Contact: Lori Arnold, Managing Editor, Christian Examiner newspapers, http://www.christianexaminer.com, 800-326-0795, lori@christianexaminer.com

SAN DIEGO, Calif., Nov. 6 /Christian Newswire/ -- Lamar Keener, co-publisher of the Christian Examiner newspapers and the Minnesota Christian Chronicle, was a finalist in the recent Dealmaker of the Year Awards sponsored by Point Loma Nazarene University.

The university launched the Dealmaker this year as a way to recognize unique area individuals, firms, and events that exemplify creativity, value, innovation, success, and ethical practices that set the standard for the San Diego business community.

Keener was one of three individuals nominated for the award. Keener is CEO of San Diego-based Keener Communications Group, which owns and operates the nation's largest chain of regional Christian newspapers. Combined circulation of the group's six newspapers is 200,000. In addition to its circulation, the paper is also a leader in content, winning numerous awards from the Evangelical Press Association and the Fellowship of Christian Newspapers.

Keener is the current president of EPA, which represents 270 publications with a combined readership of more than 20 million.

Recipients of the Dealmaker of the Year awards were determined by representatives of the Fermanian School of Business, the business advisory board of the FSB, and the PLNU Alumni in Business Auxiliary.

Keener owns and operates the company with his wife, Theresa, who is co-publisher. The couple met and married while students at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

The individual Dealmaker award was won by former San Diego City Councilman William Jones, who now serves as a developer, philanthropist and Federal Reserve member.