Win Holden, the sixth publisher of Arizona Highways magazine, will be the featured speaker at FSL’s March lecture.
Nancy McCluskey-Moore
Join Friends of SaddleBrooke Libraries (FSL) on Thursday, March 10, at 4 p.m. at the DesertView Theater for “On the Road Since 1925: The Colorful History of Arizona Highways.” The first issue of Arizona Highways magazine was published in April 1925. In this presentation, the magazine’s former publisher, Win Holden, will share the fascinating story of how a brochure produced by the Arizona Highway Department evolved into one of the most respected and revered publications in the world. With an annual economic impact of over $65 million, Arizona Highways reaches all 50 states and over 100 countries around the world. The journey has been anything but uneventful. With a unique publishing model not dependent on advertising, the magazine has had to unearth new sources of revenue to sustain its operations. As part of the Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona Highways has had to survive without state funding. Learn how this remarkable magazine has beaten the odds and is thriving in a competitive environment that has seen respected national magazines fall by the wayside.
Win Holden was named the sixth publisher of Arizona Highways magazine in May 2000. The publication is recognized as one of the finest travel magazines in the world. The magazine has over 120,000 subscribers in all 50 states and 100 countries. As publisher, Mr. Holden led a diverse group of businesses centered on the world-renowned magazine, including licensing, book publishing, calendars, e-commerce, new product development, product marketing, and retailing. A Valley resident since 1980, Mr. Holden was recognized by the Arizona Office of Tourism and the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association as their 2017 and 2018 Lifetime Award recipient and received the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Business Journal. He was the 2007 inductee to the Arizona Tourism Hall of Fame.
This lecture is free to both FSL members and non-members.