people
Rick Dana Barlow founded Wingfoot Media Inc., a media consulting and editorial management firm that provides high-quality editorial products and services, in March 2001. Barlow has more than 20 years of professional media experience, 18 of which involve a healthcare supply chain management concentration.
Barlow has researched and written a book chronicling the 75-year history of a regional steel fabricators association, created and developed a business magazine for supply chain management professionals in healthcare facilities, and has written hundreds of magazine articles for more than 20 different print and online publications and companies. The hardcover book, “Central Fabricators Association: 75 Years of Change, 1926-2001, Fabricating for America’s Future” was published in October 2001.
Barlow currently serves under contract as senior editor of Healthcare Purchasing News, a monthly trade magazine covering supply chain management, sterile processing, surgical services and infection control issues. At HPN, Barlow has written more than 200 feature articles to date, as well as created five revenue-generating guides and three annual awards, and helped develop the annual editorial calendar.
Barlow also provides media management consulting for a variety of other clients. In 2007, he created and co-founded Bellwether League Inc., a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit “hall of fame” for healthcare supply chain management professionals, where he serves as executive director under contract.
For five years, Barlow served under contract as editor of Outpatient Care Technology, a tabloid-sized bimonthly magazine that specialized in diagnostic imaging, oncology, surgery and women’s healthcare. OPCT was geared toward decision makers in outpatient care facilities and outpatient departments in smaller hospitals. At OPCT, Barlow wrote more than 100 feature articles, as well as created four annual awards, several topically rotating guides and product comparison charts and helped develop the annual editorial calendar.
Before creating and developing First Moves Magazine in mid-2001, Barlow spent nearly two years as managing editor of Hospital Network.com, a VerticalNet Inc. online professional community and e-commerce marketplace, where he provided daily news, analysis, features and case studies for healthcare professionals actively involved in resource and supply chain management at their facilities.
Prior to Hospital Network.com, Barlow spent nearly seven years at Healthcare Purchasing News. He provided news stories, in-depth features and market analysis of supply chain management issues and strategies for cost containment. He also handled strategic planning and day-to-day editorial operations, initiated and implemented the magazine’s redesign projects in 1994 and 1999 and established the content blueprint for the magazine’s online presence. Barlow also served as associate editor of HPN’s sister publication at the time, Medical Products Sales, a trade publication covering medical supply distribution for distributors and manufacturers, until October 1995.
Prior to HPN, Barlow served as editor of the monthly newsletter Hospital Materials Management, which explored supply chain management issues with an emphasis on cost containment and pricing.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND/PERSONAL INTERESTS
A native of the Chicago metropolitan area, Barlow earned both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Evanston, IL, with concentrations in business reporting, arts criticism, magazine publishing, American history and political science.
Barlow’s varied personal interests include auto racing and cars, cartoons, comic books and graphic novels, science fiction, archeology and cartography. He considers himself fairly knowledgeable in media-related pop culture and remains an avid fan of the Star Trek and “James Bond” franchises.
Barlow lives with his wife LeAnn (an information technology director for a professional association) and their 5-year-old triplet boys in northwest suburban Chicago.