This February issue marks a milestone for me as the publisher of Parenting OC. Twenty years ago from the day I write this, my then-wife and partner, Ann-Marie Tierney, and I were sending to the printer the pages of the February 2004 issue, the first Parenting OC ever published by Tierney Publishing.
Putting everything we had into print publishing–even 20 years ago–was a risk, albeit a calculated one; publishing was not new to me. But it was everything we had. Plus all the ink, sweat and tears that went into each issue. Ann-Marie co-parented the publication with me for nearly 10 years until she moved on to her own career in 2013. Thank you, Ann-Marie.
Through the pain of the Great Recession, the dogged competition of OC Family, and the endless pivoting of the pandemic, Parenting OC has continued to serve the parents of Orange County. It is a much needed child-rearing resource and family-fun finder for time-starved moms and dads. And it comes to you for free because of the support from our advertisers, the schools, events and businesses that are present in every issue. Without them, there would be no Parenting OC, and I wouldn’t have this rewarding job.
I keep close to me that first issue, the February 2004 edition that almost didn’t happen if it weren’t for the advertisers that believed in me and Ann-Marie. Parenting OC was shut down by my predecessor and my employer at the time, where I worked on a handful of their parenting titles as a regional publisher. The company had purchased dozens of parenting publications across the US, looking for economy of scale in their operations and aiming to book ad buys across the entire network of magazines. When their strategies failed, they closed them, most of them. Parenting OC was announced closed just before we took over, and every advertiser in Parenting OC was sent a letter informing them of the end of the publication. This was the scene we walked into when we started out. We had some convincing to do.
A number of them gave us a chance, and some of those advertisers are still seen in every issue. Thank you, Dr. Ferrari at Alta Neuro-Imaging for not missing one issue of Parenting OC for over 20 years. Thank you Fairmont Schools for all of your support through two decades of advertising (your ad was on the back cover of the February 2004 issue). Thanks, Debi Snyder of Coastal Pediatric Speech Clinic, who never missed an issue until she retired last year.
Thank you to all the schools not only for your support to the teachers and employees we honor with this issue and in the March School Heroes issue, but for all of your support, all of the time.
Thank you to the founder of Parenting OC, Jack Bierman, who passed away 10 years ago. Bierman launched this publication as “Parenting” magazine, without the OC in the title, in 1985, five years after he launched Pony Ride, which was the original name for LA Parent. I’ve had the privilege of being the adopted parent of the publication for 20 of its nearly 40 years, but it was Bierman’s baby.
And thank you to my team, some of whom joined me more than 9 years ago, like rock star Jennifer Murrietta (since 2013) and the amazing Kevin Yoshimasu, who showed up at my door as an intern in 2012, and has now art directed over 150 issues. Thank you, Jessica Peralta for your sterling journalism and editing talents and your steady commitment for 7 years! The future of Parenting OC is in good hands with sales dynamo and media maven Nicole Szawlowski, part of the team for two and a half years. And thanks for being by my side, Madison Amirehteshami. In just three and a half years she has become my right hand. Well, more than that. Let’s just say, there aren’t many business decisions I make without talking to Madison first. Last but not least, thanks to my lovely wife, Ronda, for all your love and support.
It’s hard out there for a publishing outfit. Just ask the writers and editors at the LA Times, where over 100 members of the editorial staff are being laid off. And who knows what the future holds for us, but look at these advertisers. We have a lot of support. And with a team like this, and with perseverance, Parenting OC will be here for the next generation, and the next…
Sincerely,
Randall Tierney
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