John Dolan and Catherine Nelson have taken over as co-publishers of New England Business Journals Inc. with the production of the August editions of the Rutland, Valley and Champlain Business Journals.

Richard Rohe has stepped down as publisher and Lillian Rohe as editor, though they will continue in those roles for Prime Time Journal, a quarterly publication for Vermonters over age 50.

In 2003, the Rohes sold New England Business Journals to Mitchell Community Media, which also owns the Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus.

The Rohes started Rutland Business Journal in 1984. A year later, they started Valley Business Journal, which covers the Upper White River Valley in Vermont and New Hampshire. Champlain Business Journal, which covers the Burlington area and northwestern Vermont, was launched in 1996. All three Journals are published monthly.

Nelson and Dolan assumed the positions of co-publishers July 17. Nelson serves as marketing director, responsible for sales and business operations. Dolan is editor of the three Business Journals, responsible for editorial planning and assigning stories to more than 40 writers across the state.

Dolan had worked at the Rutland Herald for 23 years, serving in nearly every reporting and editing position in the newsroom. He held the position of managing editor for the past two years. A California native, he has lived in Vermont since 1971 and Brandon since 1987.

"I have great respect for what the Rohes have built," Dolan said. "As a longtime Herald editor, I'm also proud that they asked our company to buy and run the Business Journals. Now that they have handed over operations, our task is to build on the strengths of the Journals, make improvements where possible, and maintain a strong relationship with the business communities we serve."

Nelson, a Chicago native, has managed and published more than 100 daily newspapers, alternative and community weeklies around the country, working in cities including Boston, Salt Lake City, Utah, San Francisco, and Missoula, Mont., and has consulted for publications in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Canada. In addition, Nelson is a seminar speaker and consultant and has developed specialized training and management programs for the newspaper industry. She and her family are relocating to the Rutland area from Madison, Wis. Joining Mitchell Community Media is a homecoming of sorts for Nelson, who worked at the Times Argus in the early 1980s.

"I am thrilled at the opportunity to once again call Vermont my home and the opportunity to be part of the New England Business Journal family," she said. "I applaud the accomplishments of the Rohes and hope to continue with their commitment to publishing excellence."

John Mitchell, publisher of the Rutland Herald and president of Mitchell Community Media, said, "We are fortunate to have such experienced and capable people as John Dolan and Catherine Nelson to take over leadership of the Business Journals."

Mitchell add, "Lillian and Dick have done an incredible job n Rutland, Chittenden County and the Upper Valley, and we look forward to building on what they have started and developed."