One of the goals Sean Flaherty, the Tri-City Herald’s new advertising director, already has made is to meet current and new customers. Flaherty comes to the Herald with 25 years of experience as an advertising manager, including with The Herald in Everett, The News Tribune in Tacoma and The Olympian. Tri-City Herald Publisher Gregg McConnell said Flaherty’s experience in digital marketing and his extensive background with newspapers made him the best candidate for the Herald’s advertising director position. Flaherty also worked on McClatchy Co.’s digital-only team in Seattle, and said he has a strong history working with digital products. In Washington, the McClatchy Co. owns the Tri-City Herald, The Olympian, the News Tribune and the Bellingham Herald. McConnell said Flaherty will be an asset to the area’s business community because of his unique skills set. Flaherty, 48, said he plans to work with the Tri-City Herald’s advertising staff to find products that meet customer needs. “I’m very proud of what newspapers do, and I think it is very important that we have a sound business model so that we can support (community) journalism,” Flaherty said. He already has started a training program for marketing representatives, McConnell said. McConnell said the Tri-City Herald soon will announce programs to broaden digital marketing options for businesses beyond the Herald’s website, tricityherald.com. The goal of the advertising department is to keep pace with marketing opportunities as the digital world evolves, he said. Flaherty is well qualified to do that. Newspapers online and in print are a proven way for advertising to work, Flaherty said. “You are going to reach an audience that trusts us and cares about things,” he said. People look to the paper for shopping information, particularly from Sunday ads, he said. Flaherty said his wife Wendy, and 15-year-old daughter will join him in the Tri-Cities when the school year ends. They also have an older son and daughter. Flaherty can be reached at 582-1460 or at sflaherty@tricityherald.com.