On Nov. 14, Metal Construction News, Metal Architecture and The Metal Directory and Resource Guide all became part of Kenilworth Media Inc., Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. I am very excited about this transition and what it means for our brands after having been at the forefront of the metal construction industry for 42 years.
Metal Construction News and Metal Architecture start out on new, exciting paths
The past three years have been an interesting ride, though. It has been a period filled with anxiety, uncertainty, anger and frustration. We all ran the entire gamut of the human emotional experience during the pandemic and its continuing aftermath. We all faced disruptions in distribution channels, material costs, workforce and policy, as well as our own personally unique challenges.
This recent acquisition was the opportunity we need to set ourselves on that evolutional path, and help us grow, develop and continue our legacy as leaders in the industry.
There is good news as we continue through the post-pandemic period. Most of the issues that impacted the construction industry have subsided and seemed to have begun to stabilize. According to the Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction backlog in November reached its highest level since 2019, with commercial, institutional and health care market segments leading the way.
Like the metal construction industry, the publishing industry also faced those challenges, but our industry had 30 years of revolutionary change through the rise of electronic media prior to the pandemic. You would be hard pressed to identify an industry that changed as much as publishing.
Throughout life, the only constant is change, and we’re proud of the way we’ve navigated both the new publishing universe and the challenges of the pandemic. Adapting is how we define ourselves and are able to respond to the demands of our world, to find opportunities that can take us on a journey of development. We redefine our strengths, values and characteristics while simultaneously, vigorously holding to the purpose and mission that is our very foundation.
This recent acquisition was the opportunity we need to set ourselves on that evolutional path, and help us grow, develop and continue our legacy as leaders in the industry. We will continue to serve all of you with the highest professionalism, standards and quality you have to come expect.
Those things won’t change. What will? We will be able to provide a larger footprint in the construction industry, integrate better efficiencies and expanded capabilities to continue to provide the highest quality content and services our audience and advertising community expect. In short, we will be able to do more and better serve the industry. I look forward to expanding our editorial reach and capabilities, providing enhanced touch points for our audience to engage with one another, as well as providing an overall greater audience and reader experience.
More than 40 years ago, my father, John S. Lawrence, and his business partner, Sam Milnark, built the foundation that made up our core values, purpose and mission. That foundation still stands, and we still abide by those principles. They are still the center and beating heart of the brands, and every one of us here.
I want to thank all of you for your loyal and continued readership, business and support. I am looking forward to having the brands Metal Construction News, Metal Architecture and The Metal Directory and Resource Guide continue to serve as your dedicated and premier metal construction industry partners.
For more information about the acquisition, please see the press release here.
