Hey, How'd You Build A 50-Title Publishing Network?

How this 'hyper-local' mag franchise maintains a 100 percent success rate

By Joy Parks - December 16, 2008

Armed with more than 20 years of experience in marketing, writing and graphic design -- and raised in New York state's Adirondack Mountains by a family who were locavores long before there was an actual term for eating local foods -- Tracey Ryder co-founded Communities, Inc. with life and business partner Carole Topalian in 2002. Six years later, the company boasts 50 member publications with more in the works, as well as plans to expand into television and product development. She is also a graduate of the professional chefs training program at the Epicurean Cooking School in Los Angeles and is currently involved in writing and recipe development for the forthcoming book Edible Nation: Local Heroes from America's Sustainable Farm and Food Scene (March 2010, John Wiley & Sons.)...