Editor’s letter

The journey here…

Six years ago, I began my career with Business View Publishing by applying for the top editorial position – Editor in Chief. At the time, I had 10 years of experience working from home as a professional writer and editor for magazines in Canada and the U.S. In addition to 30 years combined as a 3^rd generation co-owner in our family’s paint & wallcovering business and owner of my own office supply store, which included a Hallmark franchise and Sears Catalogue agency. So plenty of hands-on expertise in business management, customer service, working with the construction trades, franchising, marketing, interviewing, feature writing, and proofing literally thousands of pages of magazine copy. Plus a relaxed communication style that I have often been told “puts people at ease.”

I was certain I was a shoo-in for the job. It was down to two candidates… a talented Florida-based contender and me, “a nice Canadian woman” with potential. That was in 2014. Suffice it to say, the position went to “the local guy.” I was gutted.

But persistent.

To the point of suggesting to Business View Publisher Marcus VandenBrink that perhaps I could do some freelance articles for the magazine? Maybe conduct a few interviews during the busy time? Marcus agreed and I started by writing one or two features a month, which soon became a couple a week, as well as interviewing remotely for our Business View Caribbean and Business View Oceania titles. Social media was a growing part of the business and I took that on with gusto – loving the opportunity to showcase all the amazing people I’d been speaking with and the innovative companies and cities I’d been writing about.

My role expanded behind the scenes, until I eventually earned the title Associate Editor and Social Media Manager. At that point I was also reaching out to our featured businesses and communities – sending links to their published features and custom press releases for them to share far and wide. I still love that part; hearing how much they like the article we created and what a pleasure it is to work with us. And when there is an issue, we find it just as rewarding to find a solution that makes everyone happy.

Over time, the spirit of collaboration and communication among all our amazing team members here at BVM has evolved into a family kind of atmosphere. Even though we’re all based in different locations, different countries, we rock and roll together for a common goal. Making Business View the very best it can be.

Every month at Business View Caribbean, we celebrate companies that exemplify resilience, team building, innovation, determination, and unrelenting hard work in every sector of the economy. And we especially honor all the fabulous people of the Island nations, who are meeting life’s challenges with positivity – and that heartwarming Caribbean smile. 😊

I am so proud to be leading this team into the new year as Editor in Chief of Business View! I literally started from the bottom and worked my way up in the company, as have so many that you’ll read about in our pages. And it’s something I will never take for granted. Every chance I have to speak with one of you, and hear the story of your success, I consider a privilege and time well spent.

As we eagerly get ready to put 2020 behind us, it would be good to remember the silver linings that came out of it. And let’s look forward to keeping that positive momentum going forward in 2021. Cheers!