Always true to its name, The Standard set a few new standards this week
with the launch of its new stock index at the posh Cipriani's on 42nd
Street. The Standard's Strategic Development VP Joe Walowski, who
negotiated the deal, explained to me that with three writers from the
publication and three analysts from Epoch, they chose the first 100
companies to be listed on the American Stock Exchange in their index
(XIS). The Industry Standard Editor-in- Chief Jonathan Weber and
TheStreet.com's Editor-in-Chief Dave Kansas were chatting about the
market, which was the big topic for most everyone in attendance. Weber
told me Bernhard Warner has joined European Editor-in-Chief James
Ledbetter in London, where the office has grown to 25 in number. The
Industry Standard Executive Editor Eric J. Savitz explained the processes
to myself, Flooz.com's CEO Robert Levitan and PR 21s EVP Renee Edelman.
Epoch's Managing Director of Trading Stanford Green stood by the stage
and chatted with guests curious about their choices. Inside.com's
Business Development Director Andrew Gelman strolled along the marble
floors, past the buffet bursting with delicious foods. The buffet was in
fact one of the major topics of the night - lobster salad, shrimp
cocktail, rack of lamb, smoked salmon, risottos, fresh pastas and salads
keep guests coming back for seconds all night long. Doubleclick's CEO
Kevin Ryan, Epoch's Scott Riles and Looksmart's CEO Evan Thornley were
among the 60-70 CEOs who came to rub shoulders in the opulent setting for
this momentous occasion. LaunchCenter 39's Marketing VP Cherry Arnold
introduced me to general counsel Brad Muro and recommended the spinach
and pesto cannoli. Soliloquy's Jonathan Saxon came over to say hello and
The Standard Writer Mark A. Mowrey discussed the high points of the
night. 3Path's CEO Brian Smiga and I chatted with YouDecide.com's Miriam
Eaves, The Standard's Publisher and Interactive VP and InTransition's
Laurie Malen. Wit Capital's Zoe Adlersburg and her friends sat
comfortably at a table and chatted while USLaw.com's Seth Price and
iHatch's Chip Austin and I marveled at the dessert buffet on the other
side of the room. Nicole Berlyn told me of her new-found independence as
a consultant, and as I was gathering my coat the bartenders were still
attentive to lingering guests, the band cranked out another modern jazz
song, and the gift bags (with silvery piggy banks) were available for the
taking on one's way out.
A chronicle of the people and events in technology, internet and media since 1997, mixed in with snapshots of musings and observations.
