Ehlert Publishing Group becomes AFFINITY MEDIA DIVISION

Ehlert Publishing Group’s parent company, Affinity Group Inc., recently announced a corporate restructure to better accommodate the $14.7 billion-a-year outdoor recreation industry and nearly $40 billion-a-year boating market. Affinity operates out of Ventura, Calif., and is the nation’s largest provider of outdoor recreation clubs, media and events.

Ehlert Publishing Group, based in Maple Grove, Minn., publisher of 15 consumer and trade periodicals in the powersports and boating markets (including Boating Industry), will now operate within the company’s Affinity Media division and take on the Affinity Media name. Affinity is the largest provider of boating, powersports and RV media with more than 40 niche outdoor recreation and boating magazines, directories and books, as well as 52 complementing Web sites.

A strong tradition
Ehlert Publishing Group was launched in 1980 under the name Winter Sports Publishing, when founder John Ehlert merged two regional snowmobile publications and created Snowmobile magazine. Since then, the name changed to Ehlert Publishing Group, and the company purchased and/or launched more than 15 consumer and trade publications in the motorcycle, personal watercraft, ATV, boating and camping markets. Affinity Group Inc. purchased Ehlert Publishing Group in 1996.

“The name Ehlert has stood for quality, integrity and professionalism for nearly 30 years,” said Tammy Galvin, vice president, for Affinity Boating Media. “It has been the name behind industry-leading publications, Web sites and events serving the entire outdoor recreational and boating marketplace. While our core values remain firmly intact, this new alignment will make us stronger business partners and enable us to reach boating consumers – both active boaters and newcomers to the sport – like no other company in America.

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