It's Nice to Meet You

Our founding publisher, Beth Ann Drake, who launched this publication and built it into the top new-home magazine in the market, has moved on to a new challenge.

My job as we move into our second full year will be to build on what Beth Ann started. And I can't wait to get started.

If you're in the homebuilding industry, you may know me from the Tampa Tribune, where I worked in the real estate division. During my time at the Tribune, I also became very involved with the Tampa Bay Builders Association, where I served on numerous committees. I'm slated to serve as co-chair of TBBA's Parade of Homes in 2007.

Like most of you who are reading this publication, I grew up somewhere else. In my case, it was Long Island, N.Y. Prior to my Tribune stint, I was in advertising sales at The Press of Atlantic City, a daily newspaper in New Jersey. And yes, I was thrilled to finally get an opportunity to move to sunny Florida after those northern winters.

Since most readers of Tampa Bay Homebuyer are like me-people who are seeking a new life in the Sunshine State-I think I can relate to what you're going through and can help make the magazine even more useful for relocators. After all, I've been there, done that.

And I'll have plenty of help. Brook Patterson, who has been an account executive at Tampa Bay Homebuyer for the past year, will be an integral part of taking the publication to a new level, and she'll be doing it with a new title and new responsibilities. So, in recognition of her outstanding work, Account Executive Brook Patterson is now Associate Publisher Brook Patterson. I think we'll make a great team.

I'm also thrilled to be working with Sara Minton, who has the sometimes thankless job of compiling the reams of new-community data that grace every issue of Tampa Bay Homebuyer. Our listings are the most comprehensive that can be found anywhere-and Sara is the person who puts it all together. I'm also very impressed with the graphics team that makes Tampa Bay Homebuyer beautiful as well as useful.

But I'm particularly impressed by our parent company. CurtCo Media is one of the hottest magazine publishing companies in the country, with such titles at Robb Report and Worth magazine in its portfolio. Two years ago, CurtCo acquired Sarasota-based Gulfshore Media, which publishes SARASOTA Magazine and Gulfshore Life in Naples, as well as other Homebuyer magazines in Jacksonville, Orlando, Sarasota and Naples.

One thing all these publications have in common-including the Homebuyer group-is quality. You'd need a warehouse to store all the awards for graphic and editorial excellence these publications have won over the years.

So, I'm glad to be here. I'm looking forward to a terrific year and am eager to hear from you with suggestions on how Tampa Bay Homebuyer can serve you even better.