In the wake of disaster--from hurricanes to earthquakes to economic Armageddon--folks want to reach out to other folks. We want to help, and to feel part of a community. We want solidarity. Last night's American Business Media mixer at Latitude was a very visual reminder of the state of the industry.
The room was swollen with publishers, editors and designers from across the N.Y. B2B spectrum mingling and catching up with past collegues, like I did with min alum Anthony DeRico--now at Nielsen Business Media. Penton Media was well represented by the infamous Rich Santos, who caught up with the Vital Business Media boys: Prescott Shibles, Mitch Speers and Alex McGrath. Crain's Bob Felsenthal, Matt Schwartz, ABM's Nick Ferrari and John Holden were all on hand to kiss babies; a holiday-like air of goodwill permeated the space.
"It's like a mixer for grown-ups," marveled one ABM staffer at the senior-level crowd with chins up and glasses raised in the face of troubled times. Even when the chips are down, B2B really is the friendliest branch of publishing!
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