Page 66 - Demo

Back in 2015, when I first had the idea for this magazine, it was the beginning of an immense amount of development planning and construction that would dramatically change the face and very nature of our downtown Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas Boulevard area. Message from The Publisher64 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLESFor our part, Ann and I are delighted to be continuing with the magazine in an advisory role. And, of course, we'll continue to publish the other four local Fort Lauderdale neighborhood magazines that we%u2019ve been publishing for many years now. Building this magazine into what it is today has been a labor of love for us. To the many talented and incredibly committed members of the community who have contributed to its%u2019 success over the years...'Thank you!' We are ever grateful for your help and support and very proud of what we%u2019ve accomplished together. And to our readers and fellow residents throughout our Fort Lauderdale downtown, Boulevard and Isles, it has been our privilege to serve you. See you on the Boulevard!Living just a block off Las Olas at the time and as publisher of a number of Fort Lauderdale HOA and civic association magazines, I couldn%u2019t help but see that there would be a need for reliable, credible information for residents and businesses about the coming transformation of our quaint Las Olas and quiet downtown into a vibrant, growing and dynamic urban area which would attract a huge influx of new, upwardly mobile residents. Working along with my amazing wife and partner, Ann Mihaiu, and our long-time friend and talented designer, James Polo, we created the first issue with a mission to bring our Las Olas community a magazine produced and published BY Las Olas people, FOR Las Olas people and exclusively ABOUT our Las Olas Boulevard.The Las Olas Company and the Las Olas Association were the very first organizations we approached with the idea. Both immediately recognized the merits of such a magazine%u2019s value to the community and signed on as our first magazine sponsors. Their support has been unwavering, invaluable and greatly appreciated. And I%u2019m extremely proud that they continue to sponsor the magazine to this day.As our audience, reach and readership has grown, we%u2019ve been joined by other key contributors such as VISIT LAUDERDALE, the Downtown Development Agency Fort Lauderdale (DDA FTL), various HOAs and civic associations from the Isles, prominent city leaders and a virtual %u2018Who%u2019s Who!%u2019 of ad sponsors who have all helped make this magazine the showcase publication for our fabulous Las Olas Boulevard. With the magazine now going into its 10th year and our initial mission accomplished, it%u2019s time for the next chapter for LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES Magazine. And that next chapter will be written by the new owners and and a new publisher who will bring the vision, perspectives and resources to elevate the design, content and influence of the magazine for the benefit of the entire Las Olas Boulevard community. Beginning with the upcoming January/February issue, our friend and colleague Tracy Roloff, whom many of you will already know from her work in the community, will take the helm as new publisher. Tracy is an extraordinarily talented and knowledgeable magazine professional who is committed to taking LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES Magazine to the next level of excellence commensurate with the stature and fabulous lifestyles of Fort Lauderdale's world-famous Las Olas Boulevard.