News Detail

A Time to Reflect

12/1/2014

As we approach the end of the year and the holiday season, I'll begin this month’s President’s Memo by pausing for a moment to consider all the thanks and gratitude I have yet to express for so much that has occurred this past year. Certainly, on a personal note, I'm extremely thankful for my family and friends and the great gifts with which I have been presented during my time as ACI President.

And by gifts, I'm really referring to the endless number of new friends I have encountered during my travels as well as the continued support of long-time colleagues who I count as friends. I've been simply awed at the incredible interactions and discussions I’ve had the opportunity to participate in while representing ACI as President. The experiences I've had so far will forever be etched in my memory.

There is so much more for which to be thankful. I cannot but consider how all of this has come about because of those wonderful individuals we call our members who dedicate endless hours to advance the work of ACI around the globe. Often, these people go thankless, but essentially they ask for no thanks. They do what they do for various reasons—to advance the industry, to make new contacts, or simply because they love to do it. We thank them.

Also, there is another group that is relatively hidden behind the curtain. And that is our ACI staff. This group of approximately 100 hardworking individuals make so much look so simple and easy. From certification to education, to publishing and member services, the entire staff continues to amaze me with their dedication and efforts. And too often we neglect to thank them but we do so now.

So as another year draws to a close, we also tend to think about wishes—our own personal wishes or perhaps wishes that reflect on the greater good. For me personally, I do wish for continued health and happiness for my family and friends. But I also wish for success for my ACI family. I have hopes that our close-knit organization can continue making great strides in advancing its new strategic plan and creating bold new initiatives. Our current path forward seems to be one of such bigger and bolder dreams and I certainly wish that all of our concrete dreams can harden and achieve all the desired properties of our design.

So wherever you may be in the world, here’s a wish for a joyous holiday season and a prosperous new year from myself and my family.

William E. Rushing Jr.