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PUBLICATION'S KNOWLEDGE A RESULT OF EXPERIENCED LEADERS

Posted On: Oct. 29, 1997 12:00 AM CST

This special anniversary issue celebrates the movers and shakers, history, trends, and future possibilities in the industries we cover: risk management, employee benefits and commercial insurance and reinsurance.

We hope this collection of interviews and features is informative and thought-provoking whether you've been in risk management or benefits for three years or 30 years.

In reviewing the first 30 years of Business Insurance, I am grateful to all the people whose contributions brought this magazine to where it is today.

As in any business, what makes us successful is our people. We are fortunate to have had over the years many staff members whose knowledge and ability are second to none.

We are even more fortunate to have many staff members who have been with Business Insurance for more than a decade, in several cases two decades.

I joined the magazine in 1985 and yet am a relative newcomer compared with some members of our staff.

Among BI's current editorial, sales and promotion staff, five people have been with our magazine for more than 20 years; two have been with BI for more than 15 years; and 12 have at least 10 years of tenure.

Two members of the Business Insurance staff to whom I am especially indebted are:

* Kathryn J. McIntyre, publisher and editorial director, who more than anyone else is responsible for guiding BI to where it is today.

Kathryn joined BI in 1977 as a reporter and quickly moved up the magazine's management ranks, culminating in being named editor in 1980 at age 28. She remained editor until 1992, when she was named to her current position as publisher and editorial director of the magazine.

As not only a journalist but also a woman trying to get a foot in the door of the male-dominated world of insurance, her job was no small challenge. But she rose to that challenge and in doing so has won the respect of the insurance industry for her tenacity, integrity and journalistic acumen.

A lot of doors are open to our staffers today because of Kathryn's efforts.

* Editor-at-Large Jerry Geisel, who has covered Washington for BI since 1977. Jerry not only has covered hundreds of legislative and regulatory developments affecting employers, but uncannily recalls the page number and issue in which we reported on many of them.

His knowledge of benefits issues gives readers invaluable insights and has helped establish the credibility of the magazine with sources in Washington and elsewhere.

Jerry's experience also has been integral in guiding other staff members and assisting with many special projects.

Many of you also know our two senior editors who have been with the magazine for 15 of its 30 years: Douglas McLeod and Stacy Shapiro.

Of course, there are many other people on whom I depend to put out the magazine each week.

Our reporters are our public face. They develop relationships within the industry and with our readers, do the legwork and reporting on the news and trends that our readers depend on to make informed business decisions.

Less visible, but no less integral, is our copy editing staff. They strive to keep our prose polished, our facts straight and to make our headlines zing.

Other critical members of the team include our senior managers, graphics staff, directory editors, salespeople, promotion staff, circulation, production and administrative staff.

Now that you know who's really behind this magazine each week, we thought you might like to see what they look like. Photographs of the staff appear on page 128.

As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, I raise my glass to toast all the people within Business Insurance past and present who have made it possible.