A Vote ... and a Change

"And I'll meet you further on up the road"  - Bruce Springsteen

We repeatedly talk about engaging the consumer, and one such initiative has truly hit home with a member of CGT. For its third year running, the Gap has conducted its "casting call," inviting babies and kids to enter a nationwide contest giving them the chance to become the next face of babyGap and GapKids. Guess what? Our very own Kara Romanow's 6-year-old daughter Carly was selected this year as one of the finalists! Voting began on Dec. 8 and runs through Dec. 21. Hopefully, there is still time for you to vote when this issue lands on your desk. Please visit www.Gap.com/castingcall and vote for the redhead!

And now for a change. . . you may have read by now that Edgell Communications, the parent company of CGT and eight other business-to-business publications, announced that it is implementing a reorganization of its editorial staff and strategy across its brands company-wide. The reorganization will also consolidate leadership of several core brands. Thus, I will be leaving you in the very capable hands of CGT's new Publisher, Albert Guffanti. CGT veteran Ali Ackerman will take over as Editor, while Kara Romanow remains on as Executive Editor and Alarice Padilla continues as Assistant Editor. This change in strategy is slated to align with the changing needs of the market.

As for my own change, I am going to embrace our friend Gus Whalen's philosophy on regularly asking "What's next?" As Chairman of the Warren Featherbone Foundation, Whalen wisely says, "To me, that implies there will be a 'next' and that it will be challenging and hopeful."

It's been an exciting few years for me, and I value my experience and everyone that I have worked with and had the privilege of meeting. Special thanks to my fellow "bird dawg" fans!