Meet Alison Gatz, New Fishers Magazine Owner

Meet Alison Gatz, the New Fishers Magazine Owner and Publisher

Writer / Julie Yates

Longtime Fishers resident Alison Gatz is Fishers Magazine’s new owner and publisher. Known for her work in the local nonprofit sector, Gatz plans to continue the spirit of giving back in her new endeavor. Day-to-day operations of the magazine will continue as usual, along with an added push to connect the community.

Gatz’s family is originally from Louisville, Kentucky, but later moved across the river where she graduated from New Albany High School. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, she ended up staying in central Indiana and moved to Fishers in 2000. From 2016 to 2020 she was executive director of Youth Mentoring Initiative. In 2020 she co-founded Fishers Non-Profit Coalition.

Gatz and her husband, Bryant, realized that it wouldn’t be many years before their children would reach adulthood and leave home. With empty-nest years approaching, she made the decision to step back from her work so she could be more available to her family. Then, her passion for facilitating connections within the Fishers community was engaged when she saw a post on social media that Tom Britt was selling Fishers Magazine.

Britt, CEO and founder of Towne Post Network, Inc., initially began Fishers Magazine and Geist Magazine while developing a franchise model that now includes sister publications in the Indianapolis, northern Indiana and Kentucky areas. Wanting to devote more time to growing the franchise side of the business, he was ready to relinquish magazine ownership. Towne Post Network is involved in the physical production of the community magazines, but each is owned by an independent publisher responsible for content and advertising. The result is a hyper-local publication geared specifically to the residents of the area. Gatz sensed the opportunity would be another avenue to bring the individuals, organizations and businesses of Fishers together.

“The community aspect of it got me into the conversation,” Gatz says. “I never dreamed one day I would be a magazine publisher, but I thought this might be my next mission. I have lived in Fishers longer than I have lived anywhere else. It is important to me to be part of the community.”

“My vision is to put in inspiring content,” she continues. “I love to tell stories about people doing things that give back to others. One goal is to highlight a local nonprofit each month that is doing really good work. Many organizations don’t have advertising dollars and not many people have heard of them. Featuring them lets readers know their services are available.”

Her duties as publisher of the magazine not only include overseeing content, but also securing advertising. Gatz shares that the two go hand in hand, as high-quality content will ultimately attract advertising that readers will be interested in. This is yet another way to connect and benefit the Fishers community.

“It has been great and exciting so far,” Gatz says. “I’m anxious to get to know our advertisers so we can help them grow their business. It gets me jazzed and gets me up every day if I can contribute to the community.”

Have a great story idea? Email Alison Gatz at alison@townepost2.wpenginepowered.com.