Happy New Year! Our blogging schedule this year is such that this is my first one of the year, even though it’s late in the month. But just because this happy New Year greeting is probably among the last you’ll receive, it’s not any less heartfelt than if it was the first. I wish you and your company a very happy, healthy, profitable and peaceful year.

And, as with most new years, comes some change. That is true here at USGlass magazine, as well. We are making a few changes. When our company was born some 25 years ago, the name “Key Communications Inc.” seemed a good one for a publishing company. And it was for a long time. But words evolve as do companies and technology. Today, “communications” is more closely associated with public relations than publishing. And even more telling, what we do as a company has expanded in response to new technology. Our company now publishes print and digital magazines and books, videos and newscasts, online newsletters and e-reports as well as the occasional podcast. Our sister company, Glass.com Inc., provides information and referrals to consumers who seek glass and glazing services and products.

The word “communication” just doesn’t cover it anymore. Couple that with the fact that the company also provides a fair amount of research and consultation services for and about the glass industry, and you see how really out of date it is.

Just under two years ago, we made the decision to update our name effective the first day of 2018. Key Communications Inc. will now be known as Key Media & Research to more closely reflect what we do. Of course, when we chose the name two years ago, we had no idea the word “media” would become controversial, but we still believe it and the addition of the word “research” most closely reflects what we do. Nothing else but the name changes—we are still the same corporate entity, just with a new moniker.

As part of this change, we have created a separate and distinct research division which will be led by Nick St. Denis, our former research editor. Nick has been doing industry research for Key for a number of years and I am delighted he will now be leading this division.

Finally, a personal note of congratulations to our editorial director Tara Taffera, who as I write this on January 19, is celebrating her 20th anniversary as an employee here. It’s been a real honor to work with Tara all these years and to watch her bring her talents, incredible personality and professionalism to work every day. It’s also been a pleasure for me to have met her as a newlywed and watch as she and her husband have raised three glorious girls, all of whom look to be just as talented as their mom and dad. Congratulations, Tara, and thank you.