The Garland Group | Becoming the President/CEO

September 10, 2007

I’ve officially been working at The Garland Group for three and a half years now and there is no question I have learned A TON along the way. A lot of that is due to my father who, up until recently, has really been the figure head of our organization. He’s taught me about the financial industry and a lot about business, too. He’s guided me all the way allowing me to learn the right and wrong ways to do things in our business with the intention of finally handing it over to me at some point.

I feel like that time has come. After much discussion, we have decided to that it is time for me to take on that responsibility as President/CEO. Dad will still be a large part of the organization and he’ll always act as a mentor to me.

Now, with all that said, what’s going to change? Not much most likely. Just because I have ‘the title’ doesn’t mean I’m going to act differently to my team or start making all these changes. As a company we have things that we have been working on and I will continue working towards improving those processes but to come in a ‘clean house’ isn’t my style nor do I think is it an effective move as your first actions when taking the top spot in a company.

Our main goal is like its always been, treat our clients like the rockstars they are and continue offering quality, honest software and services geared towards the financial industry. To me it doesn’t matter if our footprint gets larger or our client list longer if we don’t hold that standard then we are dead as a company. Fortunately for us, we have a great group with us and couldn’t do half of what we’ve done without them. We also have lots of really great things coming out in the near future for both our consulting and software side of the business. Stay tuned for some of those.

I plan on blogging more about our business and what has worked/hasn’t worked and what it’s like to run a business as a 28 year old in the near future.

It should be noted, however, that my business goals are only part, albeit a large part, to a bigger picture. My family is my #1 priority and ensuring that they are happy, comfortable, and progressing in their own lives is extremely important to me. Running this company is just a means to an end, I will fight again being a ‘workaholic’ my entire life but I’m up for the fight. How’s the saying go? “I work to live, not live to work.”

That’s all I got for now, thanks to those that have already congratulated me about the news.

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