Portland Biz Journal publisher Wessel to retire

Craig Wessel, publisher and president of the Portland Business Journal, has announced he will retire later this year.

Suzanne Stevens, editor of the Journal, writes, “Wessel, one of the founding team members who launched the PBJ in 1984, has served as president and publisher of the organization for the past 20 years and has led the publication to tremendous growth and expansion as well as countless company and industry-wide awards over that time.

“‘I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished here in Portland.’ Wessel said. ‘This incredible community deserved a serious news organization that respects the many challenges and efforts that are involved in growing a business. I am also extremely proud of the events platform we’ve built that recognizes some of the great business leaders we have here and celebrates everything those leaders, their businesses and their employees bring back to the state of Oregon.’

“Prior to moving back to Portland to take over the publisher role at the PBJ in 2001, Wessel was part of the American City Business Journals (ACBJ) team that founded Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal. He has also served as publisher of Corporate Report Minnesota and Minnesota Ventures magazines, was part of the startup team for the launch of national health care publication HealthWeek, ran a publishing consulting business in Los Angeles, and, early in his career, was involved in the launch of 13 business journals across the country for ACBJ.”

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