Editors Corner

Dear Readers, Customers, and Friends,

After 20 years of publishing our A2Z Manufacturing Magazines, Kim Carpenter and I want to share some news.

The time has come to pass the torch. Beginning with the next issue, Charlie and Alexandra Hushek will take the helm of A2Z Manufacturing, bringing fresh energy, vision, and a deep respect for the manufacturing community that has made this magazine thrive.

When I purchased the magazine two decades ago, it was called Arizona Metalworker.

Our mission was simple: to celebrate the incredible companies, people, and technologies that make American manufacturing vital. Over the years, with the help of Kim, we evolved the publication to reflect the full spectrum of precision manufacturing, renaming it A2Z Manufacturing and expanding with two regional editions — one for the West Coast and another serving the Rocky Mountain region.

Looking back, buying this magazine was the best business decision of my life, and I have gained such respect for the shop owners and employees who build intricate, often mission-critical parts for many Fortune 500 clients.. Along the way, we have met countless shop owners, leaders, and innovators who embody grit, ingenuity, and perseverance.

Your stories have filled our pages, your insights have shaped our content, and your support has fueled our work.

We are deeply grateful to every advertiser, subscriber, and contributor who believed in us and helped shape the magazine into what it is today.

The timing for this transition feels right.

Across the nation, we’re seeing what many call the “Silver Tsunami” — a generational wave of business owners and leaders preparing to retire and hand over their life’s work to the next generation. This moment of transition is not an end but a renewal, ensuring that the knowledge, traditions, and values we’ve built are carried forward with new vision and vitality.

Charlie Hushek, president of Phoenix Heat Treat, knows this better than most.

As the third-generation leader of a family-owned business, Charlie understands the responsibility and opportunity that comes with stewardship. He and his wife Alexandra (Alex) are committed to continuing A2Z Manufacturing’s mission of spotlighting the best in American manufacturing while bringing fresh ideas to help the publication grow.

Both Alex and Charlie bring a superior grasp of technology and social media, tools that are increasingly essential for connecting with readers and advertisers alike. Because of this, you may notice some exciting changes going forward — new ways to engage with the magazine, expanded digital reach, and even more timely coverage of the industry we all care about.

Kim and I could not imagine better hands to guide this magazine forward.

Thank you for welcoming A2Z Manufacturing into your shops and offices for the past two decades.

Thank you for trusting us to tell your stories, for sharing your triumphs and challenges, and for being part of a community that provesthat manufacturing is not just alive in America — it is thriving, innovative, and essential to our economy and our future.

Here’s to the next chapter, and I encourage you to contact Charlie and Alex to share your advertising plans. You can expect to see Kim and me around, as we are supporting the Hushek’s efforts over the foreseeable future.

As always, God bless our troops.

Linda Daly,

Former Publisher