Dwight Widaman, president of Widaman Communications

Dwight Widaman is president of Widaman Communications, Inc., and co-publisher, with his wife, Anita, of the Metro Voice newspaper.

Dwight has overseen the growth of Metro Voice from a small publication to a full-color newspaper with distribution in 1100 churches in the Kansas City area, and another 300 in the Northeast Kansas area. The paper is also distributed to bookstores, libraries, supermarkets and various office buildings, restaurants and other retail outlets. Metro Voice newspaper is in its 20th year of publishing and currently has a circulation of 25,000 across greater Kansas City and a second edition serving Topeka and Northeast Kansas with offices in Topeka. The Topeka edition has a circulation of 15,000 and is edited by Lee Hartman. 

Widaman Communications also publishes the Greater Kansas City Christian Education Resource Guide. It has an annual circulation of 30,000 and features information on Christian private education, homeschooling and colleges. In conjunction with this publication, the Metro Voice organizes an education expo each March which draws several thousand particpants.

Only two years after graduation from Central Missouri State University, Dwight became the youngest junior executive at one of Kansas City’s only Fortune 500 corporations - H & R Block, where he served as director of marketing. At Block, Dwight was responsible for the corporation’s marketing, which included broadcast and print media. A major project was the annual report (which won several national awards) and the corporate magazine with a circulation of over 125,000. Dwight left Block to serve in the private sector and took charge of marketing for Avila University. During that time, Avila saw its greatest one-year increase in enrollment, as well as its most successful capital campaign for new buildings and infrastructure. He left Avila in 1991 and started Widaman Communications, Inc., which then purchased the Kansas City Christian Newspaper. The newspaper was renamed Metro Voice in 1994.

With his wife, Dwight founded several community newspapers including the Lee's Summit Tribune newspaper in 1995. The Tribune has since been purchased by the parent company of the Kansas City Star. Dwight's marketing experience also included serving as an adjunct faculty member of Central Missouri State University, where he taught logo and trademark design.

Dwight continues to be the most public representative of Christian media in Kansas City, which includes hosting a weekly radio news program, "The Metro Voice Newshour," heard weekly on KCWJ AM1030. He has often been called upon to be a spokesman for the Christian community on area TV stations as well as numerous radio stations, including KMBZ, KCMO, KCWJ, KLJC and KCCV. Feature stories have been published on Dwight and the paper in publications as varied as the Kansas City Star and Focus on the Family's Family Policy Center magazine. Dwight served on President Bush's Faith Liaison for the State of Missouri in 2000.

Anita Widaman, co-publisher of the Metro Voice

Anita Widaman, in addition to serving as co-publisher, is the Arts & Entertainment Calendar Editor. Anita was a school teacher and guidance counselor for 16 years before leaving her work to become a mom. She has a bachelor's degree from Central Missouri State University and a master's from the University of Missouri in Columbia. She also went on to receive a Specialist Degree in Education and Adolescent Counseling from The University of Missouri-Columbia. She has served as President of her professional counseling organization and is involved in women’s ministries at Lee’s Summit Community Christian Church. Dwight and Anita have two children, Hannah and Emma.