By the time you read this, I will have finally caught up entirely when it comes to returning reader inquiries.
The time afforded to finally accomplish this can be attributed, in large part, to the fact that Cleveland Business Connects will be publishing two issues over the next four months. Our November/December double-issue will hit the streets in mid-November; the ensuing February issue - CBC has never published a January edition - will arrive the final week of January.
Following up on messages and requests is an absolute in my book, even as that task inevitably falls toward the bottom of my daily to-do list. That I haven’t been able to deliver in due time 100 percent of the time is easily the least-favorite part of my role as editor. Regrettably, time is very scarce when factoring all of the editing, writing, and networking duties.
Not that we don’t appreciate reader inquiries and having to respond to them. To the contrary, we’re usually soliciting your questions and suggestions. Surely, you’ve seen one of my emails. To my delight, nearly 350 readers have responded to our recent editorial planning survey; another 425 to a survey on reader demographics.
Many of those responses have included suggestions as to what stories CBC should pursue. We particularly value these types of recommendations because often they are being delivered from the front lines of corporate Northeast Ohio. I can vouch that thus far in 2009 about half of CBC’s stories have been brought to you ... by you.
With that in mind, CBC is seeking your help as we close out the year. Included in our November/December double-issue will be a special section in which we will profile 10 Northeast Ohio companies that have thrived in 2009 despite the poor economy. The firms that we recognize will be based wholly on your written nominations.
It is important to note that any local company - big or small, for-profit or nonprofit - is eligible. We understand that we may have scared away some nominations by coining the project as a “Top 10” list. Nominees will not be ranked exclusively by any type of metric. Our primary goal is to offer 10 compelling examples of corporate success.
As an editor, I always assume everyone has a great story to tell. And according to the recent responses to our surveys, CBC’s readership includes hundreds of public relations officials. If ever you wanted to tout yourself or a client, now’s the time to do it.
If you’re interested, please visit www.cbcmagazine.com/topten to fill out a nomination form. I can think of no better way to end the year than to recognize and celebrate the successes of some of Northeast Ohio’s top companies.

If nothing else, CBC always hopes to inspire. And with this issue - our annual engineering and manufacturing edition - I think we’ll motivate a good portion of our readers. At least I hope we will. Kids, it seems, aren’t too keen on careers in engineering. According to a survey by the American Society for Quality (ASQ), 85 percent of children are anything but interested in engineering. That’s too bad, the ASQ warns, considering the profession is critical to the country’s infrastructure. Why the reluctance? Two key reasons: kids don’t feel confident enough in their math and science skills; and they believe engineering isn’t an exciting career choice. Well, maybe these youngsters should talk to Therese Griebel. Or Tracine Locke. Or Bryony Laura DuPont. All three women are featured in this issue. All three have engineering backgrounds. And all three are successful at altogether different stages of their careers. The funny thing is all three probably could have related at one time to the averse youth of today. Griebel didn’t think she was smart enough to go into engineering. But today she’s chief of the manufacturing division at Cleveland’s NASA Glenn Research Center. Locke, a high school valedictorian in 2000, has been enjoying a fulfilling career as field engineer with companies such as Harley Davidson and YRC trucking. And the 19-year-old DuPont is all smiles as she pursues her engineering PhD. If only their stories could be read by these kids. Hopefully, some of you will relay their messages to your own children. The ASQ would certainly be appreciative. The group offers its own tips as to how parents can encourage their kids to better appreciate math and science:

• Take children on a tour of local manufacturing companies to see how products such like bicycles, candy and baseballs are made. Learn the role an engineer plays in getting the product from the idea stage to store shelves.
• Research vacation spots for geology, technology, and science-related attractions and explore manufactured products specific to the area.
• Encourage curiosity in younger children with building blocks, puzzles, and Legos. Challenge older children with remote control vehicles, robots, or work together to build a tree house.
• Take them to a FIRST Robotics Competition or get them involved with National Science Olympiad competitions.

I can’t help but think these suggestions will make a difference in at least one child’s life. There is precedent, as I encourage you to see on the following pages of this issue.