Connecting with each other is central to our well being and success. Whether it's a connection with a spouse, family members, an employer, coworkers, or a community, our relationships define our lives.For five decades, Control Engineering has covered connections in the control and automation market.
Connecting with each other is central to our well being and success. Whether it’s a connection with a spouse, family members, an employer, coworkers, or a community, our relationships define our lives.
For five decades, Control Engineering has covered connections in the control and automation market. Founded as a platform to connect automation pioneers in the 1950s, the magazine has covered the ever-changing network of engineers, industries, controls, computers, processes, and devices.
Recognizing the importance of these connections, Control Engineering editors rang in 1998 as the “Year of the Network.” Last January, I predicted that 1999 would be the “Year of the Internet.” Nothing too dramatic in that prediction—Internet usage has surged worldwide and close to 90% of our readers surf the web on a regular basis.
What I didn’t know about my “Year of the Internet” comment was how prophetic it would be to me, personally and professionally. Beginning this month, I embark on a new position as Control Engineering’s worldwide director of web development and integrated marketing. I’m extremely excited about the opportunity to improve and expand our menu of information on the Control Engineering web site at www.controleng.com .
In my role as editorial director of Control Engineering and Control Engineering International , I’ve enjoyed a very special connection with readers throughout the world. I cherish these relationships and am thankful for the personal and professional growth I’ve experienced. And, it’s been the most fun job I’ve ever had!
Regular readers will know that I’m an admirer of Bill Gates, ceo and cofounder of Microsoft, so perhaps it’s fitting that I quote his new book to explain why I’m making this change. One of the “business lessons” in “Business @ the Speed of Thought” tells readers: Most transactions will become self-service digital transactions, and intermediaries will evolve to add value or perish.
As successful as Control Engineering has been, we are an “intermediary” in the business of automation. Our connection with you, the reader, must evolve to add ever-more value or we will, as Mr. Gates predicts, perish.
One of the ways we can add more value is through our Internet offerings. The traffic on our web site is growing exponentially. We expect that to continue with the new products we will develop. Our objective is that Control Engineering and Control Engineering Online deliver all the information and services you need to optimize job performance.
A large part of the pleasure I’ve derived from my job has been in working with the best editorial staff in the industry. In April, out of a field of thousands of magazines, Control Engineering was recognized by Business Marketing magazine as being one of the eight “Best of the Business Press.”
To lead the editorial team to even greater heights, I’m pleased to announce Mark Hoske as our new editor-in-chief. Mark has served as our managing editor for the past two years, after joining Control Engineering as news editor in May 1994. Mark has been an active member of the automation industry as an author and speaker; he was key to the launch of our product tabloid, Process Instrumentation Digest ; and he has been invaluable as a catalyst to our own internal process changes.
Mark and I will continue to work closely together as we evolve Control Engineering for the new millenium. You’ll hear more from Mark next month on this page.
As for me, I thank you for the great connections we’ve had and will continue to develop.
Author Information
Jane S. Gerold, Editorial Director [email protected]
