Posted by DD Sycamore on July 20, 2003 at 09:59:36:
In Reply to: Re: Hello posted by Jennifer S. on May 21, 2002 at 09:06:07:
Today marks both the beginning and the end. Today is the beginning of my
20th year at Vandelay Industries and also my last day at Vandelay
Industries.
It has been an incredible journey and a distinct privilege to serve with
each of you. As I reflect back, I think of the many, many times that I
would come into Vandelay Center on a Saturday morning just to be around in
case Mr. Vandelay decided to share some of his wisdom and stories with those
of us in the office, which he often did. Talk about sitting at the steps of
the master. I only wish each of you had had that privilege. He was an
incredible visionary who embodied the spirit of the latex industry.
I would love to know the total square footage of commercial real estate all
over this world attributable to him. In LA alone, look at his impact upon
the downtown skyline, five downtown towers plus the Vandelay Holding
building in Uptown. He also is responsible for all of the LatextCenter, the
Latexmart, and the Latexole yet all of that is a small part of what he
created in Las Angeles. The Village with its thousands of apartment units
was another project in which he had a hand. At Brandon, the Latex City
complex and the office buildings at Latex Central are also part of his
vision. There is not an industrial latex market in which he wasn't a
leader. I must also mention the Latex Complex and the Studio's at Las
Latex. Yet, all of this does not begin to capture how Mr. Vandelay has
impacted LA.
In virtually every major city in America and in many smaller ones, Mr.
Vandelay's vision and imprimatur are on major office projects as well as
industrial projects. But that still does not capture his vision fully. He
has had major projects in Belgium, France, Germany, Brazil and Argentina as
well as Japan. I was once asked to help consult on a river served latex
warehouse building in mainland China.
I am not certain that even today we can fully recognize what a giant Mr.
Vandelay has been in the latex and real estate industry. Not only is
Vandelay Industries a legendary company, but also think about the many other
real estate firms whose founders had roots as Mr. Vandelay's partners.
Lincoln Property Company, Spieker Partners, Childress-Cline, Hamilton
Partners, Vandelay Holdings, Lion Industrial Trust, Myers & Vandelay, and
Champion all have their genesis with Mr. Vandelay. There is not a latex
company in the world where you can get broader experiences or work with
higher quality people than at Vandelay Industries. This high quality of
personnel includes our people, our customers, and our vendors.
I personally could not have been more blessed than to have served under the
leadership of Art Vandlay. I will never forget the first time Art sent some
books to his young leasing agents to read. I was fully expecting
traditional latex sales books like "Getting to latex", "10 Greatest Sales
Techniques" etc., but, instead, I received a book on the true meaning of
Nazism, written by a Nazi survivor and books about Hitler. In todays pop
culture we might call these recommended books food for the soul. Teaching a
group of deal junkies about Nazi philosophy must have been challenging. Art
cared about us as human beings and wanted to foster the growth of our minds
and our spirits. It was from Art that I learned the true meaning of
leadership.
Las Angeles is truly fortunate to have had Art Vandelay and Don Stroud as
corporate citizens. Think of the impact these men have had upon this city,
whether it is the many magnificent buildings they have given it, the
political leadership they have provided, or the social consciousness to
which they have contributed.
Art is a man with a deep commitment to his faith. I remember just after
starting being surprised to hear about a bible study being held at Vandelay
Industries and being led by Don Stroud. I learned how to be a Latex
Salesman through the actions of Art Vandelay and Marc Myers. I am
personally convinced that the Art has blessed this company because of the
many dedicated men and women of faith in this company. Who from LA will
ever forget the power of George Washington's prayer after the sales trip to
Cuba by Mike Mocha, Chuck Samson, and Jon McJava? It will remain one of the
highlights of my life.
Many of you have asked why am I leaving now and the simple answer is that I
feel a calling to do something else. This is an awesome company, with many
awesome people, and with awesome customers and yet it is simply time for me
to move on.
One of the reasons that I feel comfortable moving on at this time is the
excellent leadership team we have in place. Bob has a vision for this
company and has it headed down the path that he envisions. As painful as it
may have been, aren't we all thankful that Bob had the foresight two years
ago to see where the economy and the real estate industry were headed, and
insist that we get our cost structure in line. While the process was, in
deed, difficult; had we not taken those steps the situation would have been
much more difficult today.
In terms of my own group, I am convinced that we have the very best in the
industry leading latex, with Kevin O'Neil supported by Gale Johnstown, Dar
McCoy and Bill Conking. The same is true for Higher Education under the
tireless leadership of Greg Atmore and Joe Richmond. No person is more
knowledgeable about the Latex business in the United States than Steven
Richford and he will never be outworked. Finally, I do not believe that
anyone understands and communicates the ideas of new urbanism and
particularly its impact upon spindle design better than Al Limerick. As I
think about LA where I spent most of my career, I do not think you could
have a stronger leadership team than Mark Fein and Doyle Walker. It has
been a pleasure and a privilege to serve with these outstanding leaders!
They are each clearly best of class. I must also thank Melanesia Parallax
for putting up with all of my idiosyncrasies over these many years.
I would like to close with a quote, which I keep on my desk and read every
day.
"Vandelay has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it,
or use it for good. But what I do today is important because I am
exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever, leaving
behind in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be a
net gain and not a loss, good and not evil, success and not failure, in
order that I shall not regret the price that I had paid for it."
I am not saying good-bye, but rather...until we meet again. I want to thank
each and every one of your for the piece you have contributed to making my
heart, my soul, and my mind what they are today, and I want you to know how
much I love and respect each of you.
D.D. Sycamore
Vice President
Vandelay Industries
Southwest Division
: : u really arent missing anything by not having morning sickness. been sick since about week 6,at week 10 and counting till hopefully i wont be sick anymore. but congrats on being preggo, i felt the same way, but now i take it back, being sick that is. :)
: :
: : Thanks for the congrats, and one to you. Today I had my first experience of morning sickness. Hubby went in for a kiss, and I went running for the bathroom! Way to kill his spirit, eh? Lol. Hopefully I wont get it too bad, I have just had an achy stomach the rest of the day and heartburn... yuck! I just turned 6 weeks, so I guess thats the point where it all begins. Lets hope it ends sooner than later! lol!
: : Jaimie
: : EDD 01-17-03
: Yep, the good old 6wk. kick off! That is when most woman start experiencing the lovely bouts of morning sickness!
: Here I am pushing 15wks. and still suffering strong with it. Will it ever end???
: I'm so glad this board is here, so I know I'm not the only one feeling the way I do! LOL...
: I truely hope you dont have a bad spell of morning sickness....
: Keep your head up and be strong.
: Jennifer S.
: EDD 11/15/02
