 In 1981, he became a staff writer for the Scripps League Newspapers, Inc.-owned Haverhill Gazette.In 1985, he joined the then-Ottaway Newspapers, Inc.-owned Daily News of Newburyport as staff writer.While working at the Daily News of Newburyport, he was recruited by David Sokol of Ogden Corporation, New York, to develop community relations and marketing strategies for the company and serve as its spokesman.