Katie Ryan O'Connor, Neighbor

Katie Ryan O'Connor is Patch's Associate Editorial Director for the Northeast, leading local coverage teams in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

She joined Patch in November 2009 after nearly a decade at The (White Plains, N.Y.) Journal News where she worked as an editor in many different roles, including directing online-first coverage across three counties. She has also worked as a freelance business writer, contributing to web-based publications such as CNNMoney.com and Projectsatwork.com.

Prior to joining The Journal News, Katie covered the city of Hollywood for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where she discovered a love of 80-degree weather in January and a healthy fear of hurricanes.

Her first job as a reporter in 1997 was an experiment in hyperlocal journalism before anyone thought to call it that—covering all the news and events that mattered to the residents of Goshen and Chester for The (Middletown, N.Y.) Times Herald-Record. Even with just 20,000 or so residents put together at the time, there never seemed to be a shortage of political intrigue, police emergencies or interesting stories to tell.

She is thrilled to have the opportunity to rediscover that passion in a forward-thinking, all-digital format. She shares Patch's belief the web can—and should—strengthen people's connection to their community.

She earned a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a bachelor's in business from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Her work has been recognized by the Associated Press, the New York City Deadline Club and the New York State Publishers Association.