With this issue of Power Quality, there is a change of editorial responsibilities for the magazine. Phil Musser, previous editor-in-chief, is now chief technical editor for T&D World, where his technical knowledge will be used to further enhance that publication. Phil's excellent and diligent work on Power Quality has raised the level of editorial excellence for this magazine, and we thank him for his efforts.
But, change is inevitable…which leads us to this viewpoint. I will assume editorial responsibilities for Power Quality. I have followed the progression of this magazine from its infancy, when Intertec International published it, through its acquisition by Primedia Business Magazines & Media. I've noted that its maturity and editorial focus have made it one of the strongest voices of the power quality industry. Therefore, I am quite proud to be associated with Power Quality.
Those of you who are not readers of EC&M may not know me, so an introduction is in order. Currently, I am the editorial director of EC&M, CEE News, and Electrical Wholesaling Magazines and Conference Director for EC&M Seminars. Prior to the editorial director position, I was editor-in-chief of EC&M for 12 years.
My technical background includes a BSEE degree and positions at GE Wire & Cable (when GE was in that business) as Manager, Application Engineering, and L.K. Comstock Co., New York City electrical contractor, as Project Manager/Superintendent.
I mention my background not to promote myself, but to convey to you the type of people holding key editorial positions in Primedia's Electrical and Power Groups. People like Phil Musser, Mike Eby (Chief Editor of EC&M), and Rick Bush (Chief Editor of T&D World) have very strong technical backgrounds. Their main attribute is their ability to convey, in writing, complex and highly technical information in an easy-to-understand format. Engineers with good writing and public speaking skills are, indeed, very hard to find.
That said, how does this change affect you? Will the editorial focus change? What about subject matter? Will the magazine continue to touch all of your “hot buttons?”
In answering these questions, I must say that most editors, in trying to achieve focus, rely on a developed knowledge of their audience. This knowledge can stem from gut feeling based on personal experience, personal contact with people within the industry, or by personal observation made clearer by reader research. With Power Quality, this is not the product of a single person, namely the editor. Our editorial focus is the result of a committee of people, namely staff and contributing editors. These people have been active in the industry for years and kept abreast of all the latest developments in their respective fields of expertise.
Simply put, Power Quality will remain your source of technical information on power conditioning, test and measurement, and installation and application guidelines. Maintaining this standard now becomes my responsibility, which I consider an honor and a privilege. If you're planning to attend the upcoming PowerSystems World Conference in Chicago on October 29th through the 31, please stop by our booth and say hello. I'd love the chance to listen to your thoughts about the industry in general and Power Quality in particular.