For the first time in decades, the top of the masthead of this award-winning magazine has changed. Kathy Williams, editor-in-chief and an IMA® staff member for more than 45 years, is stepping down from her day-to-day role and moving into the position of editor-in-chief emeritus. Kathy is retiring soon from full-time employment with IMA, and I will miss her as a friend and confidante with incredible institutional knowledge.

During her many years of service to this magazine and to IMA’s senior leadership team, Kathy has provided wise counsel, exceptional professional insight, and relentless excellence. I’m sure I speak for many members who have had the pleasure of working with Kathy over her long tenure: She will be dearly missed. She leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, one that we celebrate with gratitude and with knowledge that the future holds the promise of new things to come.

This magazine rests in capable hands. Christopher Dowsett, senior editor, who has been with the magazine almost 20 years, is the new editor-in-chief of Strategic Finance and Management Accounting Quarterly. Christopher has worked alongside and learned from Kathy for nearly two decades. I know he’ll continue the magazine’s rich tradition of excellence even as he adds his own imprint to its future, focused on innovation and the user/reader experience.

There’s another notable event this year: IMA is turning 100. You can help celebrate at this year’s Annual Conference & Expo (ACE2019), which we’re hosting in San Diego, Calif., on June 15-19. The Conference offers all of us a wonderful opportunity to come together as IMA members to commemorate our great organization’s history over the past 100 years.

We’ve got some exciting plans for the Conference: fantastic networking events, a centennial celebration party, plus outstanding educational opportunities. Attendees will be able to explore eight Specialty Tracks (linked to our recently released enhanced Management Accounting Competency Framework) and enjoy some good-natured humor from our keynote speaker, Mr. Jay Leno! We’re expecting more than 1,000 attendees, and I’d love to see you there.

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