Business View Magazine | December 2020

2 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 USA Canada Caribbean Oceania Email for all inquiries: info@businessviewmagazine.com WWW. BUSINESSVIEWMAGAZINE .COM 2422 Palm Ridge Road, Suite 820 Sanibel FL, 33957 239.220.5554 CONTACT US 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 3rd 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 Caribbean and 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. This December, we are thrilled to bring you our biggest issue ever! That’s right, it’s on your screen now… over 400 fabulous pages celebrating resilience, team building, innovation, determination, and unrelenting hard work in every sector of the North American economy. And 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 all the positives that came out of it. And let’s look forward to keeping that momentum going forward in 2021. Cheers! Editor in Chief Lorie Lee Steiner ResearchDirectors Paul Payne Brendan McElroy Lisa Curry Thomas Hiley Gray Goldin Matt Savelli ProductionManager/ Digital Strategist Jon Bartlow Vice President of Business Development Matthew Mitchell Director of Administration Vicki Lewis Creative Director Todd Calfee CGO Alexander Wynne-Jones Executive Publisher / CEO Marcus VandenBrink EDI TOR ’ S NOTES Lorie Lee Steiner Editor in Chief