North Coast Media, LLC

Through the eyes of a newbie: My first week at North Coast Media

By Angela Gibian, Marketing & Event Manager

What if no one talks to me? What if I am in over my head? What if I am late?

Starting a new job is always stressful, but my first week at North Coast Media (NCM) was an exciting whirlwind of learning, fun and flip-flops. Here is a breakdown of my first few days as the “newbie” at NCM.

Monday: Meet & Greets
During the interview process, I already felt pretty comfortable speaking with the North Coast Media staff I had met. I sensed that it was a good team or family of people who genuinely enjoyed working with each other. I was not wrong. On my first day I got a tour of the office, set up my cubicle (a window seat!) and was introduced to my new co-workers. Some of my teammates even took me out for a delicious lunch. During the rest of the day I learned a bit about each of our publications and I took on a few initial tasks to get my feet wet. Day 1: Check.

Tuesday: Content Rocks
My second day at NCM was filled with marketing, music, food, laughs and trying to remember a lot of names. This was the day I attended the “NCM Content Rocks” meeting at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I joined the NCM Content Team at the Aloft hotel, where we were shuttled off to the Rock Hall for a series of sessions led by a subject matter expert from the Poynter Institute. The speaker was engaging and spirited, and the group took away a lot of useful knowledge on content development and marketing tactics. (And I got to nerd out learning about new online tools that I had never used before)

Following an educational day at the Rock Hall, we were invited to Happy Hour at Margaritaville. We had drinks and played a game of “music bingo,” which was an enjoyable way to get know people. I spotted some surprising answers to “favorite band” and “desert island album” on the game cards. After Happy Hour we had a delicious dinner at Alley Cat Oyster Bar, where we chatted about the day’s activities. Finally, we ended the evening at Punch Bowl Social with some friendly competition in Ping-Pong and shuffleboard. At this point I couldn’t help but think, “I could get used to this,” while simultaneously thinking “I need to go to bed.”

Wednesday: The Nitty-Gritty
On the third day was when I really got a deep-dive into my role and the tasks at hand. I met with some of the publishers and started working on my first media planner for 2018. This is where I really began to learn about not only the specific publications, but also all of their different media partnership opportunities and offerings. Although at this point I was still working on turning the right way out of the elevator and remembering names, I hit the ground running and commenced on my first media planner outline. (Thank goodness I went to bed on time.)

Thursday: Finding A Groove
By Thursday I finally felt like I was starting to pick up what had been laid down in front of me for the first three days. I got off the elevator and went the right direction, I knew where to find my folders, and I was making great headway on my first media planner. I officially had about one-third of the names down and I was feeling much more confident in asking questions and trying to hunt down answers. I am on my way to finding my groove.

Friday: Flip-Flops
Friday. Friday. Friday. Who doesn’t love Friday? At NCM “Flip-Flop Fridays” mean comfortable clothing, flip-flops (if you choose) and a nice half-day of work. Of course, the first thing that happened when I arrived at the office was someone tried to sabotage me by putting donuts in the kitchen! After fighting the urge for a quick sugar rush, I got back to work on the media planner. I also met with another publishing team to get the details to begin working on a second publication’s planner. It was a busy morning — but not to worry — I started my weekend early and I was headed home to my dogs.

What a week!

By the time my first week ended, I was sure more than ever that I made the right move coming to NCM. The people here are fun, kind, intelligent and hardworking — the cream of the crop in my opinion. I am excited to face new challenges and reignite and develop my creative marketing skills, while continuing to contribute my logistical expertise and experience to the planning of different events. Although I still have a lot to learn, I feel like there is a bright future ahead for me as a part of this team.

Over the weekend I was fervent in telling my friends and family about my new job — bragging about all of the cool people I had met, and rubbing “Flip-Flop Fridays” in their faces.

Now, week two is about to begin and I’m looking forward to my next adventure…and no longer being the “newbie.”

Angela is a seasoned marketing professional who has worked in the nonprofit and for-profit space planning everything from test drives at the North American International Auto Show to major gala fundraisers. Now in her third week at NCM, she is no longer the “newbie” as our editorial team has expanded.

Golfdom and Landscape Management combine for 31 industry awards

CLEVELAND – May 11, 2017 – North Coast Media brands Golfdom and Landscape Management (LM) won 31 awards Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA) awards in Tampa, Florida, on May 4 — more total awards than any of their direct competitors.

The brands’ 31 combined awards were tops among all media companies serving the green industry.

Golfdom once again led all golf market publications with 16 awards, including 10 first place awards, five merit awards, and one “Best in Show” Gardner Award. The 16 TOCA awards matched the combined total won by the brand’s three top competitors.

LM claimed 15 awards, including four first place and 11 merit awards — taking home more hardware than any other brand in the landscape market for the 10th consecutive year. The brand remains the most-awarded industry publication in the 28-year history of TOCA.

“We’re incredibly proud of another haul of TOCA awards,” said NCM President and CEO Kevin Stoltman. “Both Golfdom and Landscape Management have outstanding teams, and these 31 awards are a testament to the incredible writing, design and overall work they have done over the past year.”

NCM staff members recognized for their work include VP of Graphic Design & Production Pete Seltzer, Editorial Director and LM Editor-in-Chief Marisa Palmieri, Golfdom Editor-in-Chief Seth Jones, Golfdom Associate Editor Grant Gannon, LM Associate Editor Dillon Stewart, LM Digital Media Content Producer Kelly Limpert, LM Art Director Tracie Martinez and many contributors.

TOCA annually recognizes members for excellence in writing, design, photography/AV, new media and special projects, and top winners in the marketing and publishing categories are named as Gardner Award winners.

The complete list of winnings for the two publications includes:

Golfdom

Design – First

Printed magazine / two-plus page design, advertising
“Hole of the Month” | Grant B. Gannon, Pete Seltzer

Design – Merit
Cover page design – printed magazines
“The sky is the limit” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video and Multimedia – Merit
Portrait/personality (photo of individual or group of individuals)
“Game On!” | Pete Seltzer, Matt Hawthorne

Photography, Video and Multimedia – Merit
Best single photo – use of stock art (anywhere in the magazine)
“The sky is the limit” | Pete Seltzer

Photography, Video and Multimedia – First
Best single photo – created by a TOCA member or freelancer commissioned by a TOCA member
“Pay up of go home” | Seth Jones

Photography, Video and Multimedia – First
Best print magazine cover (for stock photos, commissioned art, illustrations, typography, etc.)
“So you’re considering the dark side” | James Bennett, Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer

Special Projects – First
Writing for special projects
“A Tribute to the King” | Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer, Grant B. Gannon, Mark Woodward, Joel Jackson, Steve Wright, Karl Danneberger

Special Projects – First
Miscellaneous special publishing project
“The Fall Classic, Early Order Program Special” | Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer, Grant B. Gannon, Jared Nemitz

Special Projects – First
Special Event – Publishing
“The Golfdom Summit” | Kevin Stoltman, Pat Roberts, Seth Jones, Bill Roddy, Craig MacGregor

Writing – Merit
Series of columns by regular department columnist – commercial publications
“Keeping up with the Jones” | Seth Jones

Writing – First
Turf feature article – commercial publications
“The admiral of the ultradwarf” | Seth Jones

Writing – Merit
Product information article – commercial publications
“What’s new at GIE+Expo” | Seth Jones

Writing – First
Product information article – commercial publications
“Hidden beneath the GIS waves” | Ed Hiscock, Grant B. Gannon

Writing – Merit
Operations profile – commercial publications
“Reverse the Course” | Chris Lewis

Writing – First
Headline writing – commercial publications
“In-tents course management” | Curt Harler

Photography, video and Multimedia – Publishing
Gardner Award
“So You’re Considering the Dark Side” | Golfdom, North Coast Media, James Bennett, Seth Jones, Pete Seltzer

Landscape Management

Design – First
Cover page design – printed magazines
“LM October 2016 Cover” | Tracie Martinez, Lisa Lorek, LM Staff

Design – Merit
Single page design, editorial – printed magazines
“Your move” | Tracie Martinez

Design – Merit
Two-plus page design, editorial – printed magazines
“Stronger than ever” | Tracie Martinez

Design – Merit
Overall magazine design – printed magazines
“LM October 2016” | Tracie Martinez

New Media – Merit
Websites
“LandscapeManagement.net” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Kelly Limpert, Jesse Malcmacher

New Media – First
Innovative use of social media
“LM Social Media Strategy” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Kelly Limpert

Photography, Video and Multimedia – First
Portrait/personality (photo of individual or group of individuals)
“Who’s Your Mentor?” | Tracie Martinez, Jerry Mann, LM Staff

Photography, Video and Multimedia – Merit
Best single photo – Use of stock art (anywhere in the magazine)
“Big Picture: Coastal Living” | Tracie Martinez

Photography, Video and Multimedia – Merit
Best print magazine cover (for stock photos, commissioned art, illustrations, typography, etc.)
“LM October 2016 Cover” | Tracie Martinez, Lisa Lorek, LM Staff

Special Projects – Merit
Best single issue
“LM October 2016” | Marisa Palmieri, Dillon Stewart, Tracie Martinez, LM Contributors

Special Projects – Merit
Writing for special projects
“LM150 2016” | Marisa Palmieri, LM Staff

Special Projects – Merit
Special Event – Publishing
“LM Lawn Care Forum” | LM Staff

Writing – Merit
Product information article – commercial publications
“The Future Workforce” | Dillon Stewart

Writing – Merit
Business management – commercial publications
“Stronger than Ever” | Dillon Stewart

Writing – First
General feature article – commercial publications
“Employer of Choice” | Marisa Palmieri

About North Coast Media

North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, websites, email newsletters, social media and mobile solutions — to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include Golfdom, Landscape Management, Pest Management Professional, LP Gas, Pit & Quarry and GPS World. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & Equipment, Geospatial Solutions, Athletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.

About Golfdom

The Golfdom Media Network has 34,462* unique subscribers and delivers the industry’s highest superintendent reach. Originally established in 1927, Golfdom strives to entertain and educate golf course superintendents with practical, real-world content and insight.

About Landscape Management

Landscape Management is the leading magazine for landscape contractors. The LM Media Network has an unduplicated audience of 90,689** landscapers, lawn care operators, irrigation contractors and design/build professionals.

*Verified Audit Circulation, Sept. 2016 Integrated Audit Report.

**Verified Audit Circulation, March 2016 Integrated Audit Report.

NCM’s Allison Barwacz named top young leader by ASBPE

CLEVELAND — May 8, 2017 — North Coast Media (NCM) is proud to announce Digital Media Content Producer Allison Barwacz has been awarded a Young Leaders Scholarship from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE).

Barwacz will receive her award at the Azbee Awards of Excellence Banquet May 17 at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Allison Barwacz

The scholarship funds Barwacz’s attendance at the ASBPE National Conference, which is held in conjunction with the awards banquet. Five of the country’s top business editors under 30 are awarded the scholarship each year to give them the opportunity to learn from each other and industry veterans.

“Allison’s willingness to pitch in and dedication to each project she takes on is admirable and an extreme asset to our team,” says NCM Digital Media Manager Joelle Harms. “A true leader, Allison capitalizes on new digital opportunities for each brand she serves. Her future in the industry is nothing less than promising.”

Barwacz is responsible for developing content for the digital properties of NCM’s LP Gas and Pit & Quarry brands. She also produces e-newsletters for GPS World and has assisted with video production and show coverage for Landscape Management and Golfdom.

Tasked with providing an immersive view of the industries she covers, Barwacz researches long-form features, shoots and edits video, creates multimedia projects and engages with audiences on a variety of social media platforms.

Darren Constantino, editor of Pit & Quarry, was the ASBPE sponsoring editor for Barwacz’s scholarship application.

“Allison not only takes on assignments with enthusiasm, she’ll often volunteer for them,” Constantino says. “She is eager to travel, and often returns from trade shows and client events with quality video. On more than one occasion, clients have told me Allison was a joy to have at their event.”

Barwacz has helped veteran print editors integrate multimedia into their content workflows and improve their digital literacy, and she has led sessions in the company’s “Lunch & Learn” series on the topic.

Barwacz holds a bachelor’s degree in magazine journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism with specializations in Spanish and English. She has worked for North Coast Media since July 2014.

About North Coast Media
North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, websites, email newsletters, social media and mobile solutions — to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include Golfdom, GPS World, Landscape Management, LP Gas, Pest Management Professional and Pit & Quarry. Ancillary brands include Athletic Turf News, Geospatial Solutions, Portable Plants & Equipment and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.

NCM’s Marisa Palmieri honored with Top Women in Media Award

CLEVELAND – April 20, 2017 – North Coast Media (NCM) is proud to announce that Editorial Director Marisa Palmieri has been honored as one of Folio Magazine’s Top Women in Media in the “Director-Level Doers” category.

The category recognizes those departmental directors who can show proof of achievement in three distinct areas of work. Palmieri’s application focused on her leadership in the redesign and rebranding of Landscape Management (LM), her advancement of new media techniques and her role in establishing editorial standards for the company as a whole.

The annual Top Women list is composed of the most influential women in media. Honorees are chosen for their demonstrated ability to “move their teams, brands, and companies forward.” Palmieri is NCM’s second consecutive winner of a Top Women award.

Palmieri, along with winners from Condé Nast, Twitter, Grist and Harvard Business Review, will be honored during an awards luncheon Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square in New York City.

Palmieri, who serves a dual role as NCM’s editorial director and editor-in-chief of LM, is known as a leader and mentor who empowers those around her. Her application to the Folio board included personal statements from seven members of the LM team.

“All of us at NCM, and particularly her LM teammates, are extremely proud of Marisa. She’s a positive and nurturing leader who’s committed to her craft and her team. Marisa’s talent, creativity and integrity shine through in everything she does,” says Bill Roddy, group publisher of Landscape Management and Golfdom. She exudes ‘Director-Level Doer’ in so many ways, making her the ideal recipient of this well-deserved honor.”

Palmieri has worked in every editorial role in her 10 years in green industry publishing. She serves on NCM’s content marketing committee and trains interns and new hires to become better editors. Her work on LM’s redesign in 2014 earned the brand 22 regional and national awards.

Palmieri has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and is mom to Sadie and Paige, and wife of Mike Shugrue, a multiple-times-deployed member of the Ohio Army National Guard.

About North Coast Media
North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, to websites and email newsletters, to social media and mobile solutions, to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include Golfdom, Landscape Management, Pest Management Professional, LP Gas, Pit & Quarry and GPS World. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & Equipment, Geospatial Solutions, Athletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.

NCM promotes Bethany Chambers and Joelle Harms

CLEVELAND, Ohio — March 2, 2017 — North Coast Media (NCM) is pleased to announce the promotion of Bethany Chambers to Director of Audience Engagement and Joelle Harms to Digital Media Manager. NCM’s record digital media growth (revenue and portfolio), and emerging opportunities in content marketing and data/development, prompted the new staff structure and promotions.

Since joining NCM in 2012, Bethany has championed new product development and content strategy. Under her direction as Digital Media Manager, NCM and its brands have seen website page views and digital revenue more than double. In 2016, Bethany was honored by Folio magazine with its Top Women in Media Award.

In her newly created role, Bethany will oversee four NCM departments:

Content Marketing — Launched in 2016, this department delivers custom print and digital content campaigns for NCM’s growing family of marketing partners.
Data/Development — This department couples the strength of NCM’s award-winning website design-and-development team with the company’s robust database, to bring custom projects and exclusive insights to market researchers and advertisers.
Audience Development — A cornerstone of NCM since its inception five years ago, this department builds and connects NCM’s communities of buyers and sellers, and handles subscription fulfillment, list rental, and controlled circulation audits.
Digital Media — This NCM department manages 23 websites, 45 e-newsletters, dozens of social media accounts and myriad multimedia projects.

As NCM’S new Digital Media Manager, Joelle will report directly to Bethany. Joelle joined NCM in 2013, and has excelled in developing an editorial voice and producing engaging content for NCM’s online properties. Since advancing to senior digital media content producer last year, Joelle has mentored her NCM colleagues to several industry awards. In 2016, the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) honored Joelle with its Young Leaders Scholarship, awarded annually to five of the country’s top business editors. In addition to overseeing NCM’s Digital Media Group, Joelle will continue to serve as digital editor for the company’s Pest Management Professional (PMP) group.

Please join us in congratulating Bethany and Joelle on their well-deserved promotions. Their business- and team-building skills, and their unwavering commitment to NCM and its customers, propel each of our B2B media brands daily.

About North Coast Media
North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, to websites and email newsletters, to social media and mobile solutions, to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include Golfdom, Landscape Management, Pest Management Professional, LP Gas, Pit & Quarry and GPS World. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & Equipment, Geospatial Solutions, Athletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.

LP Gas unveils 2017 Hall of Fame Class

CLEVELAND — November 29, 2016 — National propane association leaders, codes and standards experts, and equipment developers integral to industry growth are among the individuals selected for the LP Gas Hall of Fame as part of its 2017 class, LP Gas magazine announced recently.

John D. (Jack) Capps (National LP-Gas Association), Theodore Lemoff (TLemoff Engineering), Darrel Reifschneider (Manchester Tank) and William Young (Superior Energy Systems) make up the 2017 class. The magazine will honor them and recognize their contributions to the propane industry during a black-tie induction dinner and ceremony April 20, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee, prior to the NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo.

LP Gas launched its Hall of Fame in propane’s centennial year of 2012 as a way to honor past and present leaders who helped establish, advance and grow the industry. This year’s class brings the total number of inductees to 32. Suburban Propane, AmeriGas, Blossman Gas and Tarantin Industries are sponsors of the LP Gas Hall of Fame.

Meet the 2017 class:

John D. (Jack) Capps – National LP-Gas Association

The late Capps served as a leader and a guide to the propane industry by committing his time and efforts to the National LP-Gas Association (NLPGA) as its executive vice president and general manager in the 1970s and 1980s. He led activities that helped to modernize the industry during his time with NLPGA. Capps encouraged the use of the term “propane” instead of “LP gas.” He helped to form several committees that are still vital to the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) today, including the audit committee, the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) certification committee and the safety committee. Capps always took member suggestions into consideration and often sought opportunities to implement those ideas. He is also a recipient of the NPGA Distinguished Service Award.

Theodore Lemoff – TLemoff Engineering

Lemoff worked as staff liaison at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for about 26 years for a number of codes and standards. Lemoff served as the editor for eight editions of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code Handbook and for six editions of the National Fuel Gas Code Handbook. He coauthored the NFPA Pocket Guide to Fuel Gas Storage and Use, and he contributed to the development of the NFPA 54, NFPA 58 and NFPA 59 codes. He has traveled the world for NFPA as its staff liaison and has extensive knowledge over the content of NFPA codes. He has lectured on NFPA 54 and NFPA 58 in seminars throughout his career. He exercised leadership at NFPA to move business forward, and his often-used comment, “Mr. Chairman, if I might suggest,” was key to guiding his discussion in the direction it needed to go to resolve sticking points. In addition, his gift of putting complex requirements into straightforward language helped to focus many NFPA meetings. Lemoff retired from his role as NFPA’s principal gases engineer in 2010, and he started TLemoff Engineering as a consulting business. Today, he remains a valuable resource on NFPA codes for the propane industry.

Darrel Reifschneider – Manchester Tank

Reifschneider led Manchester Tank as its president and CEO, helping to grow the company from a single site in Los Angeles to multiple plants across the United States, Canada and Australia. He joined his mother, Mollie Reifschneider, to lead the family business in 1955 after graduating from college. Throughout his career, he had a zeal for selling and was loyal to his customers. Reifschneider introduced powder coating to the 20-pound cylinder market, and his company’s efforts helped to further that market overall. The production of large volumes of 20-pound cylinders at low cost to grill manufacturers is a key reason for propane dominating the grill market today. He also helped to introduce the vertical dispenser as a Manchester Tank design. With its former leader as a strong advocate of autogas, the company has shown a willingness to manufacture autogas tanks, even when the market was limited. Throughout the course of the autogas market, the company has developed new tank designs to accommodate new vehicle packaging. Reifschneider is characterized as someone who remained steadfast to the propane industry, even through tough times in the industry’s history.

William Young – Superior Energy Systems

For more than half a century, Young has dedicated himself to the safety and improvement of the propane industry. He began his career as a staff engineer for Industrial Gas, a small propane company in Pittsburgh. Not long after, he started to work on his first water-bath vaporizer and propane-air blender systems. Young sums up his career in the industry by saying that he “builds the products and ideas that no one else wants to build.” Young helped to found Superior Energy Systems in 2002, and with his expertise as vice president of engineering the company has manufactured bulk plants and trans-shipment terminals that are used throughout the United States. In more recent years, Young recognized the industry’s need to focus on propane autogas. He has worked with his engineering group to steer the company to manufacture a range of certified turnkey propane autogas dispensing systems. Having been involved in industry standards for decades, Young puts a priority on compliance and safety. He has shared his knowledge as a member of numerous NPGA and NFPA technical committees. He has testified in front of governmental organizations, and he continues to educate communities about propane. The NFPA Standards Council honored him this year with its Committee Service Award. “[Young’s] commitment to safety in handling and using a hazardous material such as propane is evident by the many decades that he participated [in writing codes and standards] at his own expense,” says Bruce Swiecicki, senior technical adviser at NPGA. “The propane industry is indebted to [Young] for his contributions over the years.”

About North Coast Media
North Coast Media, LLC. employs over 50 professionals who collectively possess hundreds of years of experience creating and delivering unparalleled media — from industry-leading print magazines, to websites and email newsletters, to social media and mobile solutions, to exclusive industry research, custom products and one-on-one buyer-seller networking events. NCM flagship brands include LP Gas, Landscape Management, Pest Management Professional, Pit & Quarry, Golfdom and GPS World. Ancillary brands include Portable Plants & Equipment, Geospatial Solutions, Athletic Turf News and Truman’s Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations.