The BVM Story: How Best Version Media Connects Communities and Powers Local Business Marketing
Best Version Media (BVM) is a leading magazine publisher and omnichannel marketing solutions provider that operates across the United States and Canada. BVM specializes in the creation of hyperlocal print publications and integrated digital marketing services, fostering powerful community connections, brand storytelling, and local impact.
Best Version Media’s History and Evolution
BVM was founded in Wisconsin in 2007 by Dave Durand, Pete Ericksen, and Paul Lubinski. The company, originally named Neighborhood Communications, established its operational model around the creation of hyperlocal, high-quality print magazines highlighting positive, community-focused content about local residents and businesses.
BVM began small, producing just six local print publications serving communities in Southeastern Wisconsin. The company is headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin.
Following local success in the U.S., BVM quickly began expanding its geographic reach. In 2013, the company launched its first magazine in Canada, paving the way for BVM’s eventual expansion into all 10 Canadian provinces. By 2018, BVM reached 500 unique magazines published across North America.
While continuing to expand its print presence, BVM strategically evolved into an omnichannel marketing provider through the introduction of its digital advertising solutions in 2021. These offerings soon expanded beyond display and social media ads to include comprehensive management of online listings and reviews for advertising partners.
Since its digital expansion, BVM’s growth has accelerated. In 2022, BVM’s publishing expanded to 1,000 magazines. The company now produces over 1,300 print publications while managing more than 24,000 digital campaigns. BVM has served over 94,000 local businesses since its founding.
Strategic Investment of Best Version Media
BVM’s proven growth and sustained success has attracted interest from multiple investment firms, leading to notable private equity transactions that have shaped the company’s evolution.
Partnership with Bertram Capital (2018-25)
In October 2018, BVM received a strategic investment from Bertram Capital. The partnership was a significant factor in accelerating BVM’s evolution from a purely print publisher into an omnichannel marketing solutions provider.
Specifically, Bertram’s in-house technology and operational team, Bertram Labs, played a key role in developing BVM’s digital services portfolio, supporting the introduction of digital advertising, listings, and reputation management services that complement the core print business.
Acquisition by H.I.G. Capital (2025-Present)
In January 2025, leading global alternative investment firm H.I.G. Capital acquired BVM from Bertram Capital. This acquisition reinforces BVM’s market leadership and expansion, further positioning the company to expand its geographic footprint and product offerings.
With H.I.G., BVM continues to build on its foundation of being a valuable partner to local businesses across the U.S. and Canada.
Best Version Media’s Business Model and Service Offerings
BVM operates a publishing model that’s centered on impactful hyperlocal media and a trusted network of local business partners. BVM’s unique strategy emphasizes deep and continuous engagement with specific residential communities, where it provides local businesses with the most focused and effective advertising channels available.
Operational Model: Hyperlocal Focus
BVM’s community-specific approach differs from the reach of traditional mass media. Its network spans thousands of high-value residential neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada. BVM’s magazines are hyperlocal and utilize micro-targeting, allowing its local business partners to purchase highly focused and optimized advertising placements that consistently build brand trust and familiarity within their service areas.
This extensive reach includes a collective distribution of more than 48 million magazines annually, positioning BVM as the fourth-most distributed North American magazine in 2024. This market penetration is supported by a high engagement rate, which stands at an 89% readership rate* among homeowners who receive a BVM magazine.
The core of BVM’s industry-leading company structure is a vast network of local Publishers, who operate as independent business owners. BVM’s Publishers expertly manage all facets of their publication and territory, including securing advertising partnerships, coordinating local content sourcing, and performing essential community outreach, which ensures BVM’s magazines maintain unparalleled local relevance and accuracy.
Products and Services
BVM’s product line has strategically evolved from print publications into a comprehensive, omnichannel marketing suite designed to provide its local business partners with continuous brand visibility and maximum impact across various platforms.
- Print Magazine Ads: BVM’s original core product consists of monthly, high-quality magazine ads printed alongside positive local content, including neighbor profiles, community news, history, and events. These magazines are intentionally designed to have a long shelf life in homes, which dramatically increases ad exposure and value.
- Integrated Digital Marketing Solutions: Seamlessly complementing the print publications, BVM offers a powerful suite of online services to local advertisers, including:
- Geo-Targeted Display and Social Ads: Placing BVM’s clients’ brands in front of their local audience across the web.
- Online Reputation Management: All-in-one tool to help BVM’s clients monitor and proactively manage their listings and customer reviews across all major digital platforms.
Executive Leadership for Best Version Media
BVM’s Mission: To bring communities closer together by sharing positive, local stories and helping local businesses expand their visibility in the community through marketing solutions.
Best Version Media’s Workplace and Leadership Recognition
BVM’s continuous success and exponential growth stem directly from an award-winning company culture, which is centered on core values like professional will, compassionate heart, and a fun-loving spirit. This internal focus on its people and the community has resulted in significant and consistent external validation.
BVM has consistently been recognized for fostering an exceptional, people-first work environment, as shown by internal employee feedback and external recognition:
- USA TODAY Top Workplaces: BVM has received this prestigious award annually since 2021, which recognizes organizations for creating exceptional cultures based on comprehensive, anonymous employee surveys.
- Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards: Honored as Best Places to Work 2025, validating the quality of BVM’s work environment through employee reviews. This was the third time in a row BVM received this distinction and fifth overall.
- Industry Awards: BVM has received numerous accolades in the Globee Awards and Best in Biz Awards for both ground-breaking innovation in service offerings and the visionary leadership of its CEO.
- Future 50 Winner: BVM’s consistent growth has also earned it a multi-year distinction as a Future 50 winner by BizTimes Media, recognizing BVM as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Best Version Media’s Philanthropic Involvement
BVM reinforces its mission to strengthen communities through active philanthropic efforts that go far beyond publishing. The company and its employees commit substantial time and resources to giving back by partnering with and volunteering for national and local nonprofit organizations.
Notable charitable engagement includes hands-on volunteering, fundraising, and food drives for partners such as Habitat for Humanity and Hunger Task Force. This profound commitment demonstrates BVM’s ethos of serving not just advertisers, but the communities its publications reach.
*Survey conducted by Bayside Village, WI, for Bayside Magazine. Results were published and shared with Best Version Media LLC.
