We’ve seen some great firsts this year, from the opening of our first office in the South to hosting our first pickleball fundraiser. We’ve seen a lot of success and had a lot of fun together this year. But 2025 comes with some tough firsts, as well. As my family prepares to gather for the holidays, it’s impossible not to think of my dad and the firsts we’re experiencing without him at the company he founded more than 60 years ago. We’ll miss him mightily during this first holiday season where he isn’t laughing with the grandkids, spending time with close friends and of course watching every College Bowl game along with The Indianapolis Colts. 

No doubt we’ll be hoisting a glass to him as we gather. His legacy was a point of profound pride to him, and it’s a joy to know how excited he’d be to see his legacy grow and build.  

It’s an honor to work with all of you to carry on the extraordinary organization Dad built. One particularly meaningful part of my dad’s legacy is the community he built—the care and support inherent in the culture of MJ. Without that, we couldn’t be able to achieve all we have, and our progress wouldn’t also be so fun and Impactful. 

We aren’t the only ones taking note of this special environment. This year, The MJ Companies’ was named a Best Place to Work in Indianapolis, Denver, and Phoenix, and I have every confidence that our Nashville office, which we opened in May 2025, will share that honor as soon as it’s eligible.  

Speaking of Nashville, congratulations to Market President of Tennessee Austin Madison for leading our newest office through an exciting first few months. Together with Vice President for Business and Community Development M. Craig Reavis, Austin is introducing Tennessee businesses to the MJ Way. Nashville has always been an especially lively city, and what a blast to bask in its growth and energy as we become a bigger part of the community.  

We’re proud to have impacted each of our communities over this past year through the MJ Foundation. Fundraising in 2025 surpassed expectations and set a donation record we hope to break soon and often. Our Charities of Choice for 2025-2027—Indy Reads (Indiana), Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels (Arizona), We Don’t Waste (Colorado), and UpRise Nashville (Tennessee)—improve literacy access, offer compassionate care for families affected by childhood cancer, support families facing food insecurity, and provide critical job training and employment support.  

Thanks to all of you who have helped these organizations directly and by helping the MJ Foundation exceed its fundraising goals. Our charitable work is guided by the support our people give to the organizations near and dear to them. What an honor it is to build each other up with this work—within MJ and out in the world.  

Supporting people also means improving the way in which we work. This year, as every year, we prioritized investment in enterprise data and innovative functions that set us apart, best serve our clients, and make our associate’s work life smarter and more efficient. Dad modeled the MJ name after IBM, which was a pioneer in computing at the time. The leaps and bounds we’ve made in what we do and how we do it under his watch and beyond are part of our DNA, too.  

A gratifying bonus of the passion we put into serving our clients and communities is that it draws great people. We had our largest summer intern class this year, and we’ve added bright new talent in a range of roles, growing overall to over 250 associates. 

More than anything, looking back over the year makes me grateful to the remarkable people who walked with us through all its highs and lows. I treasure every relationship and look forward to sharing many more years with you.