Introduction

As you all know, we are here because this is Mark’s last day as an employee here at Ace. I want to thank all of you for being here to wish him well as he transitions from work to the next adventure in his life. I also want to thank his lovely wife Ann who is also here, for allowing Mark to remain a member of the team here throughout his entire career. Thank you for that Ann, and thank you for taking care of this guy so he could give us so many great years.

Reflections

Many of you know that Mark has worked for me for quite a while, but what some of you may not know is that Mark has been with us since the doors opened. He was part of the original team that I hired to start this company. My goal then was to hire people that I felt could make my business explode off the ground and really take off. Boy, did I ever pick a winner in Mark. Back then everyone needed to wear several hats, because we just couldn’t hire enough people to do everything that needed to get done. It didn’t matter how many different jobs I asked Mark to do, he would just put his head down and get to work. Today, it’s a bit different around here. We’ve moved past that small group of kids working in a factory the size of a shoebox, but Mark is still out there taking on extra jobs, and just putting his head down and getting to work, no matter what he is asked to do.

Acknowledgment

Mark has been an invaluable member of the team here at Ace since the beginning. No matter what I’ve asked him to do, he’s come through for me. And believe me, I’ve asked for a lot from him over the years. From running a machine in between sales meetings, to finding new suppliers when costs got too high, when the company needed him, Mark stepped up to the plate and delivered. His redevelopment of the printing line alone would qualify him as a standout employee. He took the time to learn the process, and then reconfigured it to make the company more effective. As a result our print division is fifteen percent more cost efficient than it was five years ago, and we can thank Mark for that.

The Future

Mark has been talking about retirement for a while now, and I know that he has been looking forward to this day, and the greater freedom that it represents. You only have to drive by his house and see the brand new RV camper to know that he’s got big plans for his golden years. No matter what he chooses to do, he is going to leave behind a company full of grateful people who are better employees and people thanks to him.

Conclusion

So Mark, thank you for all that you have done for the company, we here at Ace are going to miss you. The company won’t be quite the same without you, and you can leave knowing that you have made a great and lasting impact in all our lives. I think I speak for all of us when I say that I hope the rest of your days are the best of your life.