The Story of Ponca City Monthly
Story by Kelsey Wagner/Editor-in-Chief
Editor’s Note: They say that opportunity is a door you must be willing to walk through. In the case of Ponca City Monthly, opportunity walked through my door. I am thrilled for the 2nd Birthday of Ponca City Monthly to finally tell the story of how it all began. I hope you enjoy reading it, as much as I have enjoyed living it.
August 2017
MyMediaMatters Marketing Agency was founded one week after I was given notice of being laid off from a local company. I continued working at that company until my separation date in November 2017. I then took the giant leap to full-time business ownership.
November 2017
Determined to chart my own course, I worked and grew MyMediaMatters for the entirety of 2018 from my home office, slowly building my clientele and establishing my business. At that time, I designed websites and did graphic design work.
October 2018
After a very successful first year, I realized I was overwhelmed and needed help, so I hired my first employee, Jennifer Vaughan. Jennifer helped me exponentially grow our company over the next year, and by April 2019, we knew that we needed an office.
January 2019
I had heard that The Ponca City News owned an extensive portfolio of domain names
and emails, so seeing an opportunity to expand my business, I walked into Tom Muchmore’s office in January 2019 and asked if he would ever consider selling them. Tom looked at me and said he had just sold The Ponca City News a few days before that and that I should talk with the new owner who was in the next office. I was anxious to add email hosting to my list of offerings to my website clients, so we struck a deal, and I became the new owner of PoncaCity.net’s portfolio domain and email clients. As it happened, through my purchase of the emails, I met many local Ponca City citizens who utilized the PoncaCity.net email service, including Robyn Ryan, who at this time was still working at The Ponca City News. Robyn wished me well with the email service. Robyn and I knew of each other because her father, Fred Boettcher, had been a business mentor to me. I found out from a Facebook post that Robyn Ryan officially retired from The Ponca City News in June of 2019.
May 2019
Jennifer and I moved into our first teeny tiny 10-ft by 12-ft office in City Central in May of 2019.
October 2019
In October, we hired an office manager. Jennifer and I continued to work on websites and graphic design, but I was looking ahead at this point at how else I could diversify our business.
The Birth of Ponca City Monthly
MyMediaMatters’s first office was in the Link on the first floor of City Central. The Link has a large common area with couches, and it was often used as a meeting location, so we were used to having lots of random visitors. One day in late October, such a meeting took place between PCDA and an Oklahoma tech company. The tech company was working on a project for PCDA. The CEO of the tech company was very familiar with Ponca City and had some ideas for a different project. A staffer from PCDA brought him into the MyMediaMatter’s office and introduced him to our staff. He explained that his firm, in addition to technology, also produced a hyperlocal magazine and had for a decade. Still, he had always felt that a publication similar to his could do very well in a town like Ponca City. I sat there, absorbing what he was saying. I was mesmerized by his story and moved that he would take the time to share it with me. As CEO of my own tech company, he asked me if I would ever consider starting a magazine in Ponca City. At that point, I had to just laugh and say, no, I hadn’t, but that I was known for “jumping in headfirst” with crazy ideas and that I would seriously consider it. I took a few weeks to consider the idea. I talked with several trusted friends, but what I couldn’t help noticing was the feeling in my gut. I had felt it before. The feeling deep, deep down that I knew without knowing that this was something I was supposed to do. I’ve always trusted my gut, and it’s never led me astray. So, in December of 2019, I decided to start a magazine.
January 2020
I began putting a team together. I sought out monthly columnists who I felt could deliver quality content each month. Rachel Stewart, Paul Muehlberg, and Kat Long were the first people I asked to contribute. Their faith in a magazine that didn’t exist yet still moves me. I decided that the inaugural issue would debut on April 1. Initially, I did not plan on hiring an Advertising Director, but decided that I would likely need someone at least part-time to ensure a successful magazine launch. In early January, a chance meeting would change the fate of my life and the magazine forever. Robyn Ryan, wearing workout clothes and in a bit of a hurry, stopped in my office to have her email password changed. Password changes were a common occurrence and didn’t take long. She sat and chatted with me about life while I changed her password. The feeling in my gut suddenly hit me again. Here was Robyn, someone I knew of but didn’t know well, and something was compelling me to talk to her about the magazine. “Listen, Robyn, I am working on a project, and I may need someone to sell advertising. I know you are retired, but do you know anyone who might be interested in some part-time work?” Robyn skeptically looked at me and said she didn’t know anyone that would be a good fit. At this point, I had told almost no one about the magazine and was hoping to keep it safely under wraps for a while longer, so I was hesitant to disclose the full project to her; however, the gut feeling hit me again. “Well, would you ever consider selling ads again?” I proceeded to share my vision of the magazine with her, and I watched as she began to understand the full extent of this opportunity. Robyn and I talked for a long time that day. She told me how much she loved her advertisers during her time at the News. She loved graphic design, and she loved Ponca City, but she just wasn’t sure if she wanted to go back to work full time. I told her I understood but also explained that it would be a fully remote, flexible position. She could work when she wanted, where she wanted, and as much as she wanted. She said she had never had that offered to her before, but she needed time to consider it. Robyn was going on a beach vacation with her family in mid-February and told me she would decide after her vacation.
Robyn recalls the encounter like this, “I remember coming to the MyMediaMatters office for help with my email. After a lot of catching up, Kelsey shared with me that she was going to start a magazine. I remember thinking it was a really great idea, but also realizing that I had only been retired (for the second attempt) for six months and wondered if I really wanted to go back to work. The last thing Kelsey said when I walked out the door was, “I’m going to call you in about a month.” Kelsey had to know she piqued my interest because I don’t have a very good poker face. For a month, I told myself, “The magazine is going to be a hit, and you will regret not being a part of it.” Kelsey called in a month, and the rest is history.”
February 2020
In early February, news had begun buzzing about a new virus in China, one I had never heard of, called COVID-19. I had a previously scheduled trip to Louisville, KY, the same week Robyn was on vacation. While I was in Louisville, the buzz about the virus was gaining a scary amount of momentum. The isolated cases confirmed in the US in January were quickly spreading, and I wondered what it could mean for the future of our magazine. Robyn returned from her trip, and I called to ask her what she had decided. Robyn, thankfully, agreed to join our team at Ponca City Monthly! I was thrilled. There was so much work to be done, and her decision only reaffirmed my dedication to the launch. Robyn hit the ground running. We printed up two “mock” covers, and Robyn began her first month of ad sales while I worked on creating content. Robyn says of that first month, selling ads for a magazine that didn’t exist yet felt like she was selling “her reputation and air.” Robyn said she had a few old friends who might be interested in coming on board. Robyn introduced me to Carey Head, who enthusiastically joined as a staff writer. Patrick Jordan, another long-time friend of Robyn’s, joined and creates custom crosswords for PCM every month and also does copyediting. Beverly Bryant joined to do copy editing, another friend and associate of Robyn, and later Sherry Cable, also introduced by Robyn Ryan, became our magazine story editor.
We visited local stores and got permission to put our large magazine racks in their places of business, including Walmart, the RecPlex, El Patio, Homeland, Ponca City Discount Foods, and many other smaller locations.
March 2020
By March, we had finalized our first list of advertisers and stories and were beginning to layout the first magazine. I wanted the first issue’s cover to be iconic, so I asked Mayor Homer Nicholson to grace the cover. The mayor has overseen twenty years of growth in Ponca City. He has been present at all the major milestones, the groundbreakings, the ribbon cuttings, the award ceremonies, and he is always there saying the same thing, “It’s Another Great Day in Ponca City.” That’s what I wanted for our first magazine issue because I felt it truly was a historic moment for our town. March 16, 2020. On Friday, March 13, life was still semi-normal, but by Monday, March 16, the entire world had completely shut down. Our office closed, and everyone in our office was instructed to work entirely remotely. Luckily, Robyn had already completed her in-person visits in February.
March 23, 2020
One week into the worldwide shutdown, I was beginning to doubt our April 1st magazine launch date. The world was trapped in their houses, no one was leaving, and here I was excitedly launching a local magazine? It felt like the complete opposite of what I should be focused on, but we were too far in to change plans now. I kept wondering how people would even get magazines if they were going to stores? I was worried our magazine was doomed to failure before it even began.
March 27, 2020
The first issue of Ponca City Monthly officially dropped on March 27, 2020. Because of the pandemic, everyone was staying home, so we decided to do home deliveries of the magazine. Robyn, Jennifer, Carey, Patrick, and I delivered to addresses all over Ponca City. Transmission of the virus was still questionable, so we delivered wearing masks and plastic gloves, dropping magazines on doorsteps without directly interacting with anyone. One week into April, and we still had a lot of magazines left to hand out. One afternoon I loaded up a wagon, and along with my two children walked my entire neighborhood, placing one magazine on the step of each house. I had launched a magazine in the middle of a global pandemic, and while I was walking down the road with a wagon full of magazines, I did question if I had made all the right decisions. After the inaugural issue was released, it was time to start on the second issue, and by the time the second issue was out, we were working on the third. When the world stopped turning in March and April, and the pandemic was raging throughout the world, I was worried that our magazine might flounder. I was worried that people would not care about local news or would not make time to read our local content. I found out later the opposite was true.
May 2020
When we launched Ponca City Monthly in April of 2020, by fate or by chance, our magazine ended up being a tiny bit of good news in a world of bad. It was a ray of sunshine and hope when hope was needed most. By our second issue, which featured rainbow murals on our COVID-ravaged hospital’s windows with the message “HOPE STRENGTH COMMUNITY,” on the cover, I could feel that the heartbeat of the community had come alive in our magazine. I began to get messages about the stories featured in April and May saying how much people were moved by them and how the good news in our magazine had helped them get through one of the most challenging times of the pandemic.
June 2020 and beyond
Ponca City Monthly has grown, changed, and evolved over the last two years. In April 2020, our magazine was 32 pages, and this month it is 80 pages! We continue to seek new and exciting stories to deliver to our readers. We get regular feedback from our readers that they love our ads as much as the content because they love staying up to date with what our local businesses are offering, including seasonal sales, specials, and new services. Robyn Ryan meticulously and carefully creates each advertisement for the magazine each month (and some ads are provided by the businesses).
In June of 2021, after moving to larger offices three times in City Central, we purchased a downtown building and officially relocated MyMediaMatters and Ponca City Monthly to the new building. This move was significant because it was owned by Fred and Sue Boettcher. In fact, it was the first building Fred had purchased and renovated downtown. For both Robyn and I, the move felt serendipitous. We both knew that Fred would be so proud to have us working side by side in a building he poured his heart into.
Robyn says of her decision to join Ponca City Monthly magazine, “I have the opportunity to work with many clients that I worked with for about 25 years and many new ones. I have no regrets about coming out of my short retirement, and in fact, I’m very glad I did and am very proud of what we’ve accomplished in 2 short years.”
MyMediaMatters is the company that produces Ponca City Monthly magazine, and everyone on our team contributes to its success. In April 2021, Andy Hicks joined our team to create the layout and design of the magazine, and he has done a fantastic job for the last year. All the tiny details and fun layouts are thanks to him. Jill Rowe joined MMM in September 2022, and in addition to doing social media, she wrtites our Cocktail of the Month articles.
August 2017
MyMediaMatters Marketing Agency was founded one week after I was given notice of being laid off from a local company. I continued working at that company until my separation date in November 2017. I then took the giant leap to full-time business ownership.
November 2017
Determined to chart my own course, I worked and grew MyMediaMatters for the entirety of 2018 from my home office, slowly building my clientele and establishing my business. At that time, I designed websites and did graphic design work.
October 2018
After a very successful first year, I realized I was overwhelmed and needed help, so I hired my first employee, Jennifer Vaughan. Jennifer helped me exponentially grow our company over the next year, and by April 2019, we knew that we needed an office.
January 2019
I had heard that The Ponca City News owned an extensive portfolio of domain names
and emails, so seeing an opportunity to expand my business, I walked into Tom Muchmore’s office in January 2019 and asked if he would ever consider selling them. Tom looked at me and said he had just sold The Ponca City News a few days before that and that I should talk with the new owner who was in the next office. I was anxious to add email hosting to my list of offerings to my website clients, so we struck a deal, and I became the new owner of PoncaCity.net’s portfolio domain and email clients. As it happened, through my purchase of the emails, I met many local Ponca City citizens who utilized the PoncaCity.net email service, including Robyn Ryan, who at this time was still working at The Ponca City News. Robyn wished me well with the email service. Robyn and I knew of each other because her father, Fred Boettcher, had been a business mentor to me. I found out from a Facebook post that Robyn Ryan officially retired from The Ponca City News in June of 2019.
May 2019
Jennifer and I moved into our first teeny tiny 10-ft by 12-ft office in City Central in May of 2019.
October 2019
In October, we hired an office manager. Jennifer and I continued to work on websites and graphic design, but I was looking ahead at this point at how else I could diversify our business.
The Birth of Ponca City Monthly
MyMediaMatters’s first office was in the Link on the first floor of City Central. The Link has a large common area with couches, and it was often used as a meeting location, so we were used to having lots of random visitors. One day in late October, such a meeting took place between PCDA and an Oklahoma tech company. The tech company was working on a project for PCDA. The CEO of the tech company was very familiar with Ponca City and had some ideas for a different project. A staffer from PCDA brought him into the MyMediaMatter’s office and introduced him to our staff. He explained that his firm, in addition to technology, also produced a hyperlocal magazine and had for a decade. Still, he had always felt that a publication similar to his could do very well in a town like Ponca City. I sat there, absorbing what he was saying. I was mesmerized by his story and moved that he would take the time to share it with me. As CEO of my own tech company, he asked me if I would ever consider starting a magazine in Ponca City. At that point, I had to just laugh and say, no, I hadn’t, but that I was known for “jumping in headfirst” with crazy ideas and that I would seriously consider it. I took a few weeks to consider the idea. I talked with several trusted friends, but what I couldn’t help noticing was the feeling in my gut. I had felt it before. The feeling deep, deep down that I knew without knowing that this was something I was supposed to do. I’ve always trusted my gut, and it’s never led me astray. So, in December of 2019, I decided to start a magazine.
January 2020
I began putting a team together. I sought out monthly columnists who I felt could deliver quality content each month. Rachel Stewart, Paul Muehlberg, and Kat Long were the first people I asked to contribute. Their faith in a magazine that didn’t exist yet still moves me. I decided that the inaugural issue would debut on April 1. Initially, I did not plan on hiring an Advertising Director, but decided that I would likely need someone at least part-time to ensure a successful magazine launch. In early January, a chance meeting would change the fate of my life and the magazine forever. Robyn Ryan, wearing workout clothes and in a bit of a hurry, stopped in my office to have her email password changed. Password changes were a common occurrence and didn’t take long. She sat and chatted with me about life while I changed her password. The feeling in my gut suddenly hit me again. Here was Robyn, someone I knew of but didn’t know well, and something was compelling me to talk to her about the magazine. “Listen, Robyn, I am working on a project, and I may need someone to sell advertising. I know you are retired, but do you know anyone who might be interested in some part-time work?” Robyn skeptically looked at me and said she didn’t know anyone that would be a good fit. At this point, I had told almost no one about the magazine and was hoping to keep it safely under wraps for a while longer, so I was hesitant to disclose the full project to her; however, the gut feeling hit me again. “Well, would you ever consider selling ads again?” I proceeded to share my vision of the magazine with her, and I watched as she began to understand the full extent of this opportunity. Robyn and I talked for a long time that day. She told me how much she loved her advertisers during her time at the News. She loved graphic design, and she loved Ponca City, but she just wasn’t sure if she wanted to go back to work full time. I told her I understood but also explained that it would be a fully remote, flexible position. She could work when she wanted, where she wanted, and as much as she wanted. She said she had never had that offered to her before, but she needed time to consider it. Robyn was going on a beach vacation with her family in mid-February and told me she would decide after her vacation.
Robyn recalls the encounter like this, “I remember coming to the MyMediaMatters office for help with my email. After a lot of catching up, Kelsey shared with me that she was going to start a magazine. I remember thinking it was a really great idea, but also realizing that I had only been retired (for the second attempt) for six months and wondered if I really wanted to go back to work. The last thing Kelsey said when I walked out the door was, “I’m going to call you in about a month.” Kelsey had to know she piqued my interest because I don’t have a very good poker face. For a month, I told myself, “The magazine is going to be a hit, and you will regret not being a part of it.” Kelsey called in a month, and the rest is history.”
February 2020
In early February, news had begun buzzing about a new virus in China, one I had never heard of, called COVID-19. I had a previously scheduled trip to Louisville, KY, the same week Robyn was on vacation. While I was in Louisville, the buzz about the virus was gaining a scary amount of momentum. The isolated cases confirmed in the US in January were quickly spreading, and I wondered what it could mean for the future of our magazine. Robyn returned from her trip, and I called to ask her what she had decided. Robyn, thankfully, agreed to join our team at Ponca City Monthly! I was thrilled. There was so much work to be done, and her decision only reaffirmed my dedication to the launch. Robyn hit the ground running. We printed up two “mock” covers, and Robyn began her first month of ad sales while I worked on creating content. Robyn says of that first month, selling ads for a magazine that didn’t exist yet felt like she was selling “her reputation and air.” Robyn said she had a few old friends who might be interested in coming on board. Robyn introduced me to Carey Head, who enthusiastically joined as a staff writer. Patrick Jordan, another long-time friend of Robyn’s, joined and creates custom crosswords for PCM every month and also does copyediting. Beverly Bryant joined to do copy editing, another friend and associate of Robyn, and later Sherry Cable, also introduced by Robyn Ryan, became our magazine story editor.
We visited local stores and got permission to put our large magazine racks in their places of business, including Walmart, the RecPlex, El Patio, Homeland, Ponca City Discount Foods, and many other smaller locations.
March 2020
By March, we had finalized our first list of advertisers and stories and were beginning to layout the first magazine. I wanted the first issue’s cover to be iconic, so I asked Mayor Homer Nicholson to grace the cover. The mayor has overseen twenty years of growth in Ponca City. He has been present at all the major milestones, the groundbreakings, the ribbon cuttings, the award ceremonies, and he is always there saying the same thing, “It’s Another Great Day in Ponca City.” That’s what I wanted for our first magazine issue because I felt it truly was a historic moment for our town. March 16, 2020. On Friday, March 13, life was still semi-normal, but by Monday, March 16, the entire world had completely shut down. Our office closed, and everyone in our office was instructed to work entirely remotely. Luckily, Robyn had already completed her in-person visits in February.
March 23, 2020
One week into the worldwide shutdown, I was beginning to doubt our April 1st magazine launch date. The world was trapped in their houses, no one was leaving, and here I was excitedly launching a local magazine? It felt like the complete opposite of what I should be focused on, but we were too far in to change plans now. I kept wondering how people would even get magazines if they were going to stores? I was worried our magazine was doomed to failure before it even began.
March 27, 2020
The first issue of Ponca City Monthly officially dropped on March 27, 2020. Because of the pandemic, everyone was staying home, so we decided to do home deliveries of the magazine. Robyn, Jennifer, Carey, Patrick, and I delivered to addresses all over Ponca City. Transmission of the virus was still questionable, so we delivered wearing masks and plastic gloves, dropping magazines on doorsteps without directly interacting with anyone. One week into April, and we still had a lot of magazines left to hand out. One afternoon I loaded up a wagon, and along with my two children walked my entire neighborhood, placing one magazine on the step of each house. I had launched a magazine in the middle of a global pandemic, and while I was walking down the road with a wagon full of magazines, I did question if I had made all the right decisions. After the inaugural issue was released, it was time to start on the second issue, and by the time the second issue was out, we were working on the third. When the world stopped turning in March and April, and the pandemic was raging throughout the world, I was worried that our magazine might flounder. I was worried that people would not care about local news or would not make time to read our local content. I found out later the opposite was true.
May 2020
When we launched Ponca City Monthly in April of 2020, by fate or by chance, our magazine ended up being a tiny bit of good news in a world of bad. It was a ray of sunshine and hope when hope was needed most. By our second issue, which featured rainbow murals on our COVID-ravaged hospital’s windows with the message “HOPE STRENGTH COMMUNITY,” on the cover, I could feel that the heartbeat of the community had come alive in our magazine. I began to get messages about the stories featured in April and May saying how much people were moved by them and how the good news in our magazine had helped them get through one of the most challenging times of the pandemic.
June 2020 and beyond
Ponca City Monthly has grown, changed, and evolved over the last two years. In April 2020, our magazine was 32 pages, and this month it is 80 pages! We continue to seek new and exciting stories to deliver to our readers. We get regular feedback from our readers that they love our ads as much as the content because they love staying up to date with what our local businesses are offering, including seasonal sales, specials, and new services. Robyn Ryan meticulously and carefully creates each advertisement for the magazine each month (and some ads are provided by the businesses).
In June of 2021, after moving to larger offices three times in City Central, we purchased a downtown building and officially relocated MyMediaMatters and Ponca City Monthly to the new building. This move was significant because it was owned by Fred and Sue Boettcher. In fact, it was the first building Fred had purchased and renovated downtown. For both Robyn and I, the move felt serendipitous. We both knew that Fred would be so proud to have us working side by side in a building he poured his heart into.
Robyn says of her decision to join Ponca City Monthly magazine, “I have the opportunity to work with many clients that I worked with for about 25 years and many new ones. I have no regrets about coming out of my short retirement, and in fact, I’m very glad I did and am very proud of what we’ve accomplished in 2 short years.”
MyMediaMatters is the company that produces Ponca City Monthly magazine, and everyone on our team contributes to its success. In April 2021, Andy Hicks joined our team to create the layout and design of the magazine, and he has done a fantastic job for the last year. All the tiny details and fun layouts are thanks to him. Jill Rowe joined MMM in September 2022, and in addition to doing social media, she wrtites our Cocktail of the Month articles.
