A Thank You To Staff And A Welcome To Our New Owners

Feb. 26, 2015

Sitting at my desk this week I was working and my phone kept dinging. Figured someone really wanted to get ahold of me … opened the phone to learn I was getting messages on my LinkedIn one-year anniversary as Publisher, Aviation Group at Cygnus Business Media. This prompted me to reflect on where we are and what we have accomplished in 2014.

First I have to say how incredible the AviationPros staff is putting out cutting-edge print and digital products to support you and to help your business grow. Our editors are second to none bringing you thought-provoking content. I especially want to thank all the incredible marketing partners (advertisers) that share their products and services in our print and digital products to help support all our readers.

The first major project in 2014 we completed was launching a responsive design (automatically sizes message to your electronic devises screen) website: www.AviationPros.com. We have improved our print products based on research and discussions with our readers and industry leaders to deliver what you and your colleagues need and want. How did all this happen … we invested financially and countless man-hours to improve our products for you. As I have said for many years … “Leaders Lead” which we obviously have done and will continue to do. What has this investment lead to … the biggest news of all!

AviationPros Group and all of Cygnus Business Media was purchased by SouthComm Inc. 

SouthComm is a publishing and communications company, based in Nashville, TN. The transaction, finalized at the end of 2014, included all assets including our buildings so the AviationPros headquarters will still be in Fort Atkinson, WI. 

“From the start, we were impressed with Cygnus as both a media and technology company,” said SouthComm founder and CEO Chris Ferrell. “The business’ technical strength and integrated properties combine to support future growth and lend itself to the SouthComm portfolio of businesses. Further, we’re pleased to continue primary operations of Cygnus Business Media in Fort Atkinson, WI, making the transition in ownership seamless to our audience and advertisers.”

Southcomm is the nation’s second largest publisher of alternative weeklies, one of the largest publishing companies serving chambers of commerce, and with the Cygnus purchase, a significant player in the B-to-B publishing world. The company now owns more than 30 titles targeting B-to-B and consumer audiences around the country. For more information, visit southcomm.com.

We are excited to move into 2015 under the new corporate ownership of SouthComm and will continue to do business under the Cygnus brand. Our clients, subscribers, and partners can continue to expect the same level of service from AviationPros brands. The future is extremely bright and we look forward to strengthening our brands even further.

I am proud of what we accomplished in 2014 and am actually more excited with what we have in store for 2015 and beyond. We will continue to invest in our properties to bring you the best print and digital products in aviation. Now, what can we do even better in 2015? Please contact me anything with ideas, suggestions, or comments on how we are going or what we can do to help support you and the industry at [email protected].

Com’ on Aboard!

Brett Ryden

Publisher, Aviation Group