MADISON – John Ingebritsen, publisher of Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin, Lancaster, was elected Thursday as president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Board of Directors at the Madison Marriott West during the group’s 163rd annual convention.

WNA is among the longest-serving press associations in the world, dating back to 1853.

Ingebritsen began his first term on the WNA Board of Directors in 2009 and was elected first vice president in 2016. He was president of the WNA Foundation Board of Directors from 2008-2009.

Ingebritsen has been in the newspaper business for 31 years, including 15 as publisher with Morris Newspapers. He oversees 10 weekly newspapers in Southwest Wisconsin, including The Crawford County Independent & The Kickapoo Scout in Gays Mills, which on Friday was named “Best of Division” in Division F of the WNA Foundation’s 2016 Better Newspaper Contest.

Ingebritsen succeeds Brian Thomsen, publisher of the Valders Journal. Thomsen, who has been with the Valders Journal since 1981, becomes immediate past president.

Sidney “Skip” Bliss, president of Bliss Communications and publisher of The Gazette in Janesville, was elected first vice president; Paul Seeling, publisher of the Woodville Leader, was elected second vice president; Heather Rogge, publisher of the The Daily News in West Bend was elected third vice president.

Gregg Walker, publisher of The Lakeland Times in Minocqua, was elected secretary and Kevin Clifford, publisher of the Watertown Daily Times, was elected board treasurer.