I THINK DR. SEUSS WAS RIGHT about the February 24, 2017
importance of being a life-long learner. If
you are not learning something new every
day, you are missing out.
The importance of continuing education
in the business community is especially im-
portant when we consider the fast-paced
changes in technology, the challenges of a
sluggish economy and the obstacles that
come with communicating across multiple
mediums. Continuing education is one of
the reasons professionals attend conferences
and retreats, and Executive Ink’s staff is no
exception. Since the beginning of the year,
we have attended both a company retreat
and a print industry conference to continue
learning while growing our business. The staff of West Virginia Executive
(WVE) and all the members of the Van-
daleer family of websites converged in
Parkersburg for a weekend-long retreat.
We spent two very long, very busy days
analyzing and retooling our print and
online magazines. We learned from each
other—and we learned a lot.
Our team left the retreat with renewed
enthusiasm and a fresh approach for
how to attain our goals while constantly
pursuing our mission of shining a positive
light on West Virginia.
“The more that
you read, the more
things you will know.
The more that
you learn, the more
places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss
6
WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
March 27, 2017
A lot of industries require a certain
number of continuing education hours per
year, but magazine publishing is not one of
them. Executive Ink, as a small but nimble
company, tends to learn on the fly. While
there is a lot to be said for that, this year,
our 19th year in circulation, we decided
to take a new approach and spend three
education-packed days at the Super Niche
Media Event in Charlotte, NC.
Jennifer Jett Prezkop, our managing
editor, and I decided to head south a day
early to enjoy a little shopping and outdoor
adventure. In the past, Jennifer and I have
had the opportunity to hike to the top of
Spruce Knob and enjoy the view at Lindy
Point, experiencing the beauty that is West
Virginia. While we were in Charlotte, we
hiked to the top of Crowders Mountain
for a bird’s-eye view of the Tar Heel State.
The hike was a little less than a mile uphill
to the summit, which stands at 1,625 feet.
With our hiking adventure behind us
and our minds open to new ideas, we made
our way into downtown Charlotte for the
conference. We sat through information-
al and thought-provoking sessions led by
print industry speakers, and we networked
with other publishers and editors from
around the U.S. It’s uncommon to cross
paths with someone else in our industry
in West Virginia, so the relationships we
built and information we gathered will be
pivotal in moving WVE to the next level.
I know how easy it can be to get com-
fortable in your career and forget to push
the limits—and yourself—to be better.
That’s why I’m challenging you to get out
from behind your desk and go to that next
event, whether it’s a business after hours
reception, a company retreat or a confer-
ence, and do it with an open mind and a
goal of learning. You never know when
you’ll meet that next big client, learn about
a solution to a challenge you have or help
someone else overcome an obstacle with
your own personal experience.