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About

 The design and construction industries have faced an uphill battle since the Great Recession of 2008. The pandemic has added a new layer of challenges. The vast inventory of existing building stock has turned industry professionals’ focuses on the retrofit market and the opportunities it presents. Building owners, too, are finding cheaper leases within empty spaces or are retrofitting their current spaces in hopes of improving value for current and future tenants.

Although other trade publications have mentioned retrofitting and the specific products required to retrofit buildings, there has not been a publication or website focused entirely on what now is a prominent market category.

retrofit magazine’s goal is to provide facility managers, building owners, contractors and others education about and insight into this burgeoning marketplace. As retrofitting makes its place in our nation’s building history, the concept itself deserves recognition through its own publication and website.

Our Staff

Director of Operations

Becky Riester

Prior to launching retrofit magazine, Becky was the marketing manager and media services manager for several nationally circulated business-to-business magazines, covering commercial design and construction. Becky brings more than five years’ experience in all aspects of business media, including magazine publishing, advertising sales, marketing and events, to retrofit magazine. Her favorite things include travel to warm places, red wine, anything that sparkles, and spending time with family and friends.

Publisher

John Riester

John has more than 25 years’ experience in the commercial design and construction industries. He has been the founder and publisher of two nationally circulated magazines in the commercial construction and green-design industries. John also has been national sales manager of several trade publications. He brings a vast amount of knowledge and experience in magazine publishing and advertising sales, as well as industry relationships, to retrofit magazine. Residing in North Carolina, but still a “South Sider” at heart, he is a huge fan of the Chicago Bears and White Sox.

Editorial Director, Associate Publisher

Christina Koch

Under Christina’s direction, retrofit has won several awards, including national AZBEE Awards for editorial and design. Prior to joining retrofit magazine, Christina was the editor of several nationally circulated trade magazines, including a residential remodeling magazine and a commercial green-building magazine. Christina has traveled extensively across North America and Europe, meeting with architects, engineers, contractors and manufacturers to learn about innovations and successes in design and construction. She is active in industry trade associations and has been interviewed by well-known news organizations, including The New York Times and San Francisco’s KTRB-AM 860 radio station. She notes interviewing former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley as her most memorable professional experience.

Advertising Sales

Barrett Hahn


Beth Emerich

Beth Emerich

For more than 20 years Beth has sold b2b and b2c advertising for all media platforms—print, digital and social media, along with event sponsorships and show homes—for multiple publications within the residential and commercial building, architecture, interior design, remodeling, kitchen and bath, home technology and construction spaces. She brings this expertise and a strong sense of dedication to the retrofit publications, plus a unique camaraderie in the business because she has worked with many of the same clients since she started in publishing. When Beth and her husband are not traveling for work, they enjoy weekend getaway trips to paddle around in Northeastern lakes in their restored Old Town, 1937 wooden canoe.