I’ve seen the same reaction hundreds of times over the years—sad, empathetic eyes, followed by a conciliatory pat or two on my shoulder. You would think that I’d told the deliverer of said look that I just ran over my dog.
What prompts this pitiful gaze? Well it’s certainly not a tragic event. Nope, it’s the trigger response that undoubtedly follows when I inform the inquisitor that I’m an editor of a magazine.
Pavlovian responses from the uninformed that follow include, “Oh, wow, must be tough.” “I’m sorry.” “What do you plan on doing for your next career?” And some folks simply burst into laughter.
In short order I find myself crazy-eyed and on a rant about the value of good content and the opportunity presented with developing delivery platforms. (Then I remember why I stopped drinking gin.)
Here’s the thing; good content will always rule the day. Are there challenges in the media world? You bet. They exist everywhere. Yet my trials are assuaged by the simple fact that the Power & Motoryacht team is comprised of supremely dedicated boating nuts who work tirelessly to produce a better product each and every month.
Executive editor Bill Pike, for instance, has to deal with my whims and follies, while ensuring the magazine doesn’t lose the focus of its technical foundation. Besides being a decorated veteran, Bill is about as salty as they come, and has an infinite knowledge of the topics we cover in these pages. He’s the steady hand in any storm.
Our managing editor Chris White has been making me look good for several years. He’s the guy behind the curtain that puts all the pieces together. He’s also a darn fine writer and former first mate of a 63-foot Trumpy. Look for more stories by Chris as we tap into the other side of his brain.
Creative Director Erin Kenney can almost complete my sentences. She is able to get inside my head, hash it out with all six of us hiding up there, and produce some fantastic work. She eagerly jumped in with my business partners and me when we started our own magazines some years back. (Okay, at that point in my life the sad stares would have been abundantly appropriate.)
The bench is stacked deep with senior editor Kevin Koenig who will drop everything he’s doing and head off to get on a new boat. Indeed he’s putting that Georgetown education to good use with superior editing skills and creative thinking. What’s he up to lately? Arranging to put the Revolver 42 up against a Corvette between Miami and Key West. Stay tuned!
Every organization requires a resident genius. Power & Motoryacht’s is our digital editor John Turner. I started working with John Turner years ago when he was on the ad production side and I was on the boatbuilder side. Now he’s become our dedicated digital guru who can tackle a project like nobody’s business.
It’s because of this group—complemented by our publisher Arnie Hammerman and a wonderful sales team—that I realize now is the right time to pass the torch of Power & Motoryacht over to our other senior editor Jason Wood. He possesses a wonderfully prolific media mind, and he and I have enjoyed a working relationship for nearly 15 years. Plus he’s brought back the bow tie.
I love this magazine. You, the readers, are my people. So, I wanted to ensure the right guy could pick up where I’m leaving off, while continuing the mission started by our editor-at-large Richard Thiel. Jason approaches his new role with vigor and a healthy dose of humility. Wait until you see what he and the edit team are cooking up for you.
What about me? Did I finally decide to head off over the horizon to some banana republic? Not a chance! I’ll be staying with our parent company, Active Interest Media, and working with Jason and the editors of our other marine titles to produce even better, more engaging content.
Life is certainly an interesting voyage and I count myself lucky that I’ve been on this wonderful journey with all of you readers. Thanks for your notes, feedback, and keeping us honest. Drop me a line from time to time and I’ll be sure to continue to share my boating adventures with you when I can. See you on the water.
