(NOTE: This story appears in the January 2025 issue of ED Magazine.)
Back in 1981, author, lyricist and the world’s greatest rock drummer — Neil Peart of the band Rush —penned these words for their biggest hit, “Tom Sawyer”: “ … no changes are permanent, but change is.” Though he himself was quoting the noted ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, you get the gist: Change, like death and taxes, is a constant.
There are several other “change” quotes that I love:
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr
Sometimes, change sucks — like when your favorite band decides to suddenly change key members (or even worse, change music styles), or when your favorite sports team loses their best player to free agency.
Sometimes change simply for the sake of change provides a much-needed spark and shakes up the status quo. Maybe you take a completely different route to work just for a change of scenery. Maybe you order something from the menu at your favorite restaurant that you’ve never tried before.
Sometimes change is the last thing we want and is forced upon us, and it’s through this adjustment that we discover something within ourselves. This can happen when we lose a loved one, or lose a job, or endure a serious illness.
But no matter what type of change we’re talking about, it is part of life. And there’s no better time — the beginning of a brand new year — to discuss some pretty big changes at ED Publications.
Veteran ED staffer, Kristofer Kay, has moved from head of sales into the Managing Editor position. Believe it or not, I hired Kris almost 20 years ago to be our assistant editor. This was following an internship that Kris did with ED, which saw him driving two hours each way from Orlando to Clearwater and back, once or twice per week. That commitment to ED has always been present with Kris, even from his earliest days as a writer for ED. Kris spent several years in that role until he was moved into sales, but at his core Kris is a writer, and I’m confident that with him at the helm of our editorial team the magazine is in very capable hands.
“I’m equally humbled and grateful for my new position as Managing Editor,” says Kris. “It feels almost like a homecoming. 2025 will mark my 20th year at ED Publications, so to begin a new era with an entirely new, but familiar, set of responsibilities is exactly the challenge I look for in order to cultivate even more knowledge and relationships within our industry. Under Dave Manack’s leadership, I’m excited to play a larger role in shaping our publications, our online presence, the EDIs and, of course, our annual EXPO.”
We’re also happy to welcome our new head of sales, Christos Mylonas! Christos brings a wealth of sales and marketing experience to the team here at ED. He has 15-plus years in sales, PR, marketing and management, working in several industries including smart home tech, lux automotive sales, automotive tech sales, ops & management and B2B marketing. He also moonlights as a professional, classically-trained guitarist.
Says Christos, “I’m looking to provide a tailored and memorable customer experience for each client, thus creating strong working relationships for years to come. I’m also looking to bring a fresh sense of new ideas, fun and creativity to this space!”
Finally, if you’ve called the office recently and heard a new voice answering the call, that’s Alexis Roy, our new marketing coordinator (taking over for Caroline Ashe, who relocated to North Carolina for a new job opportunity). Next time you call, say hi to Alexis!
I’m sure that the front cover of this issue provides some indication of the changes that are forthcoming. It’s time for new voices to emerge here at ED Publications, and time for us to grow as a company and find new products, services and businesses who value your business and the industry at large.
Hello, 2025! And remember, “Change is inevitable — growth is optional.”
