Coming of age in B2B public relations, I always looked up to the editors of Construction Equipment.
This brand has been captained by the best: Arnie Consdorf, Kirk Landers, Rod Sutton. These three gentlemen have had back-to-back-to-back runs as editor-in-chief stretching some 40 years. In 75 years,CE has had only six top editors.
That is almost unheard of.
And the bench depth was always superb, with the man I called the “Dean of Construction Journalists,” the late, great Walt Moore. Then there was Lynn Landberg, and Larry Stewart.
These were the folks you wanted covering your brand or your client. You wanted them in your trade show booth or at your events. Some of us wanted to be them.
Knowledgeable. Objective. Honest. The definition of consistent.
Flash forward to now. Rod Sutton has decided to step down at the end of the month after 24 years in the big seat and a litany of accomplishments.
Twenty-four years is a long time to do any one thing, particularly in these harried, short attention span times. Data and the almighty bottom line can be the proverbial shiny objects that too often distract from talent and commitment.
But thanks to Rod, we still do the content for fleet managers and contractors that no one else does, like the Annual Report & Forecast, Equipment Executive, the always independent Field Test, each year’s Top 100 Products, and Under 40 in Construction Equipment, which celebrates our industry’s up-and-coming leaders.
In 24 years, despite technological and economic upheavals—and changes in ownership—Rod’s editorial focus and integrity have never wavered. Not to mention that he’s taken us digital.
Rod and I once had a conversation about the time he became editor-in-chief of this prestigious title.
“I’d been handed something, and I felt it was my job not to screw it up,” he said.
Talk about an epic undersell. You’ve done so much more than that. It’s been a privilege to learn from you.
Enjoy your time with your family and your grandchildren.
Godspeed.
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Raczon’s writing career spans nearly 25 years, including magazine publishing and public relations work with some of the industry’s major equipment manufacturers. He has won numerous awards in his career, including nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and BtoB magazine. He is responsible for the magazine's Buying Files.