JJ Francais

Assistant Vice President of External Affairs

Industry Experience: 17

Tenure with Hilliary: 6

As Assistant Vice President of External Affairs, JJ Francais manages projects for Hilliary and serves as Associate Publisher for Hilliary Media Group and its flagship weekly newspaper Southwest Ledger.

He also serves as Hilliary’s point of contact for governmental affairs at the state and federal level across Oklahoma, Texas, and Iowa.

As Associate Publisher, JJ oversees the business operations of Hilliary Media Group and the flagship newspaper, Southwest Ledger, which covers business and politics across Oklahoma.

He recruits, manages, and trains the editorial and sales staff.

Prior to joining Hilliary, JJ worked in both the commercial and nonprofit sectors, allowing him to foster a strong aptitude for community relations and project management. His previous positions include Community News Editor of a weekly newspaper and various roles in nonprofit ventures.

Hilliary family of companies – an operation which includes $120 million plus in plant investments provides Internet, phone, and video services to approximately 20,000 customers across 26 counties in Oklahoma, Texas, and Iowa.

In his spare time, JJ enjoys hosting webinars for the National Newspaper Association and other groups. He is an avid photographer with multiple state and national awards.

In 2021, JJ was elected Mayor of Elgin, Oklahoma. In 2022, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt appointed JJ to the Board of Regents for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, his alma mater.