Contact Us

Sherry Matthews - General Manager/Advertising Director

About Sherry Matthews:

Sherry is a 1982 graduate of UNC-Wilmington with BA in English/Communications. She has 35 years of experience as a journalist, 25 of them with The Sampson Independent. A Sampson County native, Sherry is a winner of 3 N.C. Press Association Awards for editorials and general news reporting, and the recipient of 5 NC School Bell Awards for excellence in education reporting. Sherry was the 2001 NC Distinguished Women of NC nominee.

Brandt Young - Sports Editor

About Brandt Young:

Brandt Young was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio, and remains true and loyal as a diehard Buckeye and Steeler fan to this day. A couple short years after graduating high school, he joined the Army, which took him to Texas. Upon completion of his service, his wife, Marina, has continued her career in the military. Together, they have one daughter, Avgie. They have lived in Texas, Colorado, and now North Carolina. He holds a Bachelors of Arts in History from The University of Arizona Global Campus, and has spent time in a few different careers: from a wheeled vehicle mechanic in the military to helping make and serve beer at local craft breweries, to now editing newspapers.

Kim Bell - Circulation director

About Kim Bell:

Alyssa Bergey - Staff Writer

About Alyssa Bergey:

Alyssa Bergey has a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Olivet College. She is originally from Michigan, but moved to North Carolina and started working for the Sampson Independent as a general reporter in April of 2024.

Angel Phillips - Sales rep

About Angel Phillips:

Chuck Thompson - Editor

About Chuck Thompson:

Brenda McCullen - Classified Director

About Brenda McCullen:

Brenda attended Hardbarger Business College in Raleigh and has been with The Sampson Independent for 23 years. She has won three N.C. Press Awards, including in 1997, First Place, Best Classified Section/Page; in 2002, Second Place, Best Community Service Signature Page; and in 2003, First Place, Best Spot Color Restaurant/Entertainment Ad. She was married to the late Ronnie E. McCullen for 35 years and has 3 children, Nicole, Jonathan and Charlie, and 7 grandchildren, Carsyn, Braeden, Cullen, Easley, Maggie, Autumn and Annabel. Brenda is a Notary Public.

Michael Hardison - Staff Writer

About Michael Hardison:

Michael attended UNC Pembroke where he earned his Bachelor of Science for Mass Communiation Journalism in 2015. A 2009 graduate from Clinton High School, he's worked with The Sampson Independent since 2017. When he began, he was a sports editor and sports stringer, but has been a general news reporter since 2020.