Hi, I'm the new guy. Really new, actually - as I write this, I'm starting my third day on the job. By the time you read it, I'll be a grizzled veteran with more than a month under my belt.

Truth to tell, some of my friends in publishing will tell you that I've trended a bit toward the grizzled side for years. The important thing is that I don't feel the slightest bit grizzled. What I do feel is thrilled to be joining the team that produces this superb magazine every month, excited about what lies ahead, and humbled to succeed Robert L. Whiddon as Editor in Chief. When he passed away in July, the magazine lost a talented writer and editor, and the benefit adviser community lost a unique voice.

Nonetheless, the team persevered, as strong teams do. In particular, Associate Editor Elizabeth Galentine played a critical role in keeping things together, earning a battlefield promotion to Managing Editor as a result. And as always, readers benefitted greatly from the full range of talent and experience contributed by the staff of our sister publication, Employee Benefit News.

A bit of background on me. I'm joining the EBA team after spending 22 years at Thompson Publishing Group, a D.C.-based legal/regulatory publisher. Beginning with a top-selling guide to COBRA compliance and administration in 1986, I created Thompson's family of "big blue books" on health and welfare and retirement plans - covering 401(k) plans, cafeteria plans, fringe benefits, HIPAA, coordination of benefits, self-funding and more.

While we created those information services primarily for plan sponsors, we soon discovered that, pretty much by accident (or by brilliant marketing, the marketing folks assured me), we were selling a lot of books to benefits consultants, attorneys and even brokers. So first of all, thank you for buying those books and advancing my career. Secondly, I'm no stranger to the field. I start this job with a modest degree of knowledge about what's important to you and your clients and what you need to know to excel at what you do.

But I need to know more - a lot more - if I'm ever going to measure up to the man who preceded me as Editor in Chief. What keeps you up at night? What are your plans for growing your business in 2010 and beyond?

Getting there will take some time. But it will go a lot quicker with your help. I'm looking forward to meeting you, perhaps at an industry event, or by phone or e-mail. In the months to come, I'll be calling some readers to chat about what we can do better. In the meantime, if you have an idea or an observation, please drop me an e-mail, at john.ortman@sourcemedia.com.

.