Babcox Media, the nation’s premier provider of innovative business-to-business content and services for the transportation industry, has expanded its national portfolio with the acquisition of Lifestyle Media Group and its award-winning roster of lifestyle and business brands in the South Florida and Tampa Bay markets.
The acquisition—which includes Lifestyle Media Group’s esteemed business magazines (South Florida Business & Wealth and Tampa Bay Business & Wealth) as well as its seven Lifestyle titles (serving affluent communities from south Palm Beach County to Miami)—further adds to Babcox Media’s rich publishing legacy, one that dates back to 1920.
Greg Cira, president of the Akron, Ohio-based company renowned for its dynamic multimedia content development, described the Florida markets served by Lifestyle Media Group as ideal for investment in growth and expansion
“We are thrilled to welcome the LMG staff to Babcox Media,” Cira said. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for these leading lifestyle and business brands. We’re excited to work alongside the LMG team.”
Gary Press
Gary Press, CEO of Lifestyle Media Group for the past 10 years, called Babcox the perfect company for building on the LMG foundation.
“Babcox has the products, services and digital capabilities to take LMG and its all-star team of creatives, administrators and salespeople to another level,” said Press, who will serve in an advisory capacity moving forward. “Better still, their culture, their passion, their vision—it all aligns with the LMG philosophy. The future couldn’t be brighter for our team—as well as for our existing and future clients.”
At Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, Bridgette Bello, CEO and publisher, and Jason Baker, president, will retain their equity ownership positions. Bello and Baker, who debuted TBBW in 2018, have a combined 50-plus years of media experience. Bello shared in the excitement regarding Babcox’s national presence and the expanded capabilities it brings to TBBW’s advertisers, readers and sponsors.
“Babcox will truly take us to the next level,” she said. “We look forward to better serving our exclusive, C-Suite ecosystem in Tampa Bay through the brilliance that Babcox brings to the equation.”
Kimberly Sarni
“I came to South I Florida just over a year ago because Mr. Gary Press convinced me it was the place to be,” wrote Kimberly Sarni, Managing Director at South Florida Business and Wealth. “With Gary’s leadership, heart compassion, and most of all his willingness to be a risk taker – we’ve seen tremendous growth within South Florida Business & Wealth and Lifestyle Media Group, LLC.”
Sarni continued, “Today, we don’t say goodbye- but thank you and happy retirement. I am glad to say the Babcox Media team has won us over, captured our hearts, and the essence of what we’ve been doing. We are proud to stand as strong members of #lmg Lifestyle Media Group and with our parent company Babcox Media. Thank you Gary, for your passion in media and advertising. We love you and will miss you.”
Gary responded with “Thanks everyone. But I am not retiring. I still have two businesses left” so I’m sure we’ll still see Mr. Press around South Florida.
About Babcox Media
Babcox Media (Babcox.com), founded in 1920 by Akron, Ohio native Edward S. Babcox (third generation owner Bill Babcox has been the company’s CEO since 1990), is the leading business to-business, multimedia content provider for the transportation industry. The company’s portfolio includes highly respected and influential brands within the auto care, tire, performance, collision, commercial trucking, auto dealer, powersports and enthusiast markets. Babcox continues to distinguish itself with an array of offerings for its readership and clients— from advanced audience targeting to social media campaign management to digital services including videos, livestreams, webinars and podcasts.
About Lifestyle Media Group
Award-winning Lifestyle Media Group, one of the state’s largest magazine publishers, boasts 10 titles in its portfolio. South Florida Business & Wealth serves Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties with an inspired mix of business and luxury lifestyle content. Tampa Bay Business & Wealth is the leading provider and trusted resource for business leaders affecting change in the Tampa Bay region. Among the seven titles of Lifestyle magazine—which has the largest combined distribution in South Florida—is Las Olas Lifestyle, honored in 2018 and 2019 by the Florida Magazine Association in the category of Best Overall Magazine in the state. LMG also publishes the South Florida Legal Guide.