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To tweak a popular song by country artist Toby Keith:How do you like us now?

Welcome to the new Facility Manager magazine. While the issue date on the cover assures us that this is the 20th year of the publication, in many ways this feels like Volume I, Issue 1 – and in many ways it is.

Much work has been done over the preceding months to bring us to this landmark occasion in the magazine’s proud history. There was ample discussion about whether to continue publishing Facility Manager in-house in the traditional format or to strike out on a new path and bring aboard a partner to serve as publisher of the magazine. There were all kinds of mines along the trail and we believe we have successfully navigated our way through them.

After entertaining a number of bids and proposals from some exceptional publishing houses, a decision was reached to contract with PRISM Media Group,a Dallas-area firm that specializes in providing full turn-key operations from writing articles on through the full production and printing of the magazine. Early on we established that the Facility Manager name was a viable and recognisable brand.

We are excited – and a bit apprehensive - about this partnership for a number of reasons. However, I believe each of the following areas will add value to the publication and contribute to Building Member Value:

Design and Layout
The first thing that should catch your eye is the cover. It makes a distinctive statement about the maturity of our industry, the direction of the magazine and the key ingredient in our industry – its people. As you leaf through this inaugural issue you’ll see the format, content and thrust of the magazine is fresh and concise. We’ve gone from an association magazine to a business publication hopefully without losing the essence of our association. The design is current and progressive projecting an image that we believe portrays our association and its members as industry leaders. The utilization of white space makes for a more reader-friendly and commercially attractive publication.

Advertising
Mike McClintic and Demas Lamas will be dedicated to advertising sales. Remember those names. They are account managers for PRISM and will be calling on many of you about advertising opportunities. Both are here to assist you to reach your markets and advertising needs. The magazine is already read by the key decision-makers and industry buyers. We intend to expand its industry penetration through broader national and increased international distribution.

Editorial Support
You will have noticed some of the editorial additions to Facility Manager in recent issues. These include the IAAM Update which features news about many members and member facilities; Workplace, which takes a look at the issues many of us face in our daily routines; and, Member Spotlight, which acknowledges the benchmarks and accomplishments of special people within the industry.

The magazine will add three new focuses that should be of specific interest to readers – Sales and Marketing, Events and Operations and Business and Finance. These areas are the essence of every facility operation and Facility Manager is privileged to have access to the industry’s and academe’s best and brightest managers and practitioners to share their expertise, knowledge and case histories to advance the collective knowledge of the public assembly facility industry.

You will notice new editorial by-lines as the partnership provides for two freelance-written stories per issue. Please respond favourably should these writers contact you to discuss an article. Despite these changes and improvements IAAM retains editorial control over the publication. The editorial calendar will continue to be developed by IAAM, and the final approval on magazine articles lies with IAAM.

I applaud Cliff Wallace, CFE, an IAAM past president, for his foresight 20 years ago when he played a significant role in evaluating the feasibility and then launching during his term as president, in 1985, our association magazine. Because he is seen as an acknowledged leader and for his role in the initial publication, it is only fitting that Cliff is profiled on the cover and in the inaugural issue.

It is an honour to serve as your president and to relaunch our association magazine that is to have new relevance and commercial application to our evolving industry. We do not intend to ignore our core audience and their business needs, but we also recognise that our publication must reflect the harder commercial edge the industry has inherited and the higher standards to which it holds its servants.

Read through this issue. Answer the question, “How do you like us now?” I know you won’t be reticent in sharing your thoughts. There are some attachments to the previous format, we respect that and would like to hear your comments. Building Member Value hasn’t been a straight-line exercise. I trust that over time this initiative will positively add to the body of amendments made to better serve your expanding need for qualitative, meaningful and timely support and information. .

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635 Fritz Dr.  Coppell, TX 75019 USA Phone: 972/906-7441 Fax: 972/906-7418