Kevin D. Christian, Founder & President, KD Christian Construction
Address to Guests, Executive Assistant Retirement Party
(excerpt)
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I’m going to betray my reputation as a man of few words tonight, because this is a special occasion, and also because I have to try and pack 34 years worth of gratitude into this message.
When I started this company 35 years ago, I was a 25-year-old kid with no life experience to speak of. I had no idea what I was getting into and I certainly didn’t know what I would need along the way to help me do things right. I must have done a good deed at some point in my young life, because for some reason, the universe saw fit to give me a gift one day, and it changed everything.
That gift was Pam Nolan. From the first day she came to work for me, Pam invested herself fully, heart and soul, into helping me build this company and the life I have today. She knew instinctively how to read what I needed and be more than just helpful, but really instrumental in our success. She saw things I was often too busy to see, she stayed one step ahead of every curve, getting us through rapid growth, expansions, and numerous company moves, not to mention coordinating my own personal residential moves eight times.
She was the leader of the team we built together. She took ownership and responsibility for everything that was happening at all times. She was the front-line person, she was the back-end person, she was my gate-keeper, shielding me from the distractions of day-to-day stuff so I could focus on the high level work. She even steered me clear of a few disasters, never hesitating to show me the error in my thinking. Our clients came to know her as the go-to person for everything, our staff came to know her as the boss, I came to know her as a sounding board and a confidante, and my family came to know her as one of us.
And she did it all without flinching or complaining. Well, that’s not entirely true, she’s been threatening to quit for about 20 years now… but that’s besides the point. All joking aside, I can honestly say that I’ve never really wanted to let myself think about this day until I absolutely had to.
Fortunately, the transition won’t be too hard because Pam ran a really tight ship here. So we all know exactly how this place runs, and no one will dare try to change it. But the atmosphere is certainly going to be different. We’ve put someone else in her role, but no one can replace her.
Pam, you’ve always said I’m a shitty judge of character. But I think I was pretty spot on when I judged yours and made you my right-hand person. I have trusted you with my business, with the care of my home numerous times, and with my children who consider you family. I’ve never doubted my gut feeling about you for a second. Hiring you was one of the best business decisions I ever made.
You deserve to enjoy the fruits of your hard work more than anyone else I know.
I know it sounds like a cliché to say that I couldn’t have done all this without you, so I’ll just say that I’m glad I didn’t have to. I don’t know how to even begin to thank you other than to tell you that it has been a pleasure growing up with you, and it’s an honor to call you my friend. From the entire staff, and from Suzy, from (children’s names), and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
You will be always be part of our family.