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About Yankee Publishing Inc
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In 1958 Judson Hale, Sagendorph's nephew, joined the company on the editorial side, and seven years later, in 1965, Rob Trowbridge, his son-in-law, came on board to help with the business end of things. Five years later, shortly before his death on July 4, 1970, Sagendorph called both Hale and Trowbridge to his bedside. He told them that about 80 percent of YPI stock would be held in trust for his two daughters, Jane Kauppi and Lorna Trowbridge. Most of the remaining minority shares would be held by the Hale and Trowbridge families. (To this day, YPI remains a private, family-owned company, per Sagendorph's wishes.)
Then Sagendorph beckoned Trowbridge and Hale even closer to his bedside and said, "But don't grow the company any more, boys."
"Why not?" was the obvious question, and both Hale and Trowbridge expected profound advice. "Because," said Sagendorph, "the plumbing won't take it."
Despite Robb's warning, YPI grew dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s. Yankee Magazine and The Old Farmer's Almanac did so well that the company started and purchased additional publications to expand even further. However, these new ventures didn't perform as expected, and the company returned to focusing on its core businesses. In 1988 Joe Meagher became the president and led the company through extensive organizational changes, resulting in a business that was leaner and more competitive.
Even so, the economics of magazine publishing grew more challenging for YPI. In the 1990s media conglomerates were buying up magazines, radio stations, newspapers, and television stations. It wasn't clear that small independent publishers such as YPI would be able to compete in a marketplace dominated by media giants. At the same time, the media landscape started to shift with the introduction of "new media," most notably the emergence of the Internet as a medium through which consumers could get information and entertainment. What should the company do in the face of these challenges?
YPI's board and shareholders decided to remain independent and to embrace the Internet as a publishing platform. Jamie Trowbridge took over as president in 1999 and led the company through further changes, positioning it for success in the 21st century. The company has launched new products from The Old Farmer's Almanac; completely overhauled the structure of its Yankee Magazine business, changing the magazine's format, frequency, and circulation in 2007; and invested in launching and growing a portfolio of Web sites related to YPI's magazine brands. The company's mission is to remain a successful independent media company committed to creating outstanding products that serve its customers and enhance its communities.
Through all the changes, YPI has held fast to the vision of its founder, Robb Sagendorph, who was so inspired by the spirit of New England that he started a magazine about it. Independence, integrity, ingenuity, perseverance, self-sufficiency, community -- these are the values that have made both New England and Yankee Publishing successful. We continue to adhere to those values at YPI today.
