AHP Champion Award2014

What makes an AHP Champion? 

Dedication Service

A passion for publishingA sense of humor

The 2014 honoree has them all.

Warren Wilson2000-2001 AHP President

Who is Warren Wilson?Warren is Publisher of California Horsetrader, a twice-monthly, all-breed regional magazine that he purchased as a newsprint “shopper” in 1990, the year he joined AHP.

His 25 years in equine publishing have provided technical innovations that bridge the transition from fiber to cyber. In addition to founding horsetrader.com in 1997, Warren has led the development of solutions for online delivery of content as well as for web-based publishing business systems.

Today, 15 AHP member magazines, websites andcorporate members use technology his team developed in the last decade.

Warren became the 2000-2001 AHP President after his tenure on the Board of Directors that began in 1995. Next year will mark his 25th year as an AHP member.

His AHP Legacy

What he is best known for: Warren has led or participated in numerous AHP workshops and panels on wide-ranging topics including editorial management, technology, and business development.

He started the AHP Small But Mighty seminars for publishers of smaller titles in 2001.Small But Mighty meetings continue today.

Warren’s publishing career began in newspapers. He was editor of his hometown weekly, the San Marcos Courier, at age 20.

He moved on to a San Diego area morning daily, the Morning Press, first as Sports Editor before being named Managing Editor at age 26

What you might not know about Warren…

When he bought the California Horsetrader, he infused the classifier with news and sports coverage of the region’s shows, events and personalities.

He also brought a “daily-tested tough” approach to the paper’s organization and systems. Within a decade, revenues and pages had more than tripled, and the Horsetrader team at its peak produced 300-page issues in 72 hours -- mostly private party ads.

CollaborationHis company’s digital solutions have been shared. In 2006, when fellow AHP Publisher Crystal Brumme Kimball of The Equiery faced an insurmountable obstacle to going to press, she called Warren, and the Horsetrader team added the Equiery to their web-based system. Almost 3,000 miles away, Equiery staff was able to make their press date. Eight years and almost 100 issues later, the Equiery continues to use the Horsetrader’s system.

Moving forwardToday’s collaborations extend outside the print realm, as Warren works with non-publishing AHP members including trade shows and associations to engage their audiences with online and mobile marketplaces and video contests .

Participation

Warren has always been ready to share things with AHP members, including a laugh…

…and familyFamily is at the top of Warren’s list, and when his three children were young, the AHP conference was an annual Wilson family vacation.

In their camper affectionately called the “Conestoga,” the Wilsons drove from San Diegoto AHP meetings in Nashville, Vail, Park City and San Mateo.

AHP Memories

“Warren has always been that rare individual who’s both eager to learn and willing to share. When I first joined AHP (while publishing California Horse Review), Warren was just starting out and full of really smart questions. Over the years, he’s evolved into the person people turn to for answers--especially regarding digital solutions--and he’s always been gracious and generous with his time and expertise. (He’s also just a sweetie, which is why everyone loves him.) Congrats, Warren—you truly are a champion.”

J. Forsberg Meyer

It’s my privilege and honor to present the 2014 AHP Champion award to a true publisher, innovator, and a long time friend.

Warren Wilson joins a long list of pioneers in AHP’s Circle of Champions.

Let’s take a brief look at the list of AHP Champions who came before him.

2014Warren Wilson (California Horsetrader)

2013Barrie Reightler (The Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred)

Frank Lessiter (American Farriers Journal)

Doug Hayes (The American Quarter Horse Journal)

AHP Circle of Champions

AHP Circle of Champions2012Lua Oas Southard (EquiSource)

Stacy V. Bearse (Blood-Horse Publications)

Robert Banner (The Chronicle of the Horse)

2011Kathy Mezick (Horsemen’s Corral)

Jim Jennings (The Quarter Horse Journal)

Susan Harding (Fleet Street Publishing)

Darrell Dodds (Paint Horse Journal)

2010Walt Wiggins (Quarter Racing World)Erbert Eades (The Blood-Horse)Don Price (Michigan Harness Horseman)Les Ford (The Harness Horse)Thom Mezick (Horsemen’s Corral)Peter Winants (The Chronicle of the Horse)Tracy Gantz (The Thoroughbred of California)Chris Brune (Eastern/Western Quarter Horse Journal)Bill Shepard (Paint Horse Journal)Nancy Lee Comer (The Chronicle of the Horse)Karl Little (Cutting Horse Chatter)Jennifer Forsberg Meyer (California Horse Review)

AHP Circle of Champions

2009Stanley F. Bergstein  (Hoof Beats)

Bob Gray  (Horseman)

Audie Rackley (The Quarter Horse Journal)

2008Tony Chamblin  (The Horsemen’s Journal)

Ruth Brown  (Eastern/Western Quarter Horse Journal)

AHP Circle of Champions

AHP Circle of Champions2007Arnold Kirkpatrick (Thoroughbred Record)

Lucille Shuler  (Arabian Horse World)

Melvin Peavey  (Horse World)

Don Valliere  (Turf & Sport Digest)

Alexander Mackay-Smith (The Chronicle of the Horse)

Snowden Carter  (Maryland Horse)