How the Charleston Regional Business Journal got its start

Andy Owens, the managing editor of the Charleston Regional Business Journal in South Carolina, writes about its founding 20 years ago by Bill Settlemyer.

Owens writes, “Bill got methodical. He started planning with a whiteboard and created a business plan — one he now laughs about. He hired a consultant and connected with a national trade group of business journals to answer two questions: Am I the right person? And is this the right market?

“The consultant felt the numbers were solid and Charleston was ready for a business journal; but the moment Bill completely knew was after he talked to the publishers of other business journals, all of whom loved what they were doing.

“The Charleston Regional Business Journal published its first issue six months later, but Bill knew he needed help, especially with sales, to grow and sustain the business.

“‘We managed to get that far and, honestly, I was doing everything. I was the editor, the publisher, the finance person, the salesperson, the whole thing — which is ridiculous, but that is what I was doing,’ Bill said. ‘Everything was a panic-loaded blur until Grady showed up.'”

Read more here.