Mobility Management reached out to me and told me about what she and Karen Cavallo had in mind when it came to the yet-to-be unveiled HME Business magazine. They were putting together the first issue, and the more I learned, the more I grew fascinated. Even though I had started this new career path, the more I thought about the HME industry, the more intrigued I became.
From an editorial perspective, it was the whole package: an attractive readership; a compelling marketplace; a mixture of government regulation and technology; major demographic changes — I knew this readership would have to wrangle with a lot, and editing a magazine that could help them do that would be very rewarding.
Moreover, the fact that Karen was leading gave me much confidence. Relaunching magazines is tricky, and the more Karen and I talked the more reassured I became that this magazine had the right publishing leadership to pull this off.
So, I dove back into editing! It seemed like a crazy idea at the time, but I’m glad I took that plunge. Sure, the industry has faced many challenges, but I’d like to think this magazine has helped its readers evolve through those challenges, and, with webinars, podcasts, e-newsletters, and other online media offerings, we’ve evolved as well. Directing all of that has been Karen.
Now, as Karen steps into a well-earned retirement, it’ll be my job to look at industry trends and determine how the magazine should respond to them — just as Karen has in the past.
I’m sad to see my friend Karen go; I’m also excited to see her step into this exciting chapter in her life; and most of all, I know that I have some big shoes to fill.
David Kopf
Incoming Publisher and Executive Editor
HME Business