In March 2013 I received an e-mail from an outside recruiter for an editorial position at a company called PennWell. The position was Web Editor at a brand called Vision Systems Design. I visited the website and learned more about the magazine and its purview, and quickly realized I needed to Google most of the terms I saw. What is machine vision, was among the first searches I made.
I ended up taking the job and starting learning as much as I could from the late Andy Wilson. Andy was the founding editor of the brand and was a relentlessly curious and hilarious character. Alongside Andy was Judy Leger, who was also with VSD since it began and knows seemingly everyone in the machine vision space. This was daunting at first, but it also helped immensely. Through Judy I got to meet so many interesting, brilliant people and learn more about the market from a whole other side of things.
Over the years I became more versed and invested in machine vision and automation, learning all the while and doing my best to provide our readers with the most up-to-date, informative technical content possible. When John Lewis came aboard to replace Andy as Editor in Chief, I became Editor and began learning even more, from both a technical understanding and a writing and editing standpoint. No better mentor could have fallen into my lap at this time. John helped me get up to par and become worthy of being Editor in Chief of the magazine but helped me learn so much more than just that.
Eventually I became the official Editor in Chief, but at this point I already had my hand in everything related to the brand, and then some. (I once even went to England to cover the Farnborough Air Show for another brand…) It has been a challenging, rewarding, and priceless experience for me as an editor and a person. I have traveled to many places I may have never otherwise gone, met so many wonderful people from countries all over the globe, all while trying all the local beer and food along the way! And of course, I’ve had many other amazing co-workers along the way.
By the time you read this, I will have spent my last day as Editor in Chief of Vision Systems Design. I’ve accepted another position outside of the company that will help me take yet another exciting step in my career. I’d like to thank everyone who has ever read the magazine, who I’ve ever met at a show, spoken with on the phone, or even exchanged emails with over the years.
Luckily for me, I am staying in the machine vision and automation space. If you’d like to stay in touch, please find my LinkedIn profile here (bit.ly/VSD-JJC) or reach out to my personal e-mail at [email protected]. You will undoubtedly be left in capable hands on Vision Systems Design. The train must keep rolling!
It has been my pleasure!
