Sharon Rowlands, CEO, Penton Media

Sharon Rowlands

CEO

Penton Media

Rowlands led Penton through a financial restructuring that pared $270 million from its debt. The company filed a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection plan in February and emerged one month later. Now focused on growth, particularly in digital media, Rowlands is investing in new hires and technology, such as a Drupal-based content management system that cost an estimated $1.5 million to develop. The first sites on the new platform relaunched in September, and the rollout will continue through 2011.

Originally posted on: 11/5/10