PHOTO PROVIDED Vickie Buckle, seated, is pictured with other members of The Express’s advertising staff in the late 1980s/early 1990s. They are, from left, Don Ryan, Terry Wyant, Pat Leone, Keith DeVal and Rick Noll.

Vickie Buckle

(Editor’s Note: As The Express celebrates its 140th year, we continue to highlight its staff and history.)

LOCK HAVEN — In her 35 years in the marketing/advertising game at The Express, Vickie Buckle has seen quite a lot of change. But, to her, connecting with her customers has remained the same.

Buckle began her career at the 140-year-old paper in the late 1980s, starting in the Community Wide Business Directory.

Buckle explained the department would sell ads by the line.

“I sat on the phone for eight hours a day for two years,” she said. “I would call people from a directory and sign them up for line sales.”

During her time in the department, Buckle noted the paper had to include a second page for line items.

After two years, Buckle shifted into the sale of advertising. During that time she worked with Advertising Manager Terry Wyant and salesmen Rick Noll — who would later be promoted to management — Don Ryan, Keith DeVal and Charlie Gephart along with Kelly Peters in telemarketing.

Buckle said the sales team would often go out for lunch together and were tight knit.

In the 1990s, then publisher Charlie Ryan would take the staff to a pre-Christmas dinner. The dinner served as a relaxing environment to discuss the upcoming holiday season and get a gameplan going for advertising, Buckle said.

“I remember it was fun, to be with the department outside of the office and discussing our upcoming plans over dinner,” she said.

Buckle attributes her education in the field to Noll.

“He was a great teacher and taught me everything I know,” she said.

When she first entered into the sales game, Buckle said she was assigned to the Jersey Shore area for the most part.

“My territory was mostly Jersey Shore because of the Jersey Shore weekly that came out on Mondays,” she said. “I also had various other accounts in Clinton County.”

The staff at The Express weren’t competitive with their sales either.

“You were assigned a territory and you stuck to it. Everyone always tried to help each other out,” Buckle said.

In terms of her territory, not much has changed for Buckle who still visits her regulars as often as she’s able — only now she sells advertising for both The Express and its sister paper the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

“I love my job, I really truly do,” Buckle said.

At the start of her career, before the introduction of the Internet, social media and emails, in-person sales were key — something that Buckle sticks with even now.

“Sales were very easy back then. As long as you were out, seeing your people, talking with them and taking care of them,” she said.

Buckle noted that sometimes a steadfast approach could also help ensure a sale.

“I remember when I went to State College once, I walked into a store and the owner said, ‘You see that door you just came in? Leave right out of it,'” she recalled. “I told him I’d see him next week. And eventually I was able to sell him advertising.”

That determination and dedication to her craft is what has helped Buckle through her decades at The Express and Sun-Gazette and continues to be an asset as she goes.