While contemplating several topics to address this January, I was staring at the bulletin board next to my desk. Three small pictures jumped out at me. One each of our three children, ages 12, 21, and 24; one pitching, one playing pond hockey, and one at high school graduation six years ago. Under this senior picture of my daughter it says, “Courage and Confidence”, two traits her high school, Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, endeavor to instill in their students. What better way to look to the future as we start 2010, both for our businesses and for our younger generation.
It has been a financially troubling year and a half for the country as a whole and particularly for the building industry. Financially troubling. I cannot write anything about it that you haven’t already read. But a troubling period otherwise? I think not. What else has happened since the autumn of 2008? Plenty to excite us as we move to 2010.
- A vigorous nation wide debate on healthcare
- Brave men and women serving our country in the war on terrorism
- Increased charitable giving including massive outpourings for international catastrophes such as Haiti
- Increases in overall standardized educational test scores
- Collaboration of firms in sharing knowledge, space, and business
- Countless examples of workers accepting less to allow others to work
- Families re-examining priorities for time spent and consumerism
- Exponential increases in environmentally sensitive design and construction
- Less waste and more reuse of goods and resources
- A tempered, knowledge based discussion on climate change
- A hero pilot saving a hundred passengers in New York
- Advances in automobile engineering allowing for hybrid technology and alternative fuels
- Amazing bridges, tunnels, and skyscrapers constructed utilizing the latest in BIM modeling
- A housing cost decline allowing a record number of Americans to own homes, even allowing for the mortgage crisis.
- A decline in construction costs allowing institutions to construct affordable, needed facilities.
- Clear, strong opportunities in investing in goods- producing, publically-traded companies.
- Medical advances in prevention, early detection and treatment of diseases including revolutionary new drugs and investment in producing new medicines.
As we all struggle to overcome our individual financial challenges, have faith. The Commonwealth and country are moving forward. Get on board with a renewed belief in our solid foundation of acquired knowledge. Work hard individually with the understanding that we are all in this together. Apply your personal courage and confidence.
- Peter P. Martini
Chief Executive Officer
