By Lance Henderson

Throughout this recession, The Bellingham Business Journal has covered countless stories about businesses looking inward to refocus, revamp and return to the market as a leaner, meaner business machine.

Now that story is true for us as well. First, former editor and publisher Vanessa Blackburn is no longer with us. She has gone on to bigger and better things and we all wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.

I have stepped forward to take her place and I look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence that has become the hallmark of our business coverage.

One of the greatest things about this job is that we get to see all the different facets that make up the Bellingham business community. We interview farmers, construction workers, technology professionals, local retailers and many others to get an accurate picture of what is going on out there and what are the major challenges that face businesses today.

If we are not covering something that you feel is important to the community, I would like to invite you to contact us so that we can talk about how the BBJ can best attack that issue.

I am excited to begin a new chapter in the BBJ story: one that maintains our strengths, but is forward-looking so that we may adjust to the changing marketplace. Several great editors have sat in this seat and I hope to live up to the high standards they have set for editorial excellence.

Amid these changes, we also have some exciting news. We have launched a new Web site, BBJToday.com, which will provide a home base for Bellingham’s business community with breaking local business news, in-depth features, stock reports and all the fresh business information you need to give your business that competitive edge.

BBJToday.com and The Bellingham Business Journal print edition are meant to be seen as complementary products that drive traffic back and forth between them. Our local advertisers now have a comprehensive, multi-media advertising opportunity here at the BBJ.

As we have experienced major changes here, we have looked inward to revamp our news approach and presentation. We have trimmed our print edition in order to refocus some of our efforts on BBJToday.com, which gives us the ability to go live with the most up-to-minute coverage and allows our print publication to be filled with only the most relevant stories and information.

We feel that as we continue into the 21st century, this organization will be uniquely poised to serve our readers and our advertisers who are coming to grips with a challenging business environment. We remain, faithfully, at your service.

On behalf of the entire staff of The Bellingham Business Journal, I would like to thank you for your continued support and invite you to check out the new BBJToday.com.