Buckhead Patch Editor Heads to New Chapter

Covering Buckhead as the Buckhead Patch Local Editor has been a great adventure.

I've written about crime, fires, art, politics, sports, commercial real estate, schools, homes, traffic, neighborhoods, the weather, restaurants and interesting Buckhead people. I've learned to juggle Twitter, Facebook, editing video, meeting a payroll and engaging in marketing. Now, I've decided to move on to new challenges and opportunities.

I launched Buckhead Patch in December 2010, covering George W. Bush and Laura Bush's book signing at the now defunct Border's bookstore. A veteran journalist, I joined my metro Patch colleagues in giving our local communities a fresh style of coverage, blending the best of new and old media in innovative ways. Since then, Buckhead Patch and the other Patch sites have built a loyal following, delivering news and information about shopping, dining and entertainment seven days a week and providing a format for community conversation. As I move on from Patch, I am happy to leave behind a strong foundation for the future.

Looking back, I am proud of many things. I've made mistakes and known frustrations, but one of the great things about Patch is the freedom to try different things, even if they don't always work out as well as planned. But I've enjoyed the freedom to experiment and expand the definition of what is community news.

Buckhead Patch, along with my colleagues in the Virginia-Highland, East Atlanta and Midtown Patch site, have provided the city's most in-depth coverage of the APS redistricting process. We provided a forum for community debate on the future of Buckhead's public schools. We've also extensively covered the accomplishments of students, including those at the community's private schools. I hope I've come close to fulfilling our mission of providing a broad range of coverage to make your lives easier.

The thing I've liked best is meeting new people and renewing ties with those I've known for years. Buckhead has impressive buildings, great shopping, fine restaurants and stylish cars, but its greatest resource is its people, those who live here and those who come here from outside for work and pleasure. As I head into the next chapter, I am looking forward to remaining in this vibrant community.