Once a Client . . . Now a Friend

When I first started this blog, I talked about George Millay, the founder of Sea World and the first of many mentors who have influenced my career. A few months later, I told the story of my friendship with Tim Brown who hired me when I was 19 years old and has profoundly influenced my life since our first meeting. He remains an important part of my life and I celebrate our friendship every time we are together.

We are preparing for a very important visit at the end of this month. In 1995, our company was awarded an exciting program for INTA, scheduled for May 1996. We participated in a competitive and challenging process to earn this business. How could I have known that as a result of that program, I would enjoy lifelong friendships?

Jude Duffy and Feikje van Rein are women who have changed my life. They taught me the “standards of excellence” that all clients should aspire to achieve. From our first meeting; through the RFP process; the awarding and development of the business; and the onsite management of the program – we worked hand-in-hand like a finely tuned machine. We complemented each other like peanut butter and jelly! I have often wondered why our experience was so special and eleven years later as we prepare for their visit, I am reminded of the qualities I appreciated the most. Some of these traits are personal – some professional, but all so appreciated:

• Jude and Feikje treated us with respect and as partners from the first contact
• Jude shared budgets; success stories; failures; and any information that would help us to help them
• Jude was true to her word – she did what she said she would with contracts and deposits delivered on time
• Jude and Feikje trusted us to do our job well – and their faith inspired us
• Jude and Feikje believed that work could and should be fun and we laughed our way through a year of planning
• When I committed to the 3 Day/60 Mile Walk in 2003, Jude initiated a fundraising effort on my behalf in New York - pure friendship and support
• Jude and Feikje became advocates for our company and friends to us

Jude and Feikje are coming back to San Diego this month – not for business, but simply for fun. We are celebrating a “Benchmark Birthday” for Jude and this is where she wants to be. Our “circle of friends” includes the one and only Tim Cloonan, the most amazing Senior Convention Services Manager and Claudia Wible, Director of Catering Event Management at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina– our co-producers and conspirators during the 1996 and 2005 INTA conferences. Some members of our original Operations Team have left our company, but their contributions and the fun we had will never be forgotten. Bill Van Ert (aka “Van – the loafer man”) continues to captain our corporate Operations Teams and Terry Hanks, an original team player, will also be joining us in our celebration.

I dedicate this blog to friends – friends who enter our lives as clients and professional partners and cross over to touch our hearts and lives. These friendships are few and far between, but the ones that last are the rewards of a long and fulfilling career.

Can’t wait to see my friends . . .