SNEWS changes to grow Boulder, Colo., office

Closing out a year of successful new projects at SNEWS® meant it was time to reflect on the future and our roadmap to it. Looking back at the new management of the Outdoor Retailer Daily, OR Planning Guide and Snow Show Daily, plus adding a WinterSports news channel, growing Retail College and launching SNEWS TV, it was clear status quo was not good enough.

The first step in mapping a new course came with the hire in January of David Clucas as a fulltime editor based in the Boulder, Colo., office of Active Interest Media, SNEWS’ parent company (click here to read the story on Clucas as well as our good-bye to long-time contract editor Marcus Woolf).

David Clucas and Elizabeth Averbeck brainstorming ideas at our SNEWS Boulder headquarters — we do let our team out of their cubicles occasionally.

It didn’t take long to realize there was tremendous power in sharing office space, which creates a camaraderie and idea-generation unlike that when editors and management are spread far and wide – the SNEWS tradition. Having a Boulder-based team that can interact on a daily basis has already resulted in an improved ability to respond to industry needs and to generate energy for process improvement. Clucas, our sales manager Elizabeth Averbeck, and our marketing lead Andrea Neukom create a talented foundation around which we will continue to build.

Our next step involves a bit more of a dramatic restructuring of SNEWS itself. With the focus on Boulder and leveraging shared resources in design, IT, art and production offices there, we have made the difficult decision to eliminate the managing editor position at SNEWS.

Unfortunately, that meant eliminating not only a position, but also saying good-bye to a friend and long-time member of the SNEWS family, Wendy Geister. Her last day at SNEWS was March 4.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work for some of the best trade pubs and news organizations in the business, including SNEWS and Outdoor Retailer, over the last two decades,” said Geister. “During that time, I’ve learned a great deal from excellent industry mentors, and worked side-by-side with quite a few great folks.”

Geister, former contract editor Marcus Woolf, and SNEWS president Michael Hodgson had worked together since the ‘90s when all three were at Outdoor Retailer. Geister and Woolf joined Hodgson and editor-in-chief Therese Iknoian, along with two other Outdoor Retailer veterans Gene Treacy and Daisy LeDuc, in the launch of an expanded SNEWS business in August 2002. (Click here to read that story)

“With the experience I’ve amassed in the outdoor industry, I plan to continue to use my knowledge and expertise in editing, writing, product testing and project work,” Geister said. “I’m enthusiastic about this next chapter in my life and what the future holds. I’m looking forward to getting outside more and traveling, and am open to the new experiences I know are coming my way.”

Those wishing to contact Geister personally can do so at wendygeister@gmail.com or by phone 949-466-8256.

The elimination of the managing editor position doesn’t mean SNEWS is downsizing: Our focus is on continuing to build our Boulder-based team with strong business-reporting talent. Our first job opening, just posted, is for an assistant editor. The job posting can be found by clicking here .

–Michael Hodgson and Therese Iknoian