This December–January issue of JCK should grace readers’ desks with about a week to go in 2012, so it’s a great time to celebrate the year gone by and to anticipate the year ahead!

The year came to a close at JCK with another round of gold, silver, and bronze awards from two of the business-to-business publishing industry’s most prestigious organizations, the Custom Content Council’s Pearl Awards and the FOLIO: Eddie and Ozzie Awards, which recognize publications that excel in print and online.

We were thrilled to be honored with three gold Pearls (including Best Achievement of Corporate Objectives, reflecting the excellent work of our entire staff), two gold Ozzies—for best use of typography and best use of photography—and a bronze Eddie for best online column or blog (for senior editor Rob Bates’ “Cutting Remarks” blog—again!). These awards are the result of our belief in putting product quality first, and recognizing that success will follow. All of us at JCK are indebted to our fantastic editorial teammates, who produce an amazing amount of award-winning editorial each month in the magazine and each day on JCKonline.com and in our daily newsletter, JCK News Daily!

Enjoying LUXURY Privé Panama with senior VP of content Kim Caviness (left) and JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky

The awards capped a year that witnessed healthy revenue growth, robust investment in our print and online efforts, and a whole lot of fun!

Speaking of fun, JCK editor-in-chief Victoria Gomelsky and I joined the JCK Show team to launch the first-ever LUXURY Privé Panama show in October! The event, held at the new Westin Playa Bonita hotel just west of Panama City, was a terrific debut, designed to create an opportunity for manufacturers to meet with and sell to leading retailers from Latin America. The upscale event was distinguished by the beautiful hotel setting, terrific food and drink, great evening events, and much dancing. (Latin American retailers love to dance!) Congrats to Yancy Weinrich, John ­Tierney, and the rest of the Reed Exhibitions team on their new baby!

The holiday season has begun here in New York City, and it’s been a blast to see friends and colleagues at holiday events like the WJA soirée in Manhattan. Happy holidays and many, many thanks to all of our readers, supporters, and friends. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year, beginning with the 24 Karat Club gala right here in the Big Apple!