemployed design consultant and author of "Inside Reporting" and "The Newspaper Designer's Handbook"

I was proud and honored to work side-by-side with Steve Dorsey at the Detroit Free Press. My Free Press years will always remain among the most vibrant, challenging, and creative times I've had in journalism. Steve plays a large role in that. I found him to be a top-notch journalist, eager to take big-picture chances while also sweating the details. Steve is a leader in the truest, best sense: He leads by diving into the trenches alongside everyone else and, when appropriate, he leads by getting out of the way. Here's the best compliment I think I can give to Steve when I think of our years together in Detroit: We did some damned good journalism and had some damned big fun doing it. I can't imagine a better candidate for this SND position."

Thom Fladung
Editor, St. Paul Pioneer Press

Steve Dorsey is the best candidate for SND vice president. Of that, I have no doubt. He has demonstrated through years and years of involvement with SND that he is committed and passionate about improving the world through better design. I know him to be a good person of strong ethical beliefs, a committed journalist, a superb designer and an excellent leader of people. His institutional knowledge will help lead SND into the future. Steve's strength of character is what we need in SND leadership positions. I strongly recommend him."

Richard Curtis
SND co-founder and past president, 1982-83

Steve Dorsey is the future of SND. He's a leader. He's a collaborator. He'll bring people together. And he'll get things done (always has, always will). On top of all that, he's just one of the all-around great people you'll ever meet. He always takes the time to talk with students, and recognizes their importance to our profession. He's an industry leader, and has helped guide the Free Press through so many ground-breaking changes with his usual deft touch. And for SND, well, I can't think of too many people who have given more to the Society over the years than Steve. Design magazine, publications chair, the annual competition, the SND Foundation ... all have been guided by Steve over the years, and all of them improved thanks to Steve. Couldn't be happier to endorse my fellow Syracuse grad (Go Orange!) to be SND's Vice President in 2010."

Scott Goldman
Senior Editor/Visuals, The Indianapolis Star SND past president, 2007

I whole-heartedly support Steve Dorsey. Having known him for a decade, I can say without hesitation that he is exactly who we need to be SND's vice president. Steve has shown himself to be the consummate diplomat, an enthusiastic advocate for visual journalism and a progressive thinker. It would be difficult to think of an active member who has contributed more to the Society. He's equally comfortable working with students and seasoned professionals. He isn't one to shout about his own achievements and contributions. But, we all know what Steve has given of himself to this profession. He has been a selfless, steady presence for many years. We should all be grateful to him for that. He also happens to have the requisite design chops, management skills and international sensibilities. In Detroit, he has helped lead a complete rethinking of how the news is delivered. His experience in garnering support for change will serve him well in this role. Steve has the personal fortitude to help steady the ship in stormy waters. I would welcome the opportunity to work side-by-side with Steve in facing SND's significant challenges. We have had a number of talks about our goals for SND's future. From the first conversation, it quickly became clear that we share a passion for improving the Society and unwavering optimism about the power of creative thinkers. There is no doubt that we would be unified in our overall mission, but still able to challenge each other's thinking. And, perhaps most importantly, there is a pre-existing foundation of mutual trust that would be valuable during these trying times. Please join me in supporting Steve!."

Kris Viesselman
Director, Digital Product Development, National Geographic Maps
Candidate for 2010 SND President

Jonathon Berlin, SND Design Journal editor, Rolf Rehe, SND 2007 lifetime achievement recipient, and Steve Dorsey, SND publications director.

I have known Steve Dorsey for many years as a vigorous supporter of many SND activities. But my special experience with him comes from the days when he was editor of DESIGN Journal. It was a pleasure working with him. I found him considerate, enthusiastic, and open to new ideas. Putting out the magazine four times a year is no minor task and he succeeded every time without fail. I have no doubt that, with the commitment he has shown in the past, Steve will continue his engagement for the best of SND as a Vice President. I am honored to support his candidacy.

Rolf Rehe
SND co-founder, design consultant, "Talking Type" columnist for Design Journal
SND Lifetime Achievement Award Winner (2007)

Steve Dorsey might be the hardest-working person I've ever known. (And that is saying something, because I'm known to work pretty frickin' hard myself.) On top of that, he has managed to do some pretty spectacular design work along the way. Steve is a force of nature – the good kind. If I were you, I'd vote for him."

Monica Moses
Principal, Zumo Consulting
Blog with me at: zumo-consulting.com/workplacehope

There are 100 reasons to vote for Steve Dorsey, but I'll give you just one. Every time SND has ever needed something, Steve Dorsey raised his hand and asked, 'What can I do?' Edit the magazine? Done. Guide the publications and website? Sure. Run the competition? Whatever you need. Steve's been a friend of mine for a long time (which may or may not matter to you, gentle voter). It's given me a ringside seat to his helping launch a blog that gave members real coverage of the annual workshop and to endless critiques he's given to college SND members. I've seen him pick up more meals for students than I can count. SND needs and deserves a proven leader with a track record of putting SND and journalism first. It gets that with Steve Dorsey. I hope you'll vote for him for vice president. He's not only an excellent leader, he's one of the best people I know."

Steve Cavendish
Presentation Director, Chicago Tribune

The Society for News Design and Steve Dorsey, both, continue to raise the bar for excellence in journalism, visual communication and pushing the boundaries for the future development of technology, design and news. What SND has always done well is mentor, coach and develop young students into future leaders. Dorsey is a premiere exemplar of someone who can teach by leadership how to invest in young talent for the forthcoming successes of our industry. Dorsey is someone who continues to look forward, learn from the past, try something news, humble enough to ask for help and will teach you what he's learned. What a terrible loss it would be for him to not be president. If you care about news, then you care about Dorsey.

Nina Mehta
(http://ninamehta.com/), Human-Computer Interaction Design Master's student
and former Indianapolis Star and RockMelt designer

Steve Dorsey frequently demonstrates his ability as a doer and leader in presenting news and in being committed to the future of SND. He brings knowledge of SND's past and journalism's future in his quest for vice president."

J. Ford Huffman
Former deputy managing editor, USA TODAY
Editing and presentation advisor, The Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Hindustan Times (India)

Steve Dorsey is, quite simply, one of the best people I've ever met. He has been a constant and devoted volunteer to SND through the years. His involvement is one of the things that encouraged my increased participation in the society. Steve constantly surprises me with his impressive knowledge of the industry and the craft. Every time I talk with him I learn something new or look at something with fresh eyes. I am often envious when I hear him speak at Quick Courses, workshops or other events because he has such a talent for making difficult concepts easy to understand. He often plays the voice of reason during chaotic events. Many times he has been a wise sounding board for me when I was facing a daunting problem. Steve is used to finding creative solutions to big challenges. His track record of high impact work at the Detroit Free Press is proof of his strong leadership and determination to experiment. Steve was a top notch editor of Design, raising the quality of that magazine's content and presentation, issue after issue. He helped create the first SND blog and has been an integral part of that site's growth through writing constant updates, coaching board members on its use and covering countless SND events such as workshops, Quick Courses and the competition judging in Syracuse. I have been able to depend on Steve in practically any situation. I am depending on him now to help lead SND through its transformation."

Denise Reagan AME/Visual Journalism, The Florida Times-Union
SND Foundation President

SND's going broke. It's in the middle of a civil war. Most designers have been turned into production robots at papers across the United States. So who cares about the future of SND? About what it can be for its members? Steve Dorsey does. And it's why he should be the next vice president. I reported to Steve in Detroit, but most who have would tell you that they rarely felt like they worked "for" him, but instead worked "with" him. He is, by far, the most collaborative visual journalist I've ever seen, capable of sharing ideas and cultivating them in the same breath. And that -- beyond the master skill set and the insane hours devoted to the society without the odor of self-promotion that seem to sometimes accompany them -- is why we need him as our next vice president. He listens. I know this because I've talked to him about the frustration of the general membership over not just the past months of chaos, embarrassment, power plays and backroom politics, but over SND's long-term service vision. Steve's generally one for action, not speaking. But make no mistake: He hears us. He absolutely acknowledges that mistakes have been made and that -- whether it's justfied or not -- the members' feeling that the return on their membership investment is at its lowest point in years is a major problem that must be addressed. Not by e-mails pointing out benefits or cotton candy statements that "Buenos will be awesome" but by the transformation of SND to a 100 percent member-focused organization driven by customer behaviors, wants and needs. And he has those tools, having been a leader during one of the biggest, boldest rethinkings of what a newspaper could be at the Free Press earlier this decade. That project? Killed. Steve's dream, and the set of customer research and innovation skills inspired by IDEO that drove it? Can't be killed. Now he hopes to use those tools to help SND return more value to its members. As mentioned, I've been a frequent critic of SND, its politics and its vision. Through it all, Steve has never shut me out , always staying engaged while working to strip the emotion away in the hope that there's an actionable idea that needs a bigger voice. It's tempting to vote everyone who had anything to do with SND before 09/09 out. That would be a mistake. Steve has the relationships -- and the powers of persuasion -- that can help turn our unwieldy, decentralized aircraft carrier around. Steve Dorsey: Put simply, he's the right contractor to remodel this broken house.

Chris Clonts
Senior editor, online, Pioneer Press / TwinCities.com

What SND needs in this time of change is experience. Steve Dorsey has devoted much time and energy for our Society in the past. He has the knowledge to lead us through this crisis. It was always a pleasure working with him, as a board member as well as a friend. Steve is somebody to rely on. So my vote goes for Steve Dorsey as Vice President of SND."

Hans Peter Janisch
Design Consultant and SND International Director

I believe there's no question that Steve has the leadership qualities required for these exceedingly challenging times -- experience, vision, persistence and generosity. As the the only standing executive officer up for election, he's already up to speed with the society's pressing membership, financial and programming files. Now he's laid out the way forward based on SND's core principles -- "representing visual journalism in all its facets, helping to train our members and make them ready for whatever comes next, and shaping that future all at the same time." Steve's got my vote.

Michael Bird
Presentation Editor, The Globe and Mail
SND Regional Director (Region 10, Eastern Canada)

I've known Steve Dorsey for years. I've respected him, his work and his tireless devotion to the society, its goals, its mission and its survival. You won't find anyone more qualified or more fitting for a leadership role in SND. My respect for him has only increased over this very difficult summer. He'll get my vote this fall. I hope you'll vote for him too."

Charles Apple
Virginia Beach, Va.
Blogger/Educator, VisualEditors.com/apple

If there is anyone in the design community as committed as Steve to making the Society work for its members, I don't think I've met them. Constantly working to broaden his own skills and those of his colleagues and fellow SND members, Steve is an innovative journalist who doesn't shy away from tough decisions. Exactly what we need at this tumultuous time for our industry and the Society, in particular. He's a voice of reason, and of experience, and someone whose efforts will be tireless on our behalf. I won't hesitate to vote for his vice presidency, and I hope you won't either."

Tim Ball
Design Director, The Huntsville Times