This has been an introspective week – heck, an introspective month – and I want to share a little of what’s been on my mind.
Yesterday marked the 50th anniversary of Centennial. I can’t begin to express how proud I am of the teams who have shaped us across five decades, or how grateful I am to the businesses and professionals who have placed their trust in us. It’s been an extraordinary journey, and I’ve never been more excited about the road ahead.
As a team, we’ll be celebrating this half-century milestone over the coming year. We’re planning ways to honor where we’ve been and to share where we’re headed next.
But this milestone also brings a moment that’s a little bittersweet.
If you haven’t already heard, my good friend and colleague Becky Scheeler has taken on an exciting new opportunity with Associated Builders & Contractors, Ohio Valley. Becky has been a cornerstone of Centennial, and her impact here is hard to overstate. While I’ll miss her deeply, I couldn’t be more thrilled for her. She’s exactly the right person for this new challenge, and I know she’ll continue to make a difference in the region we both care so much about.
And while Becky may have left the building, she certainly hasn’t left the family. Moreover, her legacy is alive in the team she helped build – one that’s growing and stronger than ever. I am very fortunate to have this team with me, and we look forward to what’s ahead.
And all of this speaks to what I’ve been reflecting on lately: change. How it challenges us, and how – when we lean into it – it shapes us for the better.
When Centennial first opened its doors in June 1975, the world looked quite different. Wheel of Fortune debuted and so did Saturday Night Live. Famous Amos baked his first cookies, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, and Jaws had everyone second-guessing their beach plans.
So much has changed since then and we continue to live in a world that seems to evolve daily. And yet, what matters most at Centennial has stayed constant: a passion for helping great companies find the right people to grow with, and a love for connecting with professionals, hearing their stories, and helping them step into roles where they can thrive.
Our sister company, Talent Magnet Institute, is also marking its own milestone this year – five years of helping people grow into what we call “unconventional leaders”: people willing to challenge the status quo and grow into the best version of themselves. That’s a story for another post, but I see the same spirit in both places. And it’s what makes this work so fulfilling.
I know it sounds a little sentimental, but that doesn’t make it any less true: at Centennial and Talent Magnet, we’re here to help people write their next chapter.
Another thing that hasn’t – and won’t – change is our commitment to you. Whether you’re building a team or stepping into a new opportunity yourself, we’d be honored to be your trusted guide. Because in a world where change is the only constant, having the right people in the right places isn’t just a competitive edge, it’s essential.
Here’s to the next fifty years and all the stories we’ll write together.
