From the editor.

I've met some outstanding communicators lately--not that this should be considered unusual when you work for an association that serves business communicators. But in the course of developing this issue and working on post-IABC international conference coverage, I am again amazed at the quality of people who are involved and interested in IABC.

In April, I had the privilege of spending time with this year's EXCEL winner, John Ryan, and interviewing him for an article that appears in this issue. Ryan's commitment to communication and thoughtful leadership has won the hearts of his employees at Farm Credit Canada and propelled the company forward beyond all expectations.

Organizational performance consultant Jim Shaffer, who wrote for this issue, is another communicator to marvel at. His ideas about linking high performance to communication are not only forward thinking in a way that can be described as breakthrough, but they also are presented in a meaningful and accessible way. That's first-class communication.

At IABC's conference, I had a chance to talk with Joel Bakan, a law professor and Rhodes Scholar, who has written a book assessing what he considers to be the pathological nature of corporations. He's also co-creator of the film, "The Corporation." Whether you agree with Bakan's assessment or not, you will appreciate reading his thoughtful message on tangible ways to achieve good corporate citizenship.

And speaking of outstanding communicators, the CW team is pleased to introduce readers to Angelo Fernando, our new "Tech Talk" columnist. Angelo has a way of turning even the most complex technology issues into fun reading and offers clear perspective on how these issues relate to business communication. Take a look at his piece on blogs in this issue, and let us know what you think.

It's humbling and inspiring to meet communicators of this stature. And it's heartening to know that IABC is a magnet for the best.

NATASHA SPRING

Executive Editor