My column this month is a simple one. I want to just let you all know how grateful I am for you.

There are so many good people in our industry and frankly in our world. There are times, I’m sure like many of you, where I get focused on negative things, because well, they just have a way of invading and clouding our thoughts. But over the past couple months, I’ve had the opportunity to experience, on way more occasions than I can count, people at their finest. All I can do is say thank you. Honestly, it’s like I’ve been at the local cafe where the waiter keeps returning right on time to fill my coffee. Just when my cup would get low, one of you was there to help fill it back up.

First, I want to thank all of you who support NASGW as members. None of what we do would be possible without your constant support, encouragement and commitment. We are working hard to find new and better ways to help our members and many of you are working very hard to help make that happen. You offer advice, help us make new connections, spark our creativity and cheerlead us to do more and be better. It is not unnoticed and if you are reading this, you know who you are. Take a bow.

I also regularly get notes from many of the folks who read this column. I suppose I’m a bit unorthodox in that I often talk about what’s happening not just at work, but at home. It’s been my experience that it helps people relate a bit more to the real me, and not just some stuffed shirt who happens to be the person at the helm of an organization you belong to. It’s just who I am I guess and for better or worse, it probably won’t change. Though if I ever to give you just a bit “too much information,” please be sure to tell me!

On that note, I’ve been going through an important time these past couple months in my personal life, with the addition of some new “bionic knees” to my skeleton. It’s been a much more involved recovery than I ever could have guessed. But so many of you have been there to keep me going. Calls, emails, texts… you’re all like a giant extended family and I appreciate the concern and encouragement. I promise you it’s all helped and by the time Shot Show rolls around in January, I should be moving along fairly well. I just have to remember to tell the folks at TSA so they don’t think I’m trying to get through screening with something nefarious.

I love this industry. I love working with so many of you day-to-day to try new things and solve new challenges. It’s exceptionally fulfilling to wake up every day and get to work alongside you, and to partner with you in whatever ways we can to make things easier and better for our manufacturing partners, our distributors and the retailers they serve, and ultimately the consumers who want to buy the products we make, sell and ship.

In January, I’ll start my tenth year at NASGW and it’s crazy to me how fast the time has passed. Later in the year, NASGW will host our 50th Expo event and remarkably, there are a few folks around still who’ve been to almost every single one of them. We were almost able to coincide our 50th Expo with our 70th anniversary as an organization, but of course COVID got in the way and shut us down one year. It’s ok though, because now when we see you in Kansas City in October of 2024, we will just have another reason to celebrate.

I hope all of you are planning some big celebrations in the coming weeks. I hope also that you’re able to take time to just slow down, relax and enjoy your family and friends. Reflect on the year, celebrate your successes and plan for even more in the coming year. We as humans aren’t meant to always be on the go. We need rest. We need time to heal and recharge. We need to refill our cups to the brim. There’s no better time than the holidays to do so.

I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy the holiday season… I look forward to seeing you all again in 2024!

Until next time,