Reflections on friends, change and a golden opportunity. (Parting Thoughts).

As I write this, it is my last day as publisher of the San Fernando Valley Business Journal. As such, this is my opportunity to reflect on the three years since my arrival here -- the people I've met, the work that I've done, and the changes that I've noticed.

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In 1999, when I first considered joining the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, I went on a search engine and typed in "San Fernando Valley and the business community." Of course, nothing came up other than lists of restaurants and names of companies with the words "San Fernando" in them.

Three-and a-half years ago, there wasn't much information to review.

So I placed calls to the only two people I knew in the Valley business community -- Cathy Maguire, whom I worked with at The Gas Company, and Bud Brown, whom I'd worked with at GTE, two knowledgeable and influential business leaders. I asked them to tell me about the San Fernando Valley, and I asked for their opinions as to whether I should work for the Business Journal.

They convinced me this was a market ripe with opportunity and they were right.

I was delighted to receive my first business invitation -- this one was actually mailed to me, you know, with my name on the outside of the envelope. It was from the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley. It would also be my first opportunity to meet many Valley business leaders in one room.

Armed with the Economic Alliance board of directors roster, off I went.

I could not have asked for a better introduction to a community that has truly become my home.

One of the first people I met was Rickey Gelb from Gelb Enterprises. He is a kind person who offered his support both to me and the paper and became a friend in the process. I also met Bob Scott, another Valley leader to whom I'm grateful for both his generous assistance and support; and of course, Bonny Herman, president of VICA, and Bruce Ackerman, CEO of the Economic Alliance, who have been invaluable in helping to introduce me and integrate me into the business community.

During my first few months, it was time to implement some new ideas. We wanted the Business Journal to be some type of catalyst for bringing business people together under common themes.

As we considered the business climate at that time -- it was early in 2000 -- we developed a series of breakfast meetings to present information to business owners and executives on such diverse topics as e-commerce, marketing strategies for small businesses, and business financing.