Another high-profile staffer is departing the Tampa Bay Times, as reporter Curtis Krueger announced he will be leaving the daily for a role as a media relations specialist.
According to his bio, Krueger has written for the Times since 1987, covering a variety of issues, including space and science. His most recent beat was Pinellas County courts.
Krueger leaves the Times for BluePearl Veterinary Partners, a nationwide network of emergency and specialty veterinary hospitals based in Tampa. Formerly known as Florida Veterinary Specialists, BluePearl was founded in 1996 by Dr. Neil Shaw, a board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist, and his brother Darryl Shaw, a certified public accountant. The network now has hospitals in 16 states.
BluePearl is one of the world’s largest private providers of veterinary residency and internship programs, employing more than 475 veterinarians.
Krueger made the announcement on Facebook:
I think it’s time for a somewhat delayed social media announcement … after 27 enjoyable years at the Tampa Bay Times/St. Petersburg Times, I am moving on to a new opportunity … happy to join former Times colleagues Carrie Johnson O’Brien and Christopher Kozlowski.
But I must admit to wistfulness also at leaving a newspaper that I love, which has nurtured my writing, sparked my creativity and embraced several of my crazy ideas over the past 27 years.
The journalism at the Times is a treasure, and the people are even better. I would ask all my friends at the Times, and those I have met through the Times, to please stay in touch!