This month, FoodService Director celebrates its 15th anniversary. For those of you interested in such things, we made our debut at the 1988 Natl. Restaurant. Assn. Show, the brainchild of three figures of enormous stature in this business: Morgan Browne, Jeff Berlind and Walter Schruntek.
I never knew Mr. Browne, having joined the FSD staff in 1999 when it was owned by Bill Communications (which itself was purchased by our present owner, VNU Business Media, in 1994). Jeff Berlind had also moved on to other ventures by that time, though I first met him at the 2000 NRA show. Walter, of course, hired me four years ago, grooming me to take over the publication he founded and nursed to robust health by the mid-1990s.
If FoodService Director is anything, it's consistent. For example, Vol. 1, No. 1 FoodService Director, May 1988, ran this headline for its top story: "Solid-waste disposal costs threaten B&I operating budgets." Below that appeared a story on how "Breakfasts are on-the-rise in schools." Inside the magazine, I found this healthcare article: "At Eastwood Hospital—Treating patients as guests."
Quite a find: And then this gem, towards the back of the magazine: "When a salesman drops in…", which looks like a primer on buyer-seller relationships, written by none other than Mike Giuffrida, HFM's executive director.
I don't think I need to comment any further on consistency, do I?
Several FSD staffers have come and gone over the years, as one would expect in any workplace setting, let alone a magazine staff. With due respect to those I'm not aware of, this roster includes the likes of:
Jeff Hirshfeld, who replaced Steve and whose work and reputation I admired and aspired to while working for another publication.
Jess Grossberg, who served as publisher of FSD as well as sister publication Restaurant Business.
Amanda Chater, who joined the staff in 1996 and became News Editor just prior to my arrival.
Shari Fang, the magazine's first computer graphics designer who created our USA Today–like pictographs.
Jim Haines, who took over that position and still does the pictographs.
Day One-ers: And then there are those who, as Walter used to say, "were here from Day One":
Karen Weisberg, our original Features Editor.
Kathy McCann, art director.
The rest of our current office staff includes Mary Lassen, whose tenure with VNU actually dates to 1985, when she joined the staff of Restaurant Business; Dawn Van Dyke, who has been the assoc. art director (at first part-time and now full-time) since 1992; and Jennifer Alexis, news editor, who joined us last fall.
I often wondered—as the so-called "new guy" to the FSD staff in 1999—how I might live up to the legacy Walter created and the expectations our readership and advertising supporters demanded. I knew then, though, that my pursuit of those goals would be eased by the "supporting cast" whose sum total of years serving FSD actually exceeds my age (by just a year or two). In other words, I was confident—and remain so—that should I become faced with a problem of nearly any nature in "putting FSD to bed" every month, I wouldn't have to go or shout far to obtain necessary and sage advice from those who know better.
So on the occasion of FSD's 15th anniversary and 16th year of publishing (and counting), I want to say, simply, "Thanks to everyone on the FSD staff, both past and present, for all your help." It's been an incredible (and incredibly fun) challenge in assuming the editorial lead of this publication, and I look forward to upholding the standards laid down by so many knowledgeable, admirable and legendary professionals.