Contributed by Michael Ference
As I retire from my career in fluid power media, I want to thank all of the people who have made my career possible. That includes managers, coworkers, and customers. It has been a great run of over 43 years and I feel very fortunate to have had a rewarding and fulfilling career.
When I started in 1977 with a degree in Communication from Cleveland State University, I basically needed a job and I knew very little about fluid power or even engineering in general. Little did I know that I would be looking back after all this time reminiscing about what a great wonderful career in fluid power it has been.
Fluid power is a fantastic technology and one that we all depend upon in our daily lives. I have followed the progress of the many innovations and improvements in machinery and equipment powered by our technology. I am especially pleased that I was able to assist in some small way in the perpetuation of the knowledge of fluid power technology to engineers, mechanics, and industry professionals. The single most rewarding aspect of my career is the development of the Fluid Power Technology Conference which continues on in a virtual format today with the expectation of returning to a live event soon.
I can start naming individuals who have been most influential in my career. I can also start naming people with whom I have had the most meaningful relationships. However, there are too many to mention and I do not want to leave anyone out. I was told early on that once a person starts a career in fluid power, they often stay for the duration. Well, that worked out.
There have also been many changes and innovations in the media industry during my watch. Many have been good and some not so much. In the early years, we watched as print advertisers basically came to us wanting to promote their products with print ads — that was about all we had. Then with the introduction of websites, and e-mail-based advertising, things changed drastically and continue to evolve.
I am glad to put in the years that I did crossing several eras of the business-to-business media world. There were some very trying times because of economic conditions but mostly great years where we adjusted to the needs of our advertisers and audience. The future looks like more change and possibly more rapid change to meet those needs. I pass the baton on to my younger colleagues and wish them well.
I really don’t want to say goodbye, but I am turning the page to a new era of responsibilities and activities. To all of the people who I have met along this journey, I want to sincerely thank you for your support and thank you for your friendship. I hope that our paths cross again and I wish you all the best!
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