With this week's publication, Fresh Water Cleveland announces that Erin O'Brien will helm the magazine as the new managing editor. O'Brien is stepping up from her previous role as development news editor, which she held since October 2014. She's also been a contributor since Fresh Water's inception in fall of 2010.

Clevelanders west, east and all points in between know that 2016 promises to be a banner year here on the north coast and O'Brien, a lifelong northeast Ohioan, looks forward to steering Fresh Water headlong into all of it.

"Writing for Fresh Water has opened up Cleveland for me in ways I never could have imagined," says O'Brien, tagging a few of her favorite stories: a roundup of the area's ten most anticipated projects; one that uncovered Cleveland's coolest things hidden in plain sight; and yet another about a quirky urban neighborhood that's on the brink of big things.

"With the Republican National Convention on its way, area development shifting into high speed and the unprecedented influx of millennials into downtown, there is much to cover, but I have faith in this well-oiled staff," says O'Brien. "It's an electrifying time to be a journalist in Cleveland," she adds, "but I'm also humbled and honored by this new position."

O'Brien's work has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and a host of other publications. She was also the "Rainy Day Woman" columnist for the Cleveland Free Times from 2006–2010.

Fresh Water sends endless thanks to interim editor and senior news editor Karin Connelly Rice, who will be transitioning over the next weeks and eventually covering the development news column. Long time contributor Douglas Guth will become our regular innovation news editor. Publisher Fran DiDonato and managing photographer Bob Perkoski will continue in their roles along with our outstanding freelance writing staff.

Fresh Water also extends sincere appreciation to our readers and sponsors. You energize this publication in more ways than you know. Please keep the comments, shares and likes coming, because we're listening. And if you'd like to contact us directly, don't hesitate to drop us a line.