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Fernley Spotlight
President’s Message – One Achievement, One Milestone, One Remarkable Year!
By G.A. Taylor Fernley, President & CEO
Fernley & Fernley was recently awarded the “2011 Family Business of the Year Award” by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Each year, ten small businesses are recognized for their creativity, vitality, stability, and relevance. F&F was in competition with over 100 qualified candidates from the region, each with their own set of qualifications. F&F humbly emerged as the winner.
According to one of the selection panelists, Fernley & Fernley was selected based on our passion, leadership, and commitment to best practices and strategic visioning. Additionally, our distinction of having founded an industry and being the first (1886) association management company (AMC) in the country was further reflection of F&F being an ideal selection for this prestigious award. Among other recipients were eXude Benefits Group (Customer Service Excellence), RevZilla.com (Emerging Business of the Year), and Richard Hayne, President and Chairman of Urban Outfitters (Visionary Award). Yes, we were in great company.
In my acceptance speech to 300+ attendees at the Excellence Awards Dinner, a special acknowledgement was extended to those who truly deserve the real credit for F&F being there that night; namely, our Management Team and the other 45 valued associates back on the home front who are the engine that made it all happen.
At a special recognition meeting the next day at our office, I expressed my deep sense of gratitude to each of our associates. I went on to share with them a very valuable life-lesson I learned early on in my professional career; namely, leadership is defined less by the person in the top spot and more by the people with whom he/she surrounds themselves. At the expense of stating the obvious, this was one remarkable achievement!
And, what better way to kick-off F&F’s 125 th Anniversary Celebration in 2011 than on the heels of this spectacular recognition. The award will serve as a springboard for us to begin our celebratory year. Another remarkable milestone for Fernley & Fernley.
As the year now draws to a close, allow me to wish each and every one of you a “Happy Holidays” and all the very best for a prosperous and rewarding New Year!