By AML Publisher
AML Snow Photo by Belle Vie Photography

This blanket of snow across the Delaware Valley makes me think this may be one long winter ahead—as all the local meteorologists are predicting. But, it also put me immediately in the holiday spirit—I can’t recall the last time we had a white Christmas in Wayne, my hometown. I saw a tweet last night from one of my followers that said it’s been over a hundred years since the region had this kind of snow in December. Maybe this is an omen for an exciting 2010? We shall see…

As for this past year, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support, encouragement and friendship with AML in our first inaugural year. I’m not sure where 2009 has gone?! But, we worked hard here at AML to cover the most interesting people, places and events across the Main Line and Delaware Valley that make this such a fantastic area to call home. One of our most exciting growth areas this year with our audience was in social media. I am very proud to say we are approaching 1,000 AML Facebook Fans and have over 1,500 followers on Twitter. The majority of these fans and followers I will never have the chance to personally thank and meet—so I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude here. Thank You!

In addition, there are too many people to highlight individually that were critical in making AroundMainLine.com, Philadelphia’s very first emagazine, a superb success in 2009. Thank you to our fantastic advertisers who are working with us on integrated PR strategies, dynamic online and social media campaigns-most especially Ooka Montgomeryville, local artist and Etsian Kristen Stein, Episcopal Academy, The Philadelphia 76ers, The Shipley School, Foote Orthodontics, The Valley Forge Radisson, Elite Training Sports, and Onde Spalon.

Our staff photographers have been an absolutely integral part of the day to day duties of AML and have worked tirelessly to capture the fabulous photos and images across the region. Special thanks to: Heather Berkenstock of Belle Vie Photography, Mary Kate Burgess of Kate’s Lens Photography, Vida Carson of Vida Carson Photography, Stacey Granger of Life Art Imaging, Kristen Hudson-Nichols of Jubilee Photography and Haute Boudoir Photography, Bernadette Uzcategui of BUP Photography and April Ziegler of April Ziegler Pet Photography.

There is one person I have to give a very special nod to—Vance Bell. If I have heard it once over the past 15 months, I have heard it a thousand times, “Where did you find your web designer?” I found Vance on Google in the summer of 2008 after an exhaustive search for the perfect local web designer. I interviewed many web designers in a matter of weeks—and was ready to call it quits. I knew the level of designer I wanted to interpret my vision of an e-magazine for the Philly burbs into a successful business—and was not having any luck. In fact, most of the designers I interviewed told me they didn’t feel they could take on such a comprehensive task. After a one-on-one meeting in the city, I knew this was the designer I was going to trust with my business. Vance continues to be an integral part of AML’s business development, success and strategy. Vance, we would not be here without you.

To our business partners, clients, photographers, editors, Facebook Fans, and Twitter Followers who make up the online, ever-expanding family of AML, I want to wish you and yours a festive and most wonderful 2010.

Happy Holidays,
Sarah Lockard
CEO and ePublisher
AroundMainLine.com