Arlington Heights, IL (September 4, 2013) — Professional Builder magazine, the leading media brand for the nation’s homebuilders since 1936, together with its parent company SGC Horizon LLC/Scranton Gillette Communications, announces the hire of longtime industry editor, Denise Dersin, as editor-in-chief. Dersin will be responsible for the publication’s content, its related websites, ProBuilder.com and HousingZone.com, and the brand’s leading events.
During her 10 years working in a similar capacity for Hanley Wood’s Builder magazine, Dersin led many key editorial initiatives in the building industry. In her 23-year career as an editor, including 13 years with Time Warner, she won numerous editorial awards.
“This is a big day for Professional Builder,” says Patrick O’Toole, editorial director and publisher. “Denise’s track record for service to the home building industry is well known. She has cultivated journalistic relationships with leading builders throughout the country and helped document the dramatic market changes over the past decade. Now that the industry is gaining new strength, we are pleased that she will continue that work as the full-time editor of the magazine, its websites, online newsletters and in-person events.”
Tony Mancini, SGC Horizon Group Director-Principal, adds, “This is another in a series of big steps forward for the Professional Builder brand since our new ownership team took charge three years ago. Denise Dersin adds great depth of experience and talent to our growing editorial team. We have a long-term vision for serving builders and our continued investment in the brand is part of that plan.”
Professional Builder is known for its business advice to its more than 117,000 subscribers nationwide; its annual list of Housing Giants, a compilation of the industry’s largest firms; Professional Builder Show Village, the long-running, award-winning, new-home demonstration project at the International Builders’ Show each year since 1998; and for establishing the industry’s highest honor with its Builder of the Year Award, given annually for more than 40 years.
For more information on Professional Builder, visit www.ProBuilder.com and www.housingzone.com, contact Patrick O’Toole at potoole@sgcmail.com, or contact Denise Dersin at ddersin@sgcmail.com.