After more than 13 years solo editing 941CEO, I wanted a creative collaborator to help take the magazine to new heights. Serendipitously, David Hackett, a longtime Sarasota Herald-Tribune editor, appeared.

David started his journalism career in Illinois, Texas and Indiana before moving to Venice. When he left the Herald-Tribune, David was in charge of community and state political coverage and formerly led development of the company’s niche internet sites. I’d known David professionally for years and was always impressed with his passion for his profession and his insistence on integrity and solid writing. I knew he would be a great partner in everything from brainstorming ideas to shaping stories and digital coverage.

David knows the community and has raised his family here (his wife, Kim, is also a respected journalist who has contributed to this magazine). He brings energy, deep reporting and editing skills, and knowledge of the business world. In “Brother, Can You Spare a Raise?,” our cover story this month, he dove deep into labor data to show how wages here compare to the state’s and nation’s. And he even persuaded a cross-section of local workers to reveal their salaries. Who knew a tattoo artist can make $70,000 a year in Sarasota?

I’m delighted to welcome David as co-editor of 941CEO and excited that you’ll have another pair of eyes watching out for the business news and information you need.