Last fall, I had the privilege of stepping into the role of Chair of the Consumer Reports Board in the midst of a vital, dynamic moment in the organization's history. For more than 80 years, CR has stood for rigorous testing, fearless independent journalism, and determined advocacy on behalf of consumers—but in a world of dizzying change, our ability to keep delivering on our mission now depends on making changes of our own. Transforming ourselves to meet people's needs today has required us to reexamine almost everything: the elements we test for in a digital era; the ways that we engage and communicate with consumers; even the fundamental question of how progress can be made in a landscape marked by corporate consolidation and political turbulence. But throughout our evolution, what has never been up for debate are the bedrock values that have always infused our work and made CR an organization worthy of trust.

This year, CR took a series of big steps to reinforce those values—independence, integrity, and informed choice among them—in order to be there for consumers in a complex world. We began by redefining our relationship with the people we serve by becoming not simply a resource or ally to consumers, but a fully-fledged membership organization ready to stand with people whenever and wherever they need us. Membership is about much more than a change in terminology; it's about bringing together a diverse and active community of consumers to engage with one another and amplify the power of their voices. Today, our members can also enjoy a more personalized connection with CR that offers them specific knowledge and guidance at every step of their consumer journey, whether they're replacing a car battery, figuring out how to pay for college, preparing to have their first baby, or planning for retirement.

We've also transformed ourselves to better serve people in an increasingly digital age. Not only has our new Digital Standard made it possible for us to begin testing and rating connected products for how effectively they uphold our personal privacy and the security of our data, but our investment in our own digital presence has allowed us to support consumers in new ways. Innovative partnerships and social media efforts have brought CR to new audiences, while changes to our website have helped spur record-breaking traffic and netted us the 2018 Webby People's Voice Award—the ‘Oscars of the Internet'—for best magazine website as voted on by more than three million internet users.

I could not be more excited for the work ahead of us—to keep building the CR community, to keep showing up wherever people need us, and to keep digging in on the issues that matter to consumers today, from contaminants hidden in our food supply to vulnerabilities hidden in our home products. Even as we move nimbly to stay ahead of rapid changes in our technology, our economy, our communication, and our society at large, we will continue to stand for the values that have always animated the CR mission. It is with great pride that I look forward to the year ahead—to both the challenges we'll tackle and the opportunities we'll seize—working with consumers in every community to bring more fairness, more accountability, and more truth to the marketplace we share.