One constant in my 36 years leading Smart Business has been change. We changed our format from newsprint to glossy magazine. We changed how we operated the business — consolidating offices in cities around the country to a centralized hub in Cleveland. We even changed the name of the company — from Small Business News to Smart Business Network. We took each of those changes in stride and came out stronger as a result. I expect the same for our latest change — the sale of the company.
You may have heard that Smart Business Network has been acquired by Vistage, the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization with 45,000 members operating in 40 countries. I’m excited by what having Vistage as a partner brings not just to the staff at Smart Business, but to our community of business leaders.
This move broadens the knowledge and experience we can apply to providing business leaders, particularly those in the C-suite, with the insights, strategy and advice to help them grow their businesses. Our connection with Vistage enables us to bring our M&A-focused Dealmakers Conferences to a broader audience — one that spans the globe — to help Vistage members as they navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with buying, selling and financing their companies.
This is an exciting move for us, one that we know will accelerate the momentum we’ve been gathering these past few years. All of the same people will continue to work for the company producing Smart Business events and magazines, as well as our Dealmakers events. Now their efforts will be bolstered by the significant resources Vistage brings to bear. And though I will be turning over the leadership reins to my brother, Lee, I will still have a presence at Smart Business, be actively involved in the Northeast Ohio business scene, and will appear on the pages of this magazine.
Ultimately, Smart Business has been and will continue to be the product of a tremendous community of business leaders who work alongside us, contributing the ideas and energy that are essential to our evolution. Together, with our new partner, Vistage, we turn the page to the next chapter. I’m excited for what comes next. ●
Fred Koury is President and CEO of Smart Business Network Inc.
