Please Welcome IT Unity and NC Communications

Almost a year and a half ago, I made the difficult but exciting decision to leave a job of 15 years and partner with George Coll and Blue Whale Web. Today, the Blue Whale Web family is growing again with the acquisition of IT Unity and NC Communications. And I couldn’t be happier.

Brad has a post welcoming IT Unity and NC Communications over on Petri, and there’s a press release too if you’re curious. Here, I’d like to focus on how this impacts me and the readers of Thurrott.com.

It’s all good news.

From a personal standpoint, I’m elated that IT Unity and NC Communications are comprised of people I know, love and respect from my years at Windows IT Pro. One of the things most readers probably haven’t been aware of over the years is the amazing relationships I’ve been privileged to participate in, and to be reunited with some of those people is wonderful. In fact, one of the things that drew me to Blue Whale Web is the team that George had assembled, and how it reminded me of the comradery I experienced in my previous position.

Over the past 15 months or so, we’ve seamlessly transitioned Thurrott.com into Blue Whale Web alongside Petri, creating a small family of sites that complement each other. IT Unity and NC Communications are likewise complementary, with each filling an important role in our desire to be the most trusted and relevant source of information about the Microsoft ecosystem. For me, it means I can continue to focus on what I truly care about, the personal technologies that impact us all every day.

One more personal note. IT Unity co-founder Dan Holme is moving on to take a new role at Microsoft as the Director of Product Marketing for SharePoint. This makes tons of sense, as Dan is one of the most knowledgeable SharePoint experts on earth, one of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and an able teacher. As important, Dan is also a friend of many years, and while I’m sorry I won’t be working with him again, I couldn’t be happier for him and his new direction. Dan, I love you like a brother. Congratulations.

As for the rest of the IT Unity and NC Communications crew—Megan Keller, Erik Ruthruff, Jacquelyn Baillie, Lyman Goodrich, Chris Moore, and Irene and Nigel Clapham—I’m looking forward to working with you, in some cases not for the first time. Welcome home. You’re going to love Blue Whale Web.

Paul