TechFlash made its debut one year ago today, and the fact that we almost didn't have time to mark our own anniversary says a lot about how well things are going. We're working harder than ever, and we're intensely focused on reporting the news and figuring out new ways to serve the region's technology community.

And we're still having a ton of fun.

The past year has required lots of late nights and no shortage of humility. One of the most eye-opening moments involved showing up for an appointment at a well-known video-game company in the Seattle area to be handed a carefully prepared badge identifying our news outlet as "TechFlush." It was too funny to ask them to correct it.

Fortunately, that alternative interpretation of the name has not foreshadowed the fate of the site. In fact, TechFlash is going strong, thanks in no small part to your readership and participation.

Last month was the biggest on record for the site. We've had a great time putting on events such as our TechFlash Live networking receptions, our Summer BBQ & Ping-Pong Tournament, and next week's TechFlash Women in Technology event. (Tickets for that one-of-a-kind evening are available here, by the way.)

We've been encouraged by the reaction to new features such as Disqus comments and our recently launched Amazon blog, and to ongoing projects such as the TechFlash Geek's Guide to Seattle.

We've also made plenty of mistakes, and we have a long way to go. We're now looking ahead to 2010 -- planning future events and working to make TechFlash stronger as a site, as a business, and as a gathering place for the region's technology community.

Many of you regularly give us not only story tips but also suggestions about the long-term direction of the site, and ways we can improve what we do. Please keep that feedback coming, in all forms.

Most of all, thanks to all of you for everything you've done to help build TechFlash over the past year, and thanks for your ongoing support.

-- John Cook, Eric Engleman and Todd Bishop