If there's one thing we're constantly striving for here at EBA it's an ever-strengthening connection to you, our audience of employee benefit professionals. We're finding more ways to interact with you in person, whether it's at this month's Workplace Benefits Mania in Chicago or at the 6th Annual Employee Benefit Adviser Summit in Dallas, September 25-27. We hope to see you there!

Meanwhile, read about Associate Editor Marli Riggs' experience at the annual National Association of Health Underwriters convention in San Antonio on p. 16 for a first-hand account of the inspirational (if somewhat uncertain) vibe. Shout-out to a group of women advisers from the Corpus Christi area for taking her under their wing after the leading producers' roundtable and providing an invaluable insiders' take on the business.

Through each new benefit adviser, broker or consultant we meet we grow in our knowledge of what makes you tick: why you love your job, the "what ifs?" that keep you up at night, how each client is more than a spreadsheet and a sale. We thrive on the connection and if anyone knows about the value and importance of building relationships, it's you. Of course, there aren't conventions to provide the opportunity every week. That's why we're so excited to reach out to you as we build our online presence.

"Like" us on our new Facebook page, facebook.com/EBAmagazine. As a Facebook fan, you'll not only have access to exclusive postings about upcoming issue coverage and how you can get involved, you'll also be entered to win an iPad2 or one of several Amazon.com gift cards. A chance for free publicity and free stuff? Who wouldn't "like" that!

If Facebook's not your thing, you can also follow the magazine on Twitter, @EBAmagazine, as well as each of our editors: Elizabeth Galentine, @EBA_Galentine; Brian Kalish, @Benefit_Brian; and Marli Riggs, @MarliDRiggs_EBA.

To end on a personal note, as I take over the role of editor-in-chief at the two-year anniversary of the passing of Robert Whiddon, I find the desire to connect with each of you all the more important. As longtime EBA readers can attest, Robert was the consummate communicator: on the phone and exchanging emails with brokers all day, every day. He genuinely cared about you and your livelihood. If I can expend a fraction of the energy and enthusiasm Robert had for EBA during my tenure as editor I will consider it the ultimate success.

So please, keep in touch across all mediums (old-fashioned phone and email work just as well) and stay tuned - we've got another wave of new developments coming your way!