The holiday season is a time of reflection, appreciation, and joy, and I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season.
This past year I have endeavored to popularize, every chance I have, a phrase that I feel reflects the NPA experience. That phrase is: The Essence of NPA. My dear friend Laura Schmieder shared this phrase with us a couple of years ago when she received the Chairman’s Award; it really hit home for me that day.
To be precise; the Essence of NPAworldwide is the people, and the relationships—everything else follows.
The Essence of NPA was in full swing recently in London and New York City
Many thanks to NPA EMEA Director Tim Lane and NPA UK Area Leader Mel Johnson for hosting a Christmas Lunch in London. Eleven individuals were in attendance, including Simon Bliss, owner of TEAM, our allied recruitment partner network in the UK. In addition, a well-known recruitment lawyer Barry Cullen shared several emerging and relevant legal topics with the group. Lastly, the attendees were asked to reflect and share revenue-centric and operational ideas and best practices. Thanks again, Tim & Mel!
In New York City we had a great meeting with around 27 in attendance. I would like to thank Area Leader Alvin Chin along with Dave, Liz, Veronica and Kelsea for all their efforts putting together this 8th consecutive NYC Holiday Networking meeting. Our featured speaker was the VP of Customer Experience at Epicor Software, Chris Warticki. Chris came our way via SE Area Leader Jen Anderson. I had the pleasure to attend the recent NPAworldwide Meeting in Florida a couple of months ago and was so impressed with Chris that we got him to come to NYC. My take-away from his presentation was his simple client question that he has his team ask their client: Is it easy to do business with me? Great line… I have taken some license in expanding this question in new business application - give me a call happy to share.
The highlight of the NYC meeting was the Hall of Fame/Double Platinum award presentation to an NPA icon, Ed Wallach. The award presentation made by the one and only NPA veteran Howard Rudinsky, was not only an endearing recognition of Ed’s achievements in the network, but also a heartfelt narrative of Ed and Howard’s family history with NPA going back 50-plus years. ED—congrats again, Howard—well done!!!
Search Update NPAworldwide President and COO
As we close 2023 and move into 2024, we are actively conducting a search for a new President.
At this stage, 6 candidates have been interviewed and assessed, and we are moving 3 individuals forward to round two this coming week. Ideally, we would like to have the finalist candidate on board for the March Annual meeting. Dave’s formal retirement date is June 2024, but he will be fractionally available to us on an as needed basis after June to facilitate a smooth integration.
Happy Holidays
Again, wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with laughter, love, and good cheer. May the upcoming year be a beacon of new possibilities and accomplishments for us all
Warmest wishes,
Jim Lyons