Early this week, I celebrated a quiet anniversary: On October 7, 2010, I introduced myself as the new editor of PublicCEO. For two years, you have taken time out of your days to support this experiment called PublicCEO. I owe you my gratitude.

I also owe you an update on what we’ve done in two years.

First, and most importantly, we continue to weather the Great Recession. Day in and day out, I am able to show up for work. And there’s no way to overstate the importance of staying in business and making payroll.

But being able to do my job has allowed me to examine what PublicCEO does well and could do better. I’ve helped oversee a redesign of the website – our main interface with you. We held a successful webinar about redistricting and are always looking for ways to improve our product.

I’m honored that more people from among California’s local governments and supporting industries are willing to share their expertise with us, and you. Their contributions help provide more valuable information and resources, allowing me to enhance the timeliness of our news aggregation.

I continue to scoop some of the major news outlets because tips and information that readers provide to PublicCEO.

I think that over the last two years, I’ve come to appreciate more and more that PublicCEO’s success – and continued success – is a collaborative effort.

At times, I’ve even benefitted by readers correcting mistakes I’ve made, or offering a difference of opinion. Such communication is invaluable, and I invite you to keep it coming.

Lastly, I’d like to acknowledge the friends I have made throughout the state as a result of my affiliation with PublicCEO. They came from local government associations such as the League of Cities, the California State Association of Counties, the California Special Districts Association, and the California Contract Cities Association. I’ve also become close with consultants and lawyers and lobbyists. They continue to prove to be invaluable resources to the success of this website.

So thank you to you all for two years at PublicCEO. I look forward to once again updating you all as I quietly celebrate my third year here as Editor.

Sincerely,

Dan Oney
Editor