Our Story

Rick Donaldson

Many a success is born out of adversity.  CSRA Active magazine is one such success.  Sure, it’s the newest kid on the block – or at least in the magazine rack – but the very fact that you are reading this, means it is a success.  That it went from vague concept all the way to printing and distribution in less than 90 days is a success in its own right.  And a testament to the determination and work ethic of a handful of very special people.

You see, I’d had the idea for a local magazine about active lifestyles for quite some time; years, in fact.  But I had been unable to assemble the talent to make that idea a reality.  Then, in a span of less than six months, our nose-diving economy made that talent available.  In that time, I saw several of my friends laid-off from their jobs and found myself having to explain to my own employees that we needed to make cuts.  As the doors to their employment were closing, the window to CSRA Active was opening.

Bill was a 25-year veteran of the local cable company, serving as their Public Relations Director.  That sounded like a writer and editor to me.  Rob had lost his job as a videographer and photographer for a local television station.  Our magazine would need a photographer.  I had been forced to eliminate Jamie’s job as a graphic designer for our advertising agency.  Looked like CSRA Active could use a graphic designer to handle the magazine’s layout.  David had been a technical publication specialist with sales experience for an engineering group.  A writer and a salesperson?  Perfect for a start-up magazine.  Katy, who also worked at our advertising agency, had been something of a jack-of-all-trades as a sales assistant.  Unfortunately, that was a luxury we were no longer going to be able to afford.  But CSRA Active would need all the sales help it could get.

I called each of them and explained the very basics of my idea and asked if they’d be interested enough to sit with each other and explore it further.  They were all very positive on the phone and when we gathered around the conference table for that first meeting.  The attitude was essentially, “why not?”  They all had time now; they all had expertise and, to a large degree, knew of each others’ talents.  Above all though, they had the drive and desire to exercise those talents, to stay sharp and to stay involved in the community.  Less than three months after those initial phone calls, the premier edition of CSRA Active magazine was available all around town.

It may be a very small American success story, but it is definitely a success story.  Half a dozen talented people (with some sales and support from the Mass Media Marketing staff) who had either lost their jobs or seen severe cuts to their hours and income decided to make the best of the adversities they faced.  CSRA Active magazine was born and is in print and on the web.  Thank you for reading it and for reading our story.  Remember, just like many of the individuals featured in our magazine, if they or we can do it, so can you.

Rick Donaldson
Publisher, CSRA Active