Retirement Lures Vern Henry Away

Advanstar Communications corporate editorial director Vern Henry accepting the ASBPE Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001
Advanstar Communications' Corporate Editorial Director Vernon Henry retired Tuesday.

“…Vern created and led Advanstar's Editorial Audit & Review program, which became the industry standard for an ongoing editorial improvement process,” said Advanstar's CEO Joe Loggia in a letter to employees earlier this month.

Loggia continued:
Over the years, the Editorial Audit program has helped our editors and publishers deliver editorial that is relevant and of the highest quality for our audiences. Vern played an integral role in making sure that we delivered on our editorial commitment to our customers.
In addition to his work on the Editorial Audits, Vern has assisted in the development of several start-up publications, initiated an ongoing editorial training program, developed and implemented the Magazine of the Year competition and created a college student intern program in conjunction with American Business Media.
Under his watch, Advanstar has compiled an impressive record in the Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Awards. Since 1994, Advanstar has had 27 winners and 55 finalists, including a Grand Neal and a Grand Neal runner-up.
The internal memo highlight's Vern's career:
  • 2005 American Business Media Crain Award for a distinguished editorial career
  • Recipient of the American Society of Business Publication Editors Lifetime Achievement Award, 2001
  • Twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
  • Inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame
“Vern's contributions to Advanstar have been invaluable and I want to thank him for his more than 25 years of dedication and hard work. We will all miss his passion for journalism and wealth of editorial expertise,” Joe wrote in the memo.

The ASBPE National President, Warren Hersch, said this about ASBPE’s 2001 LAA winner:
Henry created and led Advanstar's editorial audit and review program, which gained renown as a process for achieving ongoing editorial improvement. During his 25 years at Advanstar, Henry also assisted in the development of several start-up publications, initiated an ongoing editorial training program, developed and implemented the Magazine of the Year competition and created a college student intern program in conjunction with American Business Media. Under his watch, Advanstar garnered numerous industry awards.
Colleague Abe Peck, director of Business to Business Communication said:
For a dozen years, I was Vern's co-auditor as Advanstar's Magazine Reviews evolved into Brand Audits. Over time, I christened Vern "the shop steward," in recognition of his support for his editorial and design colleagues and his great commitment to their continued success. Nobody has more integrity and more respect for our dynamic craft.
ASBPE wishes Vern all the best in retirement.

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Comments:
Best wishes to Vern. I talked with him a few years back. I never met a nicer man.
# posted by Blogger Jim Carper : February 22, 2010 at 6:19 PM
 
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